Confessions of an Ojibway

To Pay Money to a Medicine Man/Woman

2012-01-26T14:33:00.016-06:00

There are groups of Native people out there that are working hard to protect the integrity of Native Culture. They watch out for and expose individuals that are misrepresenting Native identity/spirituality/arts and life. I wrote a little about this a while back.
But I am not going to cover that part today. I am going to talk about the commercial gain or aspect of being a Medicine Person. Remember a while back this "guru", James Arthur Ray got paid a lot of money to do some Medicine Man type stuff. He didn't claim to be Indian but he did appropriate stuff from Native culture (and other people as well). In the end what he did was sad; three people died because of him. There are people out there that will charge you money for some type of good feeling adventure. This was one of them. People paid huge, HUGE money, to this fellow. Had it not been for his greed, packing so much people into a big hot canvas and plastic covered structure, he most likely would be still doing his stuff today. He was a big name guru and no one questioned him. That is why there are people out there like:
The Plastic Medicine People Circle. Native Religions and plastic medicine men.
Ward Churchill I am not a mascot These people are out there watching for money gurus and other money hucksters.

However, what of the genuine Gurus?(I use this term jokingly and mean no offense to gifted people) I mean the Gifted Ones that are out there really helping people, the Elders, the Teachers, the Medicine people. Do we question them, their gifts, their integrity, if they are getting paid?

I know it is a slippery slope of contamination when the money factor is brought into the equation. People will turn it into another organized religious factory. That is the fear that people may have if money is brought into the mix. That the Traditions will be corrupted. Someone will ask if presenting tobacco is enough? Enough compensation? Tobacco is sacred medicine and that should be all the Gifted One needs to help. Right? People will tell you to stay away from someone who asks for a donation, a gift or money for their services. I get that. Commercialization of the Gift that the Creator gave someone (the one who can heal people). People don't want Traditional Medicine to become like a pharmacy/drugstore/Shoppers Drug Mart/Rexall.

For me that is not the thing I am talking about. I know that Tobacco is sacred and that presenting Tobacco is a time honoured act. The person who accepts the tobacco does his/her deed out of a tradition of honouring that tobacco gift. That is an awesome tradition and we should continue. But, lets put some context here. Way back when, there was no 7/11 or Macs store around the corner for you to walk in and drop your money and get tobacco. To acquire tobacco and other medicines, it took effort, real effort. So that tobacco had (along with it's Sacred worth) substance to it. Today, that effort is no longer there. Even some aspect of the sacredness is gone. I mean really, if you really respect tobacco would you be smoking a pack and day and just throwing the butts everywhere? It has become a commodity, like a pack of gum. Tobacco has always been a commodity for Native people, but it had more weight to it's worth. Its value was not measured by how much a pack of cigarettes cost. it was a valuable trade good. So if you really want to honour someone with tobacco, put some weight behind it.

Traditional people will always accept tobacco for working the Creators will, that is because the are not working for the money. They are working for the Creator. But if you have something to offer them, do that as well.

I think the weight of what they do, should be worth something. If it offends you to pay for a Traditional Medicines' gifts, than don't pay them. But don't make a mockery of the Traditions by just giving a cigarette from your open pack.

In the end it comes down to the individual, How much do you feel an Elder/Teacher/Medicine person's efforts are worth? And what it is you are seeking from that Elder/Teacher and Medicine person. Is it worth it for you to offer something?

You know that in Canada, that non-insured benefits that Indians claim, will pay for travel to see a Medicine person. But the insurance will not cover the cost of the Medicine man. You know his/her Pay for services. It is not because the Medicine man/woman is not as good as a western doctor, but it has to do with liability. If the non-insurance pays for the services and something goes wrong than the non-insurance agent might be liable as well. At least that is what I think. Maybe I am wrong and they are just following Native tradition (but I doubt that the government follows Native traditions).

That is the thing I think people have it wrong, even our own people. There is the belief that there was no commerce way back when. When in fact that is not true. Commerce existed, as well other aspects that you would find in any society. We were not without trade/laws/family/laws/education/roles/responsibilities and other social networks and norms.

So I hope that the next time you seek out a Helper/Teacher/Medicine person that you are able to offer them some meaningful gift. It is just right to do that.

There are people who will always tell you anyway if someone is not doing right or proper. The Native community talks to each other.

8th Fire Dave Courchene Jr.

2012-01-20T00:43:00.003-06:00

A video profile of Elder/Traditional Teacher/Visionary Dave Courchene Jr. of Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba Canada. I hope you can see the Wisdom he has to offer. The passion in his voice.

We need to hear, but more important need to listen.

