Since the Little Ice Age thousands of years ago, the Indigenous nations east of the Mississippi River traditionally spent the Winter time telling stories, feasting, gambling, and generally making merry until the work of spring arrived--and along with their contemporary lifestyles, they still do! With the cold, wet winters of the American northeast, it is no surprise that, like people today, Native nations in pre-colonial times stayed indoors and were focused on keeping warm, eating well, and having fun. And that they did! Think three month party! When you live within a social structure where there is no working class or elite class, this type of life is possible. Everyone pulls together to live well.

In the Eastern Woodlands nations, winter is the time of Woman. To these nations, the cosmos are understood to be twinned and gendered, for example, Mother Earth/Father Sky. Hence, Winter is the time of Woman; Summer is the time of Man. In their cultural cosmology, winter is the most "woman" time of the year (turtles, resting, storytelling, lawmaking, grassroots politics) as summer is the most "man" time of year (eagles, traveling, international diplomacy, sporting events). This is called a world or galaxy based on the premise of Gender Complementarity or sacred, balanced halves. Yes, it is a highly-evolved, long-practiced social structure that is egalitarian. Two-Spirited people (2LGBTQ) fall within the continuum between the woman/man poles: these folks were not socially excluded or diminished before the European immigrants arrived. See my previous blog on Same-Sex Marriage for more information about this.

If you are familiar with Chinese cosmology, winter is characterized as the most "female/yin" (cold, dark, wet) time of year and summer as the most "male/yang" (hot, bright, dry)  time of year and all human beings are understood to contain both of these dynamic, fluctuating energies. Though Indigenous cultures and Chinese traditional culture are quite different, this may give you a broad sense of what Twinning in some Native American cultures means.

Though most Americans do not spend the winter months enjoying a long winter party, what we do like to do is read. With its long, dark nights and short, cold days, Winter is a time that many people like to curl up with a book. If you would like to broaden your understanding of Native American cultures and read some fabulous books by and about Native women, I have some suggestions. One of the most accessible and educational books about Native American histories and women is the collection Spider Woman's Granddaughters: Traditional Tales and Contemporary Stories by Native American Women edited by Paula Gunn Allen. I highly recommend it, especially if you want to learn about Native women from many different nations.

If you are interested in a book that looks more in-depth at one Indigenous nation and focuses on the lives of Native women, I recommend two excellent books by Native American women scholars: Holding Our World Together: Ojibwe Women and the Survival of Community by Brenda J. Child and Medicine Trail: The Life and Lessons of Gladys Tantaquidgeon by Melissa Jayne Fawcett. You can completely trust both of these books to provide culturally authentic history and stories in a way that is accessible and an enjoyable read.

In Fawcett's book about her Auntie, Mohegan Nation Medicine Woman Gladys Tantaquidgeon, you will be awed by Gladys's tenacity and the real duties and teachings of a medicine woman--no fakery or made-up "Indian" culture is in this book! You will also get a new perspective on the movie The Last of the Mohicans.

In Brenda Child's book, you will learn about the gender complementary cosmos I discussed earlier, and how gathering the wild rice in the upper peninsula is an Ojibwe woman's right. Child also talks about the Berry Fast ceremony in girls' coming of age rituals.

What is important in all the books I mentioned is that you will quickly recognize how the traditions of Native American women continue right up to today. In the past, French and English settlers had to negotiate with Native American women if they had any plans at all of trapping animals for their fur, of using the land to build homes or raise crops, and of negotiating treaties. What you will discover reading these books is that Native women today are still leading their nations in very similar ways that they have done since the time before time.

Sky Woman is still speaking in the Eastern Woodlands, just as White Buffalo Calf Woman is leading among the Plains nations, just as Spider Woman still weaves the fabric of the universe for the southwestern Indigenous nations.

I hope you will take some time to learn about your Native American neighbors this winter through the rich literary sources available that teach real, authentic cultural history and traditional stories.

My final recommendation is the memoir Halfbreed by Maria Campbell (Cree/Metis). This is a powerful work that tells it like it is for some mixed-blood Indigenous women. You will be awed by her courage. You can find it at www.oyate.com.

Happy New Year and Happy Winter Reading everyone!