Medicine Bundle & Apaakozigan Workshop w/Herb Fineday

On Sept. 24, AICHO hosted a Medicine Bundle and Apaakozigan Virtual Workshop with Herb Fineday (Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe tribal member.) Herb taught over 30 participants how to make a medicine bundle/pouch that can be worn around the neck as a necklace and how to prepare apaakozigan for their pouch from the inner bark of red willow. Herb shared his cultural teachings throughout the session. Supplies needed for making a bundle and asemaa: You will need enough leather or buckskin to make a pouch that will measure approximately an 8 inch square and a leather thong/string of about 30 inches. Scissors. A leather punch tool is optional. You will need to harvest a few cut twigs of red willow to make the apaakozigan. Bezhigo Asemaa - Tobacco first. Place an offering of tobacco before you harvest to give thanks to the red willow. More on Herb Fineday: Herb Fineday, Jr is a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. He lives an Ojibwe seasonal lifestyle on the Reservation with his wife and five children. He recently retired as the Chief of Police of Fond du Lac Ojibwe Reservation. He now owns a small business called Round Lake Traditions. Round Lake Traditions specializes in Ojibwe art and apparel. Herb's applique sewing can be found all over Indian Country. His apparel ranges from men’s and women’s formal wear to men’s and women's dance regalia. Beading, leather work, feather work, bone and wood carving are just a few other things Herb works with. To see more of his work, search "Round Lake Traditions" on Facebook. This session was funded in part by AICHO's Waaseyaa Traditional Healing Grant via the Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division and the First Nations Development Institute.