Rites of Passage

David Courchene, Neeghani Aki Innini (Leading Earth Man) has travelled internationally, carrying a message of hope and peace, and sharing ancient indigenous knowledge that he believes can act as the foundation in supporting the New Life, that Mother Earth is now entering, and that the Elders have confirmed has arrived.

He has created a special place for sharing ancient indigenous knowledge – the Turtle Lodge – which was built based on a vision that he received many years ago. Indigenous people have always relied on visions and dreams to give guidance and direction in life. These processes for finding one’s life vision is a particular gift he has to offer young people at this time and believes that we would more quickly create a world of balance with such guidan

Guess What? I am going to CUBA,

2012-01-20T00:14:00.002-06:00

Yeah that's right I am CUBA (sounds like ko-ba). Holy Heck. My wife is taking me. Holy heck I am thinking, Me in Cuba. What to wear, what to wear? Wife said no speedos. You know I heard her a few years ago talking about a trip she went on and the banana hammocks. Never knew what the heck a banana hammock was until not too long ago. Sheesh.

I am actually looking forward to the trip. It is the idea of meeting new people. I am not really that interested in meeting other travelers, but thats okay too. I want to make friends with Indigenous folk. Yeah that is what I think. But why would they want to make friends with tourists? In any case it will be interesting to go. My wife is such a good person. Always trying to make feel good and better. The other day we had Feast for My Boy, our boy. He would have been 27. Wow, time is going so fast, but time is standing still in some ways too. Oops going doing that route again, better change direction.

So, I have been reading the travel trip advisors and trip tips about Koba. Need to change money for pesos at the airport once we arrive and save 25 for the fee coming back. Most comments are about the rooms, the hotel and the service. Mix of reviews from great to "don't go".

My cousin went and he talked about the people. He says they are so friendly. Take baby clothes he told me. People are poor and need items. I don't really know too much about Cuba, except the U.S. does not like them. That's kind of weird. The States will do business and help all sorts of political regimes all over the world but this little country is a threat to them? Funny the U.S. (and Canada) still give foreign aide to China ( the new economic power house of the world) but maintains strict embargoes against this poor neighbour?

In any case, KOBA here I come.

So you want to be a Traditional Indian.

2012-01-18T00:31:00.004-06:00

These are some of the things I have heard said around the Traditional Circles. Interesting. "You must go for a Fast". "If you cook for a Feast you must use wood utensils." "You must not be on your time if you want to cook for a Feast." "You shouldn't be thinking negative things while you are by the Fire". "Go into the bush and find Juniper". People will tell what they think you should do or how you should behave in any situation. In this instance I am using Traditional people examples. I could have easily used Christianity as an example as well: "you have to go to church", "you have to give money to the church", "say your Rosary", "never go to bed mad", "don't swear". With any lifestyle or way of life, we expect that there are certain 'rules' that we must follow. Not sure if that is true, but we all have some ideas as to how a person behaves if they are following a certain lifestyle (don't bug out about me calling a way of life, a lifestyle-I know they are not really the same thing)

There are many people saying many things when it comes to being a Traditional Person. For those that don't know, being Traditional refers to following an Indian Way of Life, specifically Native Ancestral Teachings. One of the things that many people don't realize that being "Traditional" is a very demanding lifestyle. It is demanding if you truly wish to live Traditional. Not the aspect of living traditional in the sense of reversing time, (you know living in a tipi and traveling by canoe or horse) but being Traditional in following the Spirit and Intent (stealing a phrase here) of what it means to be a Traditional Believer.

Today on the CBC television news there was a story about this person who is using an "Aboriginal Parole Hearing". The Person is Haitian born and not a Canadian Indian. The man killed a fifteen year old girl; raping and stabbing her 51 times. The father of young girl is upset that the Aboriginal Parole is being used by someone that is not of Indian Heritage. That is not his first objection. He would believe that the killer was sincere if he was immersed in the "Red Road" (the Dad used these words) and not just using it to gain some advantage. The Dad also feels that it is an insult to the people and Elders that worked so hard to get Aboriginal content into the Parole system. The reason I mention this story is that many people are wrong when they think Healing Circles or Aboriginal Parole Hearings are suppose to be an easy way out. People are mistaken.

