Waabishki Miigis Aki
The art and design of this distinctive logo for the website derives from the mythology of Sky Woman. The traditional story of an expectant divine woman known to Anishinaabe people as Giizhigookwe (Sky woman) was a supernatural being who came from the stars.
Waabishki Miigis Aki when translated in English means white shell earth. The white cowrie shell on the logo represents the breath of life. Collectively Diane Maytwayashing sketched and highlighted the logo’s concept, and in collaboration with Lindiwe Lord, they transformed the sketched-out logo model into a graphic design.
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Chickadee Richard
“We are the land, as part of our Creation Story, we were lowered here from the sky’s, our stories, our songs, and our ceremonies continue to define us with our Anishinaabe ways through the land.”
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Jenny Dupas - Moon Gate Guest House
“It was a hot summer day in The Whiteshell. Diane and her daughter welcomed us on a tour of the Bannock Point Petroforms. Diane's perspective and depth of knowledge about the petroforms were enlightening. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who would like to delve deeper into learning about the Anishinaabe culture.”
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Britney Hope - Canadian Traveller Magazine Writer
"This tour is something everyone who is passing through Whiteshell Provincial Park should experience. I visited the Bannock Point Petroforms—or ‘Manitouabee’—with the expectation of seeing a unique and meaningful monument to Indigenous history. The reality was so much more profound than that, thanks to Ms. Maytwayashing. Her tour was a perfect blend of cultural and archeological insight, cultural storytelling and spiritual generosity that made my visit to the Petroforms feel personal, emotional and truly one of a kind. From the tobacco offering at the edge of the forest and Ms. Maytwayashing's retelling of the 8,000-year-old history to her own experiences of overnight fasting at the site and the repatriation of Indigenous remains, her tour left me feeling like I, a lifelong Canadian, still had so much to still discover and learn about the real history of Turtle Island. The way Ms. Maytwayashing shared her knowledge of and love for the Petroforms with me throughout that day made the experience of walking through such an ancient, meaningful space felt deep and everlasting. It stays with me even today, years later, and I'm not likely to forget that feeling anytime soon. In fact, I hope I can visit again!”
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David Christopher - Environmentalist
“The tour was a dose of reality and truth that I’d been yearning for. At the end, Diane read and shared that I’m hawk clan which has been unfolding for me ever since. Looking forward to returning to this sacred place and praying for its protection.”
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Tammy Hansen - North End Women's Centre
“Diane Maytwayashing is a beautiful Knowledge Keeper who has been a teacher to many staff and participants at the North End Women’s Centre (NEWC) over the last many years. The Whiteshell Petroforms are beautiful, powerful and a spiritual place where the Anishinaabe creation story begins, as well as the matriarchal society that once existed, on-site in ceremonies. Having guided tours by a land-based Knowledge Keeper is the appropriate way to honour this sacred space. Diane walked beside us sharing stories and teachings in a way that can only be experienced on the land. She also brought her woman’s pipe and drum and offered us a ceremony where staff and participants were given their spirit names, colours, and clans. NEWC will continue to book with Diane to allow women to reconnect with Culture and heal on the land. Thank you, Diane, for loving us beautifully.”