The 7 grandfather teachings are important to Ojibwe culture, and are expressed time and time again in Richard Wagmese’s Medicine Walk. Eldon Starlight showed much honesty and bravery by telling his son Franklin Starlight his entire life story, including many wrongdoings of his own. The old man showed much wisdom by raising Franklin in the ways of indigenous people, even though he wasn’t one himself. These Ojibwe teachings were guidelines for these people on how to live a fruitful life, and are embedded into the souls of the characters in this book.
Honesty, a key teaching of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, the story tells us that “a fifth Grandfather gave [the first elder] honesty, so that he would be honest in every action and provide good feelings in his heart.” Eldon, although perhaps not true to his indigenous ancestry, the teachings are still embedded in his soul. This is proven towards the end of the book when he begins to open up to his son Franklin about his past. Telling his son his entire life story, including the terrible things that he had committed, lifted a bit of the burden Eldon had been carrying, by keeping his story to himself and …show more content…
Becka laid a good deal of wisdom onto Franklin and even Eldon. Franklin and even Angie were abundant in logic and understanding, and it really made the novel stand out. Franklin was especially full of wisdom when talking to his father about Eldon’s life. But Franklin wasn’t born with it. It was passed down to him. The Old Man taught Frank everything he needed to know, even the things the Old Man didn’t know. Even though he wasn’t indigenous, he wanted to teach the kid the roots of Ojibwe culture, because that’s what Angie would have wanted. He taught Frank how to hunt expertly, survive in the wilderness, love nature, and live the ways of the Ojibwe people. It is for that reason that Franklin is so
Honesty, a key teaching of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, the story tells us that “a fifth Grandfather gave [the first elder] honesty, so that he would be honest in every action and provide good feelings in his heart.” Eldon, although perhaps not true to his indigenous ancestry, the teachings are still embedded in his soul. This is proven towards the end of the book when he begins to open up to his son Franklin about his past. Telling his son his entire life story, including the terrible things that he had committed, lifted a bit of the burden Eldon had been carrying, by keeping his story to himself and …show more content…
Becka laid a good deal of wisdom onto Franklin and even Eldon. Franklin and even Angie were abundant in logic and understanding, and it really made the novel stand out. Franklin was especially full of wisdom when talking to his father about Eldon’s life. But Franklin wasn’t born with it. It was passed down to him. The Old Man taught Frank everything he needed to know, even the things the Old Man didn’t know. Even though he wasn’t indigenous, he wanted to teach the kid the roots of Ojibwe culture, because that’s what Angie would have wanted. He taught Frank how to hunt expertly, survive in the wilderness, love nature, and live the ways of the Ojibwe people. It is for that reason that Franklin is so