Mary Anne Martell
Air Date: January 17, 2023
Summary
In this episode, Mary Anne speaks about traditional medicinal use, Cree cultural protocols, her experiences navigating health treatment and her concerns about health as an elder in the northern Cree community of Waterhen Lake First Nation.
Music in this episode was created and performed by Robert Gladue.
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And I remember in those days when I was growing up, I don’t know how old I was, they used to gather all the medicine people. They used to gather together in one big lodge or tent or something, and they’d have a meeting there. They’d bring all their medicine bundles, and they’d mix them up. And whoever didn’t have anything, they’d, you know, ask each other for some. And they’d mix them up. And then they’d take them. They’d exchange and they traded for some stuff for other herbal medicines. I remember those things and I was not allowed to go there at all. I used to... unless my grandma called me for something, then I’d go. But then I wasn’t allowed in there. Because that’s what they used to do. Yeah, they’d mix up all their medicines and see what everybody had and exchange them. So that was one of the things I remember when I was growing up.
(English - Whatever I do, I take pills) Cree - and (English - for the diabetes. But I always remember) Cree - who.(English - Our Creator. Every morning I thank the Creator, I take some water, my pills in one hand and I lift them up to him to bless) Cree (English - Although they’re not our kind of medicine, but prescribed) it is the same thing. (English - from the earth I gather.) (English - Every morning) Cree (English - no matter what.) Cree- that’s it [I feel better]. Cree –That’s really true. (English-Another thing) Cree - too is prayers. Not many people use them. When you take medicines from the earth, you need to put something in its place. Maybe tobacco or (English-a cigarette.) Cree - Me too, I don’t really have much knowledge
about the traditional medicines. (English - But I know) Cree - my great grandmother, she used medicines. My mom’s mother (English - she used to have this one medicine for all cures, I guess. She used to call it, “it’s good for anything.”) Cree - she would say. You could use it for anything. That’s what I make too. When they have colds (English - that’s what I make them.) Cree- Usually some people come to me. I feel sorry for them. (English - Out of the goodness of my heart, because. But I tell them) Cree – if it makes them feel better you know what you have to do. They say “yes”. That’s the only medicine I know too. But my grandmother used to tell me it’s good for everything. So that one (English - everything.) Cree-when someone is sick that’s what I make for them. But then again, when you don’t believe or have faith it doesn’t work for you. You got to follow a certain way. (English - A few years ago, I think in 2017, I had heart surgery.) Cree – that’s what I used to drink. I would make it for myself. And (English - In 2007) Cree - I fell and I hurt my head really bad. And here (English – anarism) Cree – and because of this (English - I was bleeding in the brain. So they had to operate on me, on my head. And uh, during that time I was in a coma. I didn’t know nothing at all. And I didn’t know how many days I was like that. Cree – and then all of a sudden (English - I used to come to. And during all that time, when I would come to) Cree - just like (English - people would come see me that had passed... through the door.) Cree- I saw them. (English - And they’d pass by my bed, they’d come and shake my hand. You know, a lot of those people who have gone on) Cree- already I saw them. (English - Even one of my aunties) Cree- one of them, she used to drink a lot. And then all of a sudden... (English - she came in. And she come and looked at me.) Cree- she just really looked at me. (English - “Oh, it’s you!”) Cree- She said. “It’s you. I’m really happy to see you”. (English - She came and hugged me. And I could smell) Cree - just like (English - liquor on her.) Cree- “Geez, this one is still drinking,” I would think and then (English - she went to another door.) Cree – Then she went through. (English - There was how many of them) Cree- relatives who passed on, they would come shake my hand. (English - That’s what I seen when I was out in a coma.) Cree-so it was then that I woke up from that coma, slowly, but I didn’t know. (English - I was able to see people, but I couldn’t talk) Cree-right away. (English - So I was in there for quite awhile. And then one day) Cree- all of sudden (English - they transferred me to city hospital.) Cree- from there English - they told me that I had to go to therapy.) Cree-from there (English - I was taught everything over again.) Cree - everything they showed me how to do, again. (English - And I was better. I think I was there two... three weeks) Cree -around there, (English - taking therapy.) Cree - Everything I was taught, (English - right from answering the telephone, making payments on bills) Cree-stuff like that. (English - I had to know all these things before they released me.) Cree - then that was it, (English - that day I was let out of the hospital and I came home.) Cree – I saw there was a sundance happening and then I really wanted to go there. I wanted to take cloth and tobacco for them to pray for me. But I had no way to go. And they had given me a walker to use. That’s the only way I could walk. (English - ‘Cause I wasn’t that steady.) Cree - Then I got a phone call, somebody asking me along. “Do you want to go?” So I said “yes”. I was so happy I went to that sundance. It sounded so good and right away I (English - remembered everything.) Cree – The way I grew up and the way I was raised. I used to go with my grandparents (English - from Sundance to Sundance.) Cree- We used to move all over. I remembered everything. It’s also humble to be in there. -
Tapwe anima – That is really true
Ekosi – that is all
Kakeyihtit - he/she who passed on [usually said in respect for a deceased person.]
Ketatawee – and all of a sudden he/she
Taskoots – Just like
Steemow - tobacco
SERIES
Sîkîp Sâkahikanihk Keyteyayak Âcimowina
HOST & PRODUCER
Christine Fiddler
Campbell Stevenson
Episode Guest
Mary Anne Martell was born in 1941 and was raised by her grandparents, Jean Louie and Jean Mistikokat. She married into the Martell family to Edwin Martell, and after several years of marriage they separated. Together they had children: Sheila, Joanne, Vivian, Liz, Alcide, Donna, Marvin, and Donald. Mary Anne worked as a Cree teacher at the Waterhen school for a number of years before retiring. She held some terms as an elected leader in Chief and Council for her community.
More Episodes
Podcast host Christine Fiddler interviews her final Cree Waterhen elder, Mary Anne Martel.