Sandi L. Boucher (Anishinaabe, Seine River First Nation) explains why she signs her blog posts and videos with “I love you.” She grounds the practice in Anishinaabe teachings—particularly the Seven Grandfather Teachings—and the belief that the Creator made each person, so love is unconditional and a starting point for respectful, brave relationships. The piece is a short personal reflection and invitation.
Chapters
It is time to address a question I get asked way too often. I don't mind that people ask it, but it's probably time to give you an answer. Watch the video to see what I. Hello everybody. My name is Sandy Boucher. I'm Red Thunderbolt, woman of the Loon Clan, a proud member of Seine River First Nation in Treaty 3 Territory in Northern Ontario. And today I want to talk about love. Today's blog post for July 14 is called End with Love. Now, first off, I should point out one of the seven grandfather teachings is love. And the seven grandfather teachings to Anishinaabe people are kind of like the Ten Commandments to Christians. Guiding principles. It's something. And trust me, it is not easy to live the seven grandfather teachings, living every single day with respect and humility and bravery and love. I mean it. It's not easy to practice the seven. But not that long ago, I had an elder point out to me, to us, it was a crowd of people he was speaking to that you should lead with love. And I've heard that phrase before. I think a lot of us have heard that before, and maybe I still have a little bit of that cocky teenager I used to be running around inside me. But he went on to explain that think of your child and you ask someone to watch your child for an afternoon, is there going to be a difference in the way they treat your child? If the person loves your child or if the person doesn't love your child is just indifferent to them? I think we can all agree there's a huge difference. We treat the things we love differently, people we love differently, places we love differently. And that's what the elder was trying to say, that don't be respectful just because it's a rule that we're taught. Be respectful because you love the people you have the opportunity to meet and work with. Don't be brave just because you're being taught that you should be brave. Be brave because you love the work you do and the person you're talking to. And you need to be brave enough to be honest with them. Which is another of the seven grandfather teachings. Do you see my point? And that's why he was saying lead with love. But in my case, we get a different situation going on because I get asked all the time why every one of my blog posts ends with I love you because, oh, I've got a cat wanting to get my attention here, so I better talk fast. I guess I've worked too long today, but I get asked all the time how can you say I love you when you may not even know who's reading your blog post? You may not have ever met them. How can you say you love them? It's actually incredibly easy for me to say I love you. Can you see the cat down there? That is so amazing. Ignore the cat. Focus on me. Focus. Here's the reason in line with my teachings. And I realize you may not be Anishinaabe. You may not have my teachings. That's. That's okay. In for me. My teachings say, creator made you. That means you're amazing. You're unique. You're. You're one of a kind. And I love the fact that Creator sent you here. I love the fact that our paths have crossed. I love the fact that by some miracle, my words or video ended up in front of you. I love the potential of you. I love the strength of you. I love every challenge you've overcome and the ones that you didn't think you could and did it anyways. I love the times you were totally, completely honest and vulnerable and the times that you weren't because you're human. So do I love you? Absolutely I do. It is not conditional on us having had some relationship. I love everything you are. Even if I don't know everything you are. Why? Because that's my teachings. And I can use that to help build the bridge to build that relationship with you. So there you have it. How can I end every single blog post with I love you? Easily. Because I do. I hope you enjoyed this week's videos. Enjoy your weekend, and I can't wait to talk with you again. Why? Because I love you. Take care. Bye. Bye.