A number of years ago, the Justice system in Canada brought in Traditional Healing Circles for Aboriginal Offenders. It was an attempt to have a "holistic" approach to the Justice system; like in handing out sentences, or penalties. People must know that in the Circles it was still the Judge that handed out the sentences of penalties. The Circles were a corrupted version of Traditional Native Justice. It is okay because many Indians have this skewed vision of what Native lifestyle was before the colonization and corruption of cultural beliefs by Christianity. People believe it was all harmony. You must remember that good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds are punished. In a sustenance culture (people who live off the Land) cohesive life is a necessity. Live well with others and the whole community lives well. A bunch of selfish bastards would not survive. So there is truth in the whole harmony, or as I was told - to have Balance in the old way of life. Today we have forgotten the whole balance concept. Even some of our own people think that Traditional is all about Respect (like in the Seven Teachings). But people forget Traditional life is about Sacrifice. It is about living a certain way that makes the Whole Community benefit. You cannot have a healthy community with just people going one way.

So with some people it is only one way. Like the whole being kind thing. If you are kind you are weak. Not true, some of the kindest decisions that you make are some of the hardest things to do. Like in our Reserve. There are gangsters and drug dealers; woman beaters, deadbeat dads, abusing parents, and other bad actors. What would a balanced community do? You want to be kind to the community? Traditional Healing circles in the Reserve. Does that mean community hug? No it does not. If Traditional values and attitudes are adhered to, than some men would be castrated, people would be banished and some would be killed. At least this is what I was told on numerous occasions. But we don't live in that world, so that is just not going to happen. So now what? Communities could still follow the spirit and intent of what a balanced community should be and how it should behave. So for the people to be kind to themselves and others, than they would have to banish people that are doing harm in the community. Or at the least get them to correct their behaviour. Some modern ways to do that would be to deny them any services from the community. If the community did nothing and let the drug dealers, gangsters continue, then the community would not be being kind to itself. The hard decision to be kind would mean punishment for the bad people doing bad deeds. Get it?

You know in some communities the whole idea of restorative justice still means making amends. Fixing things. To make whole. It can never be but the balance comes in the Continued attempt to fix things. You can never bring back the life a little girl that you killed while driving drunk. But you Continue to make amends for your life time. Some make-amends attempts are symbolic, like having yearly Give-Aways. The family of the girl may never ever accept the gifts, but you keep up the attempts. It is not meant to quantify the life of the child in terms of gifts, but there is the public display of acknowledgement that the child was killed at your hands and you must atone for that deed. Whether or not the family accepts is their choice to make. But regardless you continue to atone throughout our life. That is all you can do.

A Teacher of mine asked Her Teacher (a very well known Elder) about all the sexual abuse that went on in the Residential schools. What would happen if that happened in the community. The Elder said it wouldn't happen. But she insisted, if it did happen, what would happen. The Elder again said it wouldn't happen. He said the person would be killed. Traditionalist must always remember that there has to be balance. To ensure that harmony was practiced in the community there also had to be an incentive to keep it going. You share because it means the whole community benefits. You don't steal because if you do, only you benefit and someone loses out. Not a good way to live in a small community. You also did your share to make sure the community benefited.

Traditional life is just not about smudging and going to the Sweat and prayer. It is about embracing the values of the Ancestors. That includes the concept of the whole. Right now there is a breakdown of the whole and we are becoming more and more about the individual. A truly Traditional Indian, will sacrifice for the whole. That means going out and working for the whole. If a Woman needs wood chopped you go and do it. If you can't you hire someone to do it. If you go to a Sweatlodge, you bring something for the people to eat. You chip in to help. You bring something to share. Tobacco is great and Sacred but there is more to embracing the life than sharing Tobacco. You want to be Traditional, talk out against violence in your community. Give heck to a youth smashing someone else property. Help a Mom with her groceries. Talk to the Old ones. Talk to the young ones. Work up a good sweat by doing some labour in the community. Get off your fat arse and walk for a cause. Share your food.

Anyway.

Keeping Ojibway language alive one person at a time.

2012-01-11T23:55:00.005-06:00

Indigenous Languages are dying all over the world (as we speak). It is not just a situation that is damaging to Aboriginal people in Canada and the U.S. but to other Indigenous people around the world. Is there a chance to reverse the trend of language loss? Who knows? I just know that with new technologies and interest from young people, maybe Indigenous languages will survive.

I know when I was a kid my parents wanted it (the world) to be easier on us, so they spoke English to us growing up. We heard them speaking Ojibway to their peers but not to us. That is a shame.

Funny thing when you don't really speak to good in your language you will learn the inappropriate sayings first. Like many would say "ah keenag(k)" to each other. It refers to male organ, the penis. It would like saying "ah your prick". Used as a put down, an insult or in some cases that it's nothing.

