Living in the Movement
My relationship with hoop dance
Tansi, Sandra Lamouche Nitsikason, Niya Nehiyaw Iskwew. I am a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation. I have been a dancer and scholar most of my life. My mother first put me in tap and ballet lessons as a young girl to help correct my pigeon-toed stance. This was my first time experiencing the healing power of dance. Most people find this story amusing, but it foreshadowed a lifetime of seeking balance and wellness through dance.
Movement is foundational to my understanding of being Nehiyaw. As Floyd Favel, a Nehiyaw artist, writes in “Weskawewin,” “Life is Movement. We believe that all life on earth is in constant movement, the Sun, the Earth, the Moon, the Wind, the Trees, our Cells, our Blood, our Heart. One of our words for Death is ‘Poni Waskawewin’, meaning ‘Cessation of Movement.’ This is how much the idea of movement informs our perception of Life.”
Movement and dance not only define my physical being on Earth but also act as a connection to my ancestors and future ancestors. Cipayak E-Nimihitowin, which translates to “the spirits dancing in the sky,” is the name for the northern lights or aurora borealis. I was taught that these dancing lights are our ancestors and Elders in the spirit world. As Nehiyawak, we also believe that we come to Earth from the stars. To be Nehiyawak is to move with the universe, earth, stars, animals and more.
“Live in the movement” is a phrase I wrote down by accident. I meant to write “Live in the moment,” which is a well-known phrase, meaning to live each day with mindfulness and to be present. The word “moment” refers to a specific point in time, adhering to the western view of time as linear and disconnected from other points in time. This is contrary to the Indigenous view of time as circular, involving processes of renewal, and the idea that things are constantly changing and moving.
Indigenous people often joke about the phrase “Indian time” as the habit of being late. It actually refers to the idea that things happen as they are meant to be. I have also heard it referred to as “sacred time.”
I adopted the phrase “Live in the movement” as a mantra for myself as a Nehiyaw Iskwew dancer, encompassing the complexity of life as movement and the view of time from a circular, Indigenous perspective, connecting life past, present and future. This perspective fits with my role as a practitioner of the Anishinaabe (Ojibway) hoop dance. This was the story and tradition that was shared with me by my hoop dance teacher, Jerry First Charger (Kainai).
Dance and movement are not only an aspect of life but also an aspect of living a good life. Nitohnahk Miyo Pimadisiwin (seeking a good life) is described by Dr. Micheal Anthony Hart (Nehiyaw) as a process of “learning, growing and being in becoming” in Seeking Mino-Pimatisiwin: An Aboriginal Approach
to Helping. It’s the way we move through our lives, not just physically but also spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
Nehiyaw is the name for a Cree person in my language. One translation says this name comes from the number four – newo. Nehiyaw can then be interpreted as the “four parts people,” which is in reference to the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental aspects of being human. In terms of dance, one of the most important aspects is the spiritual; many traditional ceremonies include dance as a central component. The hoop dance itself originated as a healing dance, and learning the teachings and stories behind this art form inspired me to change my life.
I will be 13 years sober this year; the hoop dance inspired me to make physical changes by taking care of my body, diet and fitness. The physical changes encompass movement, or the dance (literally the steps we take), as well as taking action. I began to dance more, which led to travel – physical movement through space and across landscapes. In more recent times, this evolved into a “land dance” practice inspired by one of my mentors, Rulan Tangen of Dancing Earth Creations.
Emotional wellness is about our heart, relationships and our feelings. In my case, physical movement across Turtle Island helped me build positive relationships with others. Through choreography, I was able to express my emotions and feelings. I have also been trained in Indigenous Tools for Living, a trauma-informed practice that is body-centred and land-based. I use these skills to listen to my body as a way to understand emotions and inspire creativity.
Understanding our emotions helps us become stronger. The mental aspect of ourselves is our wisdom, knowledge and how we think. My understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing includes positive psychology and growth mindset. In particular, the hoop dance teaches us that each challenge we go through helps us grow faster, stronger and smarter. This teaching allows us to face any challenge with a positive mental attitude. The idea of lifelong learning, for me, is represented in the hoop itself, with no beginning and no end. It represents the infinite knowledge of the universe and our ability to continuously grow.
Through Indigenous dance, we reclaim our way of moving and our way of living a good life. We re-establish our interconnectedness with the world and universe, including the land, animals, plants and elements. We reclaim our bodies and how we use them. We reclaim our hearts and spirit and how we express ourselves. We reclaim our minds, our knowledge and our wisdom. As dancers we make a conscious choice of motion and exercise our self-determination, and in those instances, we feel alive and free. That is why I say “Live in the movement.”
Sandra Lamouche is a champion women’s hoop dancer and an award-winning educator.
Movement and dance not only define my physical being on Earth but also act as a connection to my ancestors and future ancestors.