Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s mission patch for the Artemis II mission is steeped in symbolism. Among other things, it highlights the wisdom of the Seven Sacred Laws of the Indigenous peoples—something we can all learn from.

During the Artemis II mission, I was struck by the humility displayed by Jeremy Hansen and how he considered his role small in comparison to what the mission represented for all of humanity. Hearing him speak about the design of his mission patch prompted me to learn more about its symbolism.

Learning from Indigenous wisdom

Hansen spent a decade learning from Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers across Canada. Anishinaabe artist Henry Guimond designed Hansen’s mission patch with the contribution of Dave Courchene III, leader of the Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. Hansen says the patch is his way of recognizing the importance of traditional knowledge and Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Each element on the patch recognizes Hansen’s journey to the Artemis II mission and what it represents for Canadians and all of humankind. The Canadian Space Agency website shares the story of the mission patch’s design and explains its symbolism.

The symbols that intrigued me the most relate to the Seven Sacred Laws of the Indigenous peoples.

The Seven Sacred Laws

Also known as the Seven Grandfather Teachings, the Seven Sacred Laws are ancestral values that inspire our conduct as human beings and bring us back into a relationship with Mother Earth. A different animal represents each of the values.

Let’s take a closer look.

• The Buffalo represents Respect. As the buffalo gives its entire being to feed the people, the teachings tell us to respect others and give of ourselves to create a better existence for all.
• The Eagle represents Love. The teachings of Indigenous elders reveal one’s true purpose is always rooted in love and support of others.
• The Bear represents Courage. As a mother bear shows tremendous courage in protecting her cubs, humans require courage and resilience to overcome life’s challenges.
• Bigfoot represents Honesty, encouraging us to speak true and good words and avoid gossip.
• The Beaver represents Wisdom, urging us to acknowledge our gifts and put them to use in the service of others.
• The Wolf represents Humility. Indigenous peoples believe the sun shines on us all equally and no one is better or less than others. 
• Finally, the Turtle represents Truth. The elders teach that to know and understand truth, we first need to understand the six other teachings. The turtle leaves a trail for us to follow.

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Simple values to help us live better lives

Like many Indigenous teachings, following these simple values helps us to live better lives. I think we can all agree that Jeremy Hansen represents every one of these values well. We should all be proud of how he conducted himself before, during, and after the mission.

Learn more about the Seven Sacred Laws and the other symbolism of Jeremy Hansen’s Artemis II mission patch on the Canadian Space Agency website.

Which of these Seven Sacred Laws resonates with you most? For me, I think it would have to be the wolf—humility. Drop me a comment below and let me know.