Teachings from the Tree of Life, part 38: The Wiindigoo Has Always Been Here

zhaawano
3 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Manidoo-giizis (Spirit Moon) (January 25, 2026)

"Wenabozho Defies the Ghost Warrior" painting by Zhaawano Giizhik

Boozhoo,

Today, decent people in the suburbs awaken to the horrifying realization that a bloodthirsty Wiindigoo lives among us, intentionally destroying everything they hold dear and believe in. It is only now, as the streets are filled with heavily armed, masked ICE stormtroopers spreading terror and death, and their erratic, predatory leader unlawfully invades or threatens to annex allied sovereign nations with white populations, that the moderately thinking American of European descent begins to panic and speak out. However, the sinister spirit of Wiindigoo has always been here, lurking beneath the surface of those who shaped America.

The cruel oppression demonstrated by Donald Trump and his regime may be new to the suburbs, but it is a familiar reality for ghettos and reservations, which have endured structural and systemic oppression for a long time. The idea of American democracy has always been an illusion, a facade upheld by those in power.

Without the backing of a third of the American population, Trump could never have risen. His ascent to power was inevitable; the warning signs were there for a long time, yet few took the time to acknowledge them. If the emergence of the Trump autocracy shows us anything, it is that it does not terminate democracy. Democracy in America has never genuinely existed. A system where laws primarily favor big corporations and the wealthy is an illusion of democracy. Trump is simply an extension of this system, revealing a reality that has always been present but is now laid bare for all to see.

Be assured, this nightmare will eventually come to an end. History shows that oppressive regimes ultimately fall, and autocrats and tyrants often encounter the same violence they once imposed. When the chaos subsides and the full extent of the damage becomes clear, as the broken system once known as America strives to rebuild, it might be a good time to pause and reflect on the hard-learned lessons. The US need to remember its own history. We have clung for too long to a system founded on historical distortion, repression, and lies. We must emerge from the ruins and reshape the false notion of America.

So, how can we achieve this? An ancient Ojibwe teaching, known as "The Tree of Life," suggests that when we encounter confusion, we can choose a different branch from the tree of life and follow it toward discovery. By stepping back and observing, we can see numerous branches available for us to select. We must reevaluate our path and create a new narrative, one that doesn't merely safeguard the status quo and the assets of the wealthy and powerful but includes everyone and leaves no one behind. Only a brutally honest narrative, courageous enough to break from the past and, regardless of the cost, protect the earth's future and ensure the well-being of our children and grandchildren, will keep the Wiindigoo at bay. Only then can we prevent the emergence of another Donald Trump.

Miigwech.