I think religious pressures have skewed the meanings of our words as well. When we were kids, you would say something like "ah ki-too-pagun". Like "ah your vagina. When Pagun = does not even mean the vagina. Pagun is actually the Pipe. How it became perverse (not that the woman part is perverse, but how the word was used) is something that I can only speculate. I won't go into a Pipe Teaching, but if you know what the Pipe (bowl & stem) represents than maybe there is some link to why the word had become miss-used and bastardized in our community. Our community had/has a heavy heavy religious footprint there. We know that some of that influence has changed the meaning of some words, like Michimimatou. To mean the Devil. But come on really? The devil? We know that Devil's Lake in North Dakota is really Spirit Lake, but someone else thought it was the Devil, and we know who that is, don't we?

In any case there is increased pressure on indigenous languages today because of the language of trade. English being the big trade language (although some would argue that Mandarin is the biggest trade language; it does have the most speakers). I think with people like this young woman and many others like her around the Indigenous world, our languages might have a chance to survive.

Just had to add this recent video of Tim speaks Ojibwe. I could not run off sentences like that. Shame on me, but good on him. As you will see this young man is not Ojibway, nor does he have a Teacher. He is teaching himself.

Wab Kinew: Soap Box.

2012-01-10T15:22:00.002-06:00

Wab Kinew is a young Ojibway man that works in Television, and is a multi-talented artist. Wab Kinew is also the host of 8th Fire a new show on CBC.

He has a lot going on and is very proud of where he comes from. His Dad, Peter Kinew (Tobasonakwut) is an Elder, who is very knowledgeable in the Teachings of Anishinaabe.

Here is Wab Kinew

Racist Arizona Girls: Are you really that stupid?

2012-01-06T22:00:00.017-06:00

Are you really really that stupid? These young white girls made a video about their views regarding Mexicans.

Can you imagine what their lives are going to be like? Can you say pariah? In some cases these two girls will be heroes.

Interesting that these two stupid girls will end up crying on some tv show about how they made a mistake and how they are really not racist and how the world hates them and how they are afraid for their lives. That is what will happen. Poor girls.

It is quite interesting because people do stupid stuff all the time. No excuse for the behaviour of these two Ivy leaguers. Mensa candidates for sure. They have technical skills, artistic skills. They took the time to set up the shooting frame. Film In 3D and post in HD. We are talking talent here. The way they moved their little bums without the assistance of music or stand here cues (X marks the spot). The arrangement of lights and the whole production, it stands out. The writing, like it was a period piece of the old deep south era. These girls have vision and have captured what the true racist mind thinks. But you would have thought, being the brains they are, that they would have offered a qualifier to their film. You know put it context? Like, this is what we would say if we were indeed racist. :D Just kidding, these girls really are that stupid. So stupid they give a bad name to books for dummies.

There are lots, I mean lots of people out there that share the same view. Just look at Hank Williams Jr., Toby Keith, Bill O'Reilly, Rick Santorums, Ron Paul and the infamous, Ann Coulter. Only thing is these people have the power of money and also get paid for their racist (or "free speech")tirades. I am not sure what the future holds for these girls but they could be the poster child's for the Republicans or for the Governor of Arizona.

Everyone has an opinion. Even if it is really really dumb. Poor kids. (Sardonic attempt) You can see these girls being head of a corporation like Disney.

In any case I don't know what the heck these two silly girls were thinking???

But seriously, I can't imagine how ugly these girls are inside. The hatred. Just ugly. It's there, the racism, the hate, the ugliness.

This girl is so smart funny. Good stuff. She hit it spot on. :D

Now for some more stupidity.... :D

This is the only stupidity that I normally watch.

You can't be that stupid?

2011-12-30T12:05:00.002-06:00

You just can't be that stupid?!?

This Older Native woman asked me if the Midewiiwin was part of a cult. She is old and so just can't be that stupid. She was upset over the topic I wrote a while back and said that I was spreading hate. I guess I was a trying to be a "smart ass" and slapping religion, specifically, Christianity. Which I know is a bad thing. However the lady did get me thinking, when she emailed and asked if Midewiwin was a cult. Really? How stupid is that. An Indian woman yet? (Shaking my head)

It would be like me, when I never, ever questioned that the news paper printed the names of people who couldn't shop at Sears anymore. My friend would say, as he was reading the newspaper, that he was going to look at who is not allowed to shop at the store anymore. I used to think, "oh they print the name of shoplifters". Now really, how stupid can I be?

Or it is like me, when I make up scenarios of what people are doing or thinking as I encounter them. Like this one time, My wife and I were a traffic stop light and a transit bus went on by, a pedestrian was trying to get the attention of the bus driver, so he could get on the bus. The bus driver was a slightly over-weight woman. She looked at the guy waving and running. I told me wife that "this woman will pick up the guy because she will feel bad, as she knows what it is like to be picked on, ignored and bullied because of her looks, so she will be compassionate." My wife said, "no she is angry and bitter because of how people are and how people treated her, so she is going to act out like that". I said, "really?!?". My wife turned and looked at me like I was crazy. Or in this case like I was really that stupid.

