'Perseverance'

Perseverance

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Perseverance, the ability to maintain a worthy course of action, especially in the face of adversity, is an important quality in life. The First People often found important attributes exemplified in the lives of those creatures with which they shared Mother Earth. They came to see the quality of perseverance exemplified in the life of Wolf (Ma-iingan), an important totem animal to many First Peoples. It is in their dedication to family (the pack), especially their young, where Wolf embodies perseverance. Providing for the young means that Wolf has to persevere in the hunt. In the picture, one can see the ever guarding and watchful mother as her cubs gather around the remains of Moose (Moozo) -- whose life has been given that theirs can be nourished.  The most important life-giver, the sun, is also present and we can see sun’s sustaining energy cascading down to the young cubs and also in their mother’s heart.