Ganaw-Zhawenjige (Ga-naw-zha-wen-zhee-gay)

The Child Welfare Office located at 402 Albert St. East in Sault Ste. Marie was given their name, Ganaw-Zhawenjige, on February 26, 2024, by traditional healer, Trevor Sayers.  Trevor had a series of dreams, pipe ceremonies and visions to determine our name, which means to take care of and protect with kindness.  He then gifted us with a blue stone and this sweetgrass (pictured top left) as our symbols to carry with us wherever we go. The stone represents strength, wisdom and guidance, and the sweetgrass (one of our sacred medicines) represents kindness.  He also presented us with our colours; Dark Blue, Light Blue, White, Yellow, Red, Purple, and Turquoise.  We are honoured and humbled and will use the teachings from his dreams to guide us as we protect the children and families of Michipicoten First Nation.