Or when I was watching television and this news show was talking about the size of potatoes in Prince Edward Island. I saw this potato the size of a person. I called my wife and said "look how big that potato is!" She said "that's a sign, a replica, a novelty item, it is not real". "Oh", is all I could say.

I bet you must have heard some things that you just had to shake your head and say, "you can't be that stupid".

As for the Native lady, I think she is just being mean. Or Trying to get my goat (is that the right saying?) Anyway, she is the true embodiment of Religious indoctrination by Christianity and a long standing policy of the Canadian government. She is considered a success story in those circles. :)

By the way, my friend was referring to the obituaries. It took me years to figure that out. That bastard.

how to save a life...

2011-12-30T01:34:00.003-06:00

Really? How do we save a life???

If I knew how I wouldn't be here.

Don't tell me stuff, I am a gossip.

2011-12-20T00:04:00.005-06:00

Holy Heck! I am a big gossip bag. Don't tell me nothing cause I will spill my guts.
Just like this time this guy told me about a boy from Cross Lake that killed a moose. Killed a moose with his sling shot. No it's true.

Murray told David and David told me.

I guess this boy was out hunting with a sling shot. He came to the river and a moose was eating in the marsh. The moose would put his head under the water and eat the plants under the water. Then the moose would lift his head and look around to check if it was safe. The boy would stand still and not move. The moose would put his head back under the water and keep eating. The boy would then sneak up closer and the moose wouldn't hear because his head was under the water. As the boy got as close as he could, he took out his sling shot, aimed and fired the sling shot. The rock hit the moose right in his nut sack. The moose went "uuuph". The moose gulp water and drowned. You tell me, if you got hit in the nut sack while your head is under the water, you wouldn't gasp and gulp up all the water. You would drown too.

Another guy Dennis, who is from Pukatawagan told me about his grand-dad.

His grand-dad, Mishoom liked to keep a garden. In his garden he was growing potatoes. Strange thing started happening in his garden, his potatoes were disappearing. The Mishoom thought it was some rodent or animal that was eating his potatoes. There was a path going from a hole in the fence to his garden. So the Mishoom was going to be smart and put up a trap for the rodent. Next morning the Mishoom came and checked his trap. Stuck in the hole in the fence with their arm trapped was a woman. One of the home-brew bootleggers. Guess she needed potatoes to make home-brew. Dennis told me the woman lives down the river from his house. It's true.

Laurel told me about the guy from the Swampy Cree region who demanded information. This Band Councilor (Band Councilors are elected representatives for Indians on an Indian Reserve, sort of like your Mayor and Councilors) of this one Band (Indian Group in a specific area or Tribe) wanted information from the Tribal Council. The Band Councilor went to the Tribal Council office and demanded to see the "Purple Agreement" that took place on his Reserve. The lady looked and looked for the Purple Agreement. She went to the Councilor and told him that she could not find it. He was furious; "find me the Purple Agreement". She looked again and still no luck. She asked around and sought information from the Councilors Reserve. The people at the Reserve told the lady that there was not purple agreement but there was a verbal agreement. It turns out the Purple Agreement was really the "Verbal Agreement". It's true.

And there was this time...

"From a Good Place in my Heart"

2011-12-15T17:53:00.021-06:00

From a good place in my heart; I said to my wife today. But I laughed. It is a common phrase Indians use when they are making a public prayer or speech. It's not that I don't think it is sincere. It can be quite sincere when someone uses that phrase. But it is a little common and so some Indians like to make fun of each other for using that phrase. It gets a little played out, just like one of those songs on the radio. It is quite good for a while and then it loses its luster. Not that it is not a good song (or phrase) but its been used to the hilt. So we kind of make sport of it. Like when the song Achy Breaky Heart hit the airways way back when. Everyone was nuts over that song. And then bang it became a song to mock. (Not that from a good place in my heart should be mocked). But sometimes we can laugh at ourselves. I bet lot of people laugh at themselves for being Achy Breaky Heart dancers.

We can laugh at each other. Just like these old guys at a Sweat Lodge from Piapot Reserve in Saskatchewan. They were all sitting around during one of the Sweat Lodge rounds (at some places the people who conduct the Lodge allow breaks between the Sweat rounds, usually there are four rounds to a Ceremony). As they were sitting around they started to tease each other about Sweating and singing in the Lodge. One of the old guys says to Art, "Oh even the Creator is tired of Art's singing; that Art again same old songs". Art and the other old guys just laughed. There is sincerity in his singing, but the guys knew how to tease.
Same with the phrase I say this from a good place in my heart.

