“Love is a gift from the Creator given to Anishinaabe people so they can learn to love themselves, learn to love creation — the earth, the sky, the waters, everything,” says Jaimie Kechego.

Learning specialist in Indigenization at the Centre for Teaching and Learning, she is Anishnaabwekwe from Deshkaan Ziibing — the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation reserve — and a UWindsor grad twice over (BA 2006, B.Ed 2015).

Kechego agreed to share with DailyNews readers her understanding of the concept of Zaagidwin, love, one of the seven Grandfather Teachings represented along Turtle Island Walk.

“Love is unconditional, sacred, and based in truth — you can’t have one without the other,” she says. All of the teachings are interdependent and, says Kechego, contain a universal message.

“Every culture has a version of this teaching: when you’re acting with love, you tend to put more good stuff into the universe. What comes back is blessings.”

She says she tries to act in accordance with the seven teachings.

“No matter your background, no matter what you have learned, what ultimately matters is your beliefs and your actions,” Kechego says.

Watch for articles on the other teachings in DailyNews through the summer.