The "Water is Life" Rosary
"Water is Life" is an important statement to the Native communities. Given that Baraga spent his time with the Ojibwe and Ottawa who lived on and around Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world by shoreline, it felt important to have the first rosary attributed to this important element. A portion of all proceeds will go to help the "Water is Life" campaign in helping to preserve the waters around Lake Superior.
Centerpiece: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha by a river
Behind Saint Kateri in this centerpiece you can see a river flowing. Saint Kateri is the first Native saint in the Catholic Church. To the Native populations, she is beyond important. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 and was baptized in the year of 1676, ten years after her introduction to the Jesuits. She was born to an Algonquin mother and Iroquois father. Kateri Tekakwitha became a Saint in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. To learn more about Saint Kateri, please click here.
Crucifix: The Pipestone Cross
This crucifix plays the greatest importance. The crucifix is made of pipestone, which is traditional to the Native pipes. The purpose in having this be pipestone is so that the Native populations have the ability to honor an element that is still important to Native Catholics today...the Native Pipe. As someone who worked in Pipestone, MN...with the Native pipes...I can say that this element is beyond important to this design. The goal is to create what the pipestone represents. The goal is to create peace and reconciliation. The Native pipe, otherwise called the Peace Pipe, has been known to be used for this purpose for centuries...from the time that they sat with the Jesuits to now.
Mysteries and Our Fathers: The Megis Shell
For the Ojibwe and Ottawa populations that Baraga worked with, the Megis shell played an important part of their histories. The Ojibwe and Ottawa were brought to the regions around Lake Superior due to a prophecy that held importance to them called the Seven Fires Prophecy. This Megis (Cowrie) shell was to appear until they found what is called in the Ojibwe language "Manoomin" which translates to "food on the water" or what we now know as wild rice. Father Baraga understood the importance of these lands to the Ojibwe populations and as a result bought and deeded land to them and did all he could to help them remain here.
Hail Mary: Blue Wooden Beads
The blue wooden beads were thoughtfully chosen. The wood represents the standing nation or tree nation to the Native populations. The color blue was chosen to represent the color of water. Given that this rosary is meant to bring greater attention and awareness to the Water is Life cause that is so important to the Native populations. A portion of all proceeds will go towards the care of the Native populations.