I can still hear Michael’s joyful laugh. It was a rich, belly-shaking sound that could instantly uplift and connect us all, reminding us of his warmth and the happiness he shared.
We were sitting together one afternoon in his art studio in Espanola, surrounded by his vibrant artwork. The cameras were rolling; we were right in the middle of filming our documentary, The Creation Story of Michael Cy Cywink.
Cy was mid-painting demonstration, fluidly moving his brush across the canvas, when he suddenly paused. He set his brush down, reached for Eddie Benton-Banai’s The Mishomis Book, and opened it up to Chapter 8: The Seven Grandfather Teachings and the Little Boy.
It was a space heavy with his spirit and creative energy, a perfect backdrop for our usual reciprocity—that constant, beautiful exchange of ideas and stories. But on this particular day, Cy was about to drop a piece of wisdom that would permanently alter how I view the world.
As we looked at the teachings of how those gifts (The Seven Grandfather Teachings) were brought to the people, our conversation turned to Aakdehewin – Bravery. Usually, when people talk about bravery, they point straight to the imagery of the bear. The bear is loud, heavy, and fierce. But Cy never liked looking at things through a rigid, textbook box. He looked at creation with fresh, artistic eyes.
He smiled that big, knowing smile of his, gestured around the studio, and asked, “How come a butterfly can’t be honoured for its bravery? I don’t know any other animal that flies all the way south and back. Now that is bravery.”
He was entirely right. Think about a monarch butterfly. It possesses no heavy claws, no roaring voice, and no armour. It is paper-thin and completely vulnerable to the elements. Yet, driven by pure purpose, it travels thousands of miles through unpredictable storms, predators, and shifting winds just to return home. It does this to ensure the survival of the next generation. That isn’t just survival—that is absolute, unwavering courage.
Cy taught me that day that the teachings aren’t strictly locked to a specific animal. They are alive. He showed me that bravery isn’t about being the biggest or loudest force in the room. True Aakdehewin is carrying a fragile heart through a massive journey and never turning back.
Losing my best friend has felt like navigating a relentless, turbulent storm. Grief makes you feel paper-thin, as though a sudden gust of wind could shatter you completely. But even though Cy has now made his beautiful Grand Entry into the spirit world, his words remain preserved right here with me, captured in time just like the footage of our film.
That footage and the spirit of that day are finally being shared with the world. Join us for the documentary premiere on [June 21] to honour his legacy and community spirit.
Alongside the film, the community can step directly into the world we were building that day through an exhibition of his work titled The Art of Michael Cy Cywink, running from June 10 to July 11.
Remembering his butterfly story helps me see that moving forward through grief doesn’t mean being loud or fierce like a bear. Instead, it requires the quiet, persistent bravery Cy spoke of-honouring his memory by gently keeping my wings moving, trusting the wind to guide me through the dark.
Walk softly in the spirit world, my friend. Baa Maa Pii. We will meet again.
***
Cory Bilyea is an Indigenous journalist working with Midwestern Newspapers. She is a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River, better known as Onkwehonwe, the original people. Cory is a survivor of intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools. She can be reached at cbilyea@midwesternnewspapers.com.
