In 1997, a few friends began to gather regularly to discuss various aspects of Anishinabe Spirituality. As we learned more and more, we decided to create a community training program to re-introduce local Indigenous people to some of our Cultural Traditions. We delivered our workshops to a select group in June 1998, and although not all participants embraced the Teachings, those who did take part did so whole-heartedly.

Our workshops included Teachings by an Elder working with Kumik Lodge (Indigenous Affairs Canada) who agreed to provide us with the Teachings about building a Sweat Lodge, and then to conduct the ceremony for us. We followed her instructions will all our hearts, but regardless, our entrance did not open to the East, which had been the plan; instead, it opened to the South. “The Direction of the Turtle,” she told us, “your Lodge is for Healing.” Thus, our Turtle Lodge came to be.

While still in the glow of ‘Ceremonial Consciousness’ after participating in the Sweat Lodge Ceremony and the Feast that followed, four of our group, all women, lingered on at the site. “We cannot let this end,” we said, “this is too good to let go!” Of course, our management style would be a circle, and so, The Circle of Turtle Lodge was born, to promote the revival and restoration of the Anishinabe Culture and Traditions as a means to enable healing to occur in our community.