Artemis 2 astronaut Jeremy Hansen took this picture of a totem pole during a vision quest with the Turtle Lodge. The lodge is situated on the Indigenous lands of Sagkeeng First Nation (also known as Fort Alexander), Manitoba, Canada, on the southern tip of Lake Winnipeg. (Image credit: Jeremy Hansen/Canadian Space Agency/Twitter)
...the term “vision quest” describes a spiritual journey in various Indigenous cultures in which participants, often adolescents, are said to receive sacred knowledge and strength from the spirit world.
Friday evening we joined millions of people -- hundreds of millions? -- in watching the splashdown of the capsule containing the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission to the moon. I can't figure out why humanity needs to be engaged in this endeavour at a time when our Earthship home is in peril but we all have our opinions. These four proved themselves to be brave and likeable individuals, including Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian to the moon. And full marks to the crew for travelling more than 1.1 million kilometres and sticking the landing, about a mile from the target.
Jeremy Hansen (far right) with Artemis II crew members
You may have heard that three years ago Jeremy undertook a four-day Vision Quest as part of his personal preparation for the Artemis mission. He did so in Canada, at Turtle Lodge in Manitoba, an experience described this way:
Turtle Lodge is an international centre for Indigenous education based upon the goal of Mino-Pi-Mati-Si-Win, translated as "a good and peaceful way of life" on the organization's website. The lodge follows universal values (more specifically, seven sacred laws and the eight paths of life) from the Anishinaabe peoples of the region.
The vision quest, often undertaken as a traditional rite of passage for young people shifting to adulthood, asks participants to fast for four days in the wilderness under the supervision of Indigenous elders.
Anishinaabe artist Henry Guimond from Sagkeeng First Nation created CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s personal mission patch for the historic Artemis II mission. (Instagram / Canadian Space Agency)
I'm impressed that Hansen chose to do this, to get his heart, mind, and spirit right before slipping the surly bonds of Earth, borrowing from the High Flight poem. And to show respect for Indigenous tradition was both wise and classy. He chose to include images of the seven sacred laws on his mission patch, including Grandmother Moon.
There are Judeo/Christian equivalents of the Vision Quest, or Dream Quest, or Dream Fast as it also called. Think of Moses and his encounter with Yahweh, the great "I am" in the wilderness. Elijah was enveloped in the mountaintop storm before hearing the still voice of God. Jesus spent his forty days in the rugged terrain of Judea before his ministry commenced, an experience reflected in the season of Lent.
For a few years while we lived in Sudbury, Ontario, we concluded Confirmation, a rite of passage for our teens with a trip to Dreamers Rock on Manitoulin Island. This is a traditional Dream Quest location overlooking Georgian Bay where access is now restricted, understandably so. I've never had the opportunity to ask any of those young people (now middle aged!) what they recall or if the climb made a lasting impression.
Thank you Jeremy Hansen for representing Canada so well and respecting the Seven Teachings: Wisdom, Bravery, Humility, Love, Respect. Honesty, Truth.
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