I was thinking about that phrase and about sincerity. It came to mind as I started to remember an incident a while back. About 20 years ago about this time of year the local news story was about some unknown person who had cut down a fir tree in someones yard. A fir tree is used for Christmas trees. The home owner was upset about someone cutting down the tree in his front yard (and rightly so), but the home owner also went on to say, "he should have asked me , I would have bought him one". Meaning he would buy a tree for a perfect stranger if he asked. My friend Earl and I laugh about this, still to this day. It is a common phrase we use when the opportunity permits itself. Because the phrase sounded so funny, insincere that it must have sounded absurd to anyone who heard it, or to the person himself for saying it. But hey who are we to question sincerity?
So we use the phrase ourselves at opportune times in a not so sincere manner. :)

But anyway, I hope you do have a great day, and I say this from a good spot in my heart. :D

facebook takes on suicide

2011-12-15T01:02:00.002-06:00

Not sure that I could add anything to what is said here, so I just copy it and let you read. Thanks. I wanted to keep the page because of the information on here. I had the opportunity to speak about the facebook site on CTV. I post the link here.
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/suicide-chat/#clip585519
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20111213/facebook-chat-service-suicide-prevention-111213/
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/suicide-chat/#clip585544

"Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of youth death in Canada." "Most preventable of all deaths."

New Partnership Between Facebook, SAMHSA and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

13 December 2011 No Comment

Cross-posted from Facebook Safety
Dr. Regina Benjamin is the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. As America’s Doctor, she provides the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and the health of the nation.
For anyone who has lost a loved one due to suicide, it is one of the most painful issues they will ever face; sometimes leaving an overwhelming sense of doubt, guilt, and silence enfolding the circle of friends and family like no other experience can. In the wake of this tragedy, we are painfully forced to question- What could I have done? Could I have made a difference? Why didn’t I know?
We don’t have a life to lose in this world. We must confront suicide and suicidal thoughts openly and honestly, and use every opportunity to make a difference by breaking the silence and suffering. Ten years ago the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention was launched. Its objectives galvanized the country around a common goal. As a result, we have advanced the science and support for suicide prevention programs nationwide. New suicide prevention work has emerged across the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services and others. One notable achievement is the establishment of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a number that can be dialed anywhere in the United States to connect the caller with confidential and expert help.
To accelerate the action needed to prevent suicide, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius launched the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention with the charge to advance and update the National Strategy. The Action Alliance brings together public, private and nonprofit partners to engage every sector of society with a vision of ending the tragic experience of suicide in America.
Facebook is an important part of that partnership, and I’m excited about the new initiative to augment its response to potentially suicidal members by offering the opportunity for a private chat with a trained crisis representative from the Suicide Prevention Lifeline in addition to providing the Lifeline’s phone number. This service will be available to people who use Facebook in the United States and Canada. The new service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment they see posted by a friend to Facebook using either the Report Suicidal Content link or the report links found throughout the site. The person who posted the suicidal comment will then immediately receive an e-mail from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or to click on a link to begin a confidential chat session with a crisis worker.
Preventing suicide is everyone’s business. Nearly 100 Americans die by suicide every day, and in the past year, more than eight million Americans 18 or older had thought seriously about suicide. As members of a family, a school, business, neighborhood, faith communities, friends, and our government, we all need to work together to solve this problem. We simply can no longer allow those we live, work and play with to ever believe that suicide is an acceptable solution even in the worst of times. I ask everyone to help by learning about the symptoms of mental illnesses and substance abuse, the warning signs of suicide, how to stand with and support someone who is in crisis, and how to get someone you care about the help they need. Most of all, we need to be open to talking about these issues in our communities. Once we begin to support those in need, and whenever possible treat their mental and substance use disorders with the same urgency as any other health condition, we will reduce the rates of suicide, advance health and improve the use of limited health care dollars.
Learn more about the partnership between Facebook, SAMHSA and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: http://1.usa.gov/t00eiH

Bullying is ugly. Are bullies monsters?

2011-12-04T17:21:00.005-06:00

Sorry about this post, but holy heck! People are taking their lives because of monsters out there. Some of these monsters are just everyday kids. So awful. I had a dream about my boy last night and it the dream I was trying to save him from the future. I was sitting with him trying to give some items (totems) to help him. I was hugging him crying for him. That is how I woke up. I went to watch my nephew play hockey and I told his Dad about the dream. We visited and talked about time and how it flies but doesn't seem to erase what happened and how the pain is still there. We talked about the loss of a child and how in the heck do people cope after that? There are people in the media spotlight that have endured the loss of a child but yet they still seem to go on? I wonder how they do it? My cousin was mentioning the death of NHL Luke Richardson's daughter, she took her own life. So when I was at home, I was again reminded of suicide while reading the news; another teen was put to rest. That is why I am posting about bullying.

Growing up in a Reserve, I sure saw a lot of bullies. Today many of those bullies are old and feeble. Some are not so feeble but sure live a life of misery. Bullying is all over the place. We see it in the face of our politicians: Prime Minister Harper is a bully with great power. All bullying upsets me, regardless if it is the powerful countries picking on poor countries or even the bullying that goes on with their own people.

But the bullying that upsets me is the bullying at this moment is the bullying that causes a young person to take their own life. Can you imagine how awful a young child must feel, that their only way out is to end their life? What the fuck is wrong with this picture. Not sure of what could be done to stop this. The government can pass laws to ban bullying or to punish the people who are bullies. But is that really the answer? I don't know.

I wish it was easy to say don't do that, or do this and issues could be taken care of, but that is not how the world is really like. What causes bullying anyway?

This is really sick, even after this young man (boy) took his own life, the bullies still continue to bully him. What the fuck???

A young girl of 15 was buried the other day. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2011/11/30/teen-suicide-bullying.html

It sure must be awful to be her family; anger, hurt, immeasurable sadness. I wonder if those that bullied her
will ever understand what they have done?

An Ottawa Teen suicide linked to being bullied.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/10/17/hubley-ottawa-teen-suicide-bullying_n_1016828.html
"The disturbing rash of LGBT teen suicides began receiving attention last fall. Among those who took their own life was 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old Rutgers University student who jumped off the George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York after his roommate allegedly filmed him having sex with another man."

The latest suicide linked to being bullied.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2011/12/03/marjorie-raymond-suicide-teen-bullying.html

Quebec teen suicide victim laid to rest

Sabrina is hitchhiking,

2011-11-28T12:42:00.001-06:00

I had the good fortune of picking up a hitch-hiker today. She is Sabrina. She and her dog Ally are going back home to Quebec. A young girl with a very friendly and trusting personality. I was only able to give her a short ride from the west end of the city to the east end of Winnipeg. I dropped her off on the East bound Trans-Canada highway.

She is fortunate that the weather is not as cold as it usually is for this part of the country. I understand that by Thursday the weather will change and become it normal cold. By that time she should be in Ontario and closer to Quebec.

It was a good feeling for me to give this young girl a ride. Even if it was short. It made me feel good, kind of proud of myself. I know that is selfish to feel good about doing nothing really. But that's it, isn't it? We need to feel good about ourselves even if we don't really do extraordinary things. It should be normal to do a kind deed of some sort, no matter how small.

She was very nice and shared some of her experiences with me. She is quite a traveler. Been to South America, Mexico and the West Coast of Canada. I worry about the safety of trips like, backpacking. I guess there is a large number of young people that do that. Travel around, work here and there, make friends and see the world. I wish in my youth I could have been adventurous like that. Never occurred to me in my wildest dreams. But now I wish for my daughter to be able to travel. Maybe not by herself but with a group.

So to all the Sabrina's out there. Have a great adventure, make friends, and most of all be safe.

http://www.backpackers.ca/
http://www.couchsurfing.org/

RCMP: sick and distasteful harassment towards fellow Woman officer

2011-11-23T10:46:00.002-06:00

I just had to share this story. In Canada a pig Farmer had been killing women for years and the police failed to act on it. Numerous tips about the pig farmer were ignored by the police in Vancouver British Columbia, Canada. After his arrest and conviction it became apparent that the police did not act in the best interest of the citizens of BC. Now an inquiry into what happened is taking place. That inquiry has been stacked against the citizens of BC (Women) and many believe that the truth of what took place will not be found. Their fellow office, Galliford is speaking out on the conduct of the police. It will be interesting to see how she will be portrayed by the police media.

Female RCMP officer says male colleagues told her they fantasized serial killer Pickton would gut her like a pig

(Cpl. Cahterine Galliford.Photo by Renegage98 Flickr)

APTN National News
VANCOUVER–The female RCMP corporal who announced the arrest of Robert Pickton says fellow male officers told her they fantasized that the serial killer would break out of prison, track her down, strip her naked, hang her from a meat hook and gut her like a pig.

RCMP Cpl. Catherine Galliford, the former face of the Missing Women’s Task force, said RCMP officers also made jokes about sex toys and gave each other fist pumps after details began to emerge about what happened to the women Pickton butchered.

Police found a gun with a dildo strapped to the barrel in Pickton’s trailer.

Galliford, in an interview with the Vancouver Province newspaper, said RCMP and Vancouver officers watched porn and left work early to “go drinking and partying” instead of investigating the disappearance of women in the Downtown Eastside.

Galliford, who has been on sick leave for four years, told the Province she would be testifying on behalf of victims in January at the Pickton inquiry which was tasked with finding out why it took so long for police to catch the serial killer.

Galliford said she faced years of harassment from male officers and superiors on the force.

Her allegations are contained in a 115 page statement submitted to the RCMP.

http://www.firstperspective.ca/news/3462-cops-watched-porn-skipped-work-instead-of-investigating-missing-women-galliford.html

Abooriginal Veterans Day November 8

2011-11-21T12:31:00.002-06:00

zhiimaaganishii-giizhigad - pronounced zhee-maa-guh-ni-shee gee-zhee-gud and meaning Veterans Day.

Veterans held a Ceremony of Honour at Deer Lodge in Winnipeg, November 8, 2011.

In attendance was Tommy Prince Jr. The son of the Great Warrior Tommy Prince.

Shane Patterson a Dakota Traditionalist was also in attendance to talk about the Warrior Society and the meaning of "Deed and Merit".
He said to always to think of those Veterans and to "blow your Whistles".

Melvin Swan is a warrior, an Ogichidaa. He was on hand to speak about the Aboriginal Veterans, such as George Mann, Leon Fontaine, Ray Rogers, Tommy Eagle, Lawrence Morrisseau, who have passed on. He told the people that today it is not easy to know who we are. The youth do not speak the language, and our greatest battle lies within our selves. He wants us to thank those Veterans for their gifts, their commitment, their scars. Remember those who sacrificed and to keep on celebrating life. Remember a "warrior wears many hats to serve the people".

Dr. Solange Lavack spoke of the way of the Warrior and the difficulties facing them. Never minimize the experience of those that have come back. Some "people are broken". "You don't get to integrity without falling". Just ask how can I help.

The most inspiring quote came from an old Veteran in the crowd. He said "Thank God for Tommy Prince. Tommy Prince told me 'keep your head down and listen, and you will go home'. I am home" said Murry Trench, a Veteran.

http://www.turtleisland.org/news/news-veterans.htm

http://www.interlakespectator.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3365530

http://wherearethesheep.blogspot.com/2011/11/aboriginal-veterans-day.html

Melvin Swan & Murry Trench

Try a Little Kindness...

2011-11-17T11:59:00.005-06:00

Kindness is sometimes viewed as being weak. You know like an old country song, you know, like the coward of the county by Kenny Rogers. Kindness is the hardest thing you can do or be. It is easy to be mean.

The being kind is bothering me quite a bit lately. I made a pledge to help people a number years back. And with the death of my Son, I know that I was leading a life that caused problems. I want to sincerely be nice to people. That is the trouble I am having, trying to think kind. I remember when I was told about Kindness and how it is one strand on the Sweetgrass braid. (I don't know the other strands) And I try to remember about being kind.

My 29 year old daughter is being harassed by some people in the Reserve. Over a guy yet. (Ever sick! :0, a Reserve colloquialism) She has been on the receiving end of harassment and even physical attacks for some time now. And the attacks are coming from both young and older people. She was telling me about the events for some time now. I just told her to ignore them and let it go. Lately it is getting out of control. So I went on spoke to one woman about it. I asked to her to stop. Just like that, no anger involved but concern. I thought it went well. I thought wrong. My girl was attacked by the sister of the lady I spoke with. Thing is I know these women well and am related. The lady who attacked my daughter said I was threatening to shoot her and was going to get her uncle to shoot me. I called my cousin, the Uncle to talk with him to explain myself. He was angry at his nieces and knows me well. So I was tempted to go to the Reserve and speak with the women and the "guy" who started all this trouble. The other thing is why am I getting involved with my adult daughter's problems? I guess that is my being over protective Dad.

I went instead to visit with one of my Teachers. She is great. She told me it is easy to go and "settle things like Fort Alex" (a teasing saying about how things are done in the Reserve, i.e. fight it out :-D ) She told me it is easy to be kind to people you like. "Try being kind to someone you don't like". Being kind to others is the real challenge. She said all you can do is try to be kind to them; give them gifts and if that is not possible say nice things about them if you can. And don't use kindness as a weapon. Like the saying "kill them with kindness". In this manner you are not being kind, you are trying to get at someone using fake kindness. I don't want to be fake. I really want to be kind. It's really hard at times I just want to go out there and put some hurt on people. You know use money to get some "assistance" from old acquaintances or get some of my kids old friends (the ones that are living hard lives now), or just get some pipe, or get armