HUMILITY – Wolf / Ma’hin’gan / Paqtism

This kit includes a beautiful selection of hand snipped glass mosaic tile, ready for you to place and glue.  Creating a beautiful addition to your home décor, bringing a burst of colour and a unique design.

Suitable for complete beginners with no special tools.

Kit includes:

• 21cm MDF engraved Wolf template
• Selection of hand snipped glass mosaic tiles
• 40ml PVA glue
• 150g Black grout
• Mosaic & grouting instructions
• The 7 Grandfather Teaching Information Card with details about Wolf and the 6 other designs in the series.

Teachings

HUMILITY – Wolf / Ma’hin’gan / Paqtism

Humility is represented by the Wolf—Ma’hin’gan in Anishinaabe and Anisininew, and Paqtism in Mi’kmaq. The Wolf is known not only for its intelligence and strength, but for how it lives within the pack. Unlike the lone wolf image popular in mainstream culture, traditional teachings honour the Wolf for its ability to live in balance with others, to know its role, and to contribute to the wellbeing of the group. From the Wolf, we learn that humility is not about making ourselves small—it is about recognizing that we are part of something greater.

In Indigenous worldviews, humility is rooted in the understanding that all beings are equal in the eyes of the Creator. No person is more important than another, and no creature is too small to be acknowledged. The Wolf embodies this through its cooperative and respectful way of life. In a wolf pack, each member has a role to play, from the strongest hunter to the youngest pup. Each one depends on the others, and no one survives alone. In the same way, we are reminded that our individual gifts and abilities matter most when used in service of our families, communities, and Nations.

Humility begins with self-acceptance. It’s not about shame or unworthiness—it’s about being grounded in who we are. The Wolf teaches us to know ourselves deeply: to recognize our strengths, to acknowledge our weaknesses, and to always be willing to learn. When we are humble, we are teachable. We listen more than we speak. We accept guidance. We seek wisdom, not attention. And we use our gifts not for status or praise, but to uplift others.

This teaching is especially important in leadership. In traditional governance, humility is seen as a vital trait of strong leaders. A humble leader leads by example, consults the people, and makes decisions with the collective in mind. They are not motivated by ego, but by service. They do not claim to have all the answers, but surround themselves with those who carry knowledge. Humility in leadership ensures balance, fairness, and the wellbeing of the group.

In everyday life, humility guides how we speak, act, and walk in the world. It reminds us not to boast, not to speak over others, and not to assume we are always right. It also calls us to respect the gifts of others—even when they differ from our own. Humility is in the way we learn from children, listen to Elders, honour animals and plants, and acknowledge that all life is sacred. It is an ongoing practice of placing our spirits in harmony with the world around us.

Wolf also teaches us that humility is a source of strength. It allows us to grow, to connect, and to walk gently on the Earth. It reminds us that we are never alone—we are surrounded by relatives, both human and more-than-human, who walk with us. To be humble is to remember that we are not the center of Creation, but an essential thread in its great web.

To walk with the Wolf is to walk with quiet confidence, knowing who we are, where we come from, and how we can serve. Ma’hin’gan, Paqtism—these sacred beings guide us to live in balance with ourselves and all our relations, with heads held high, but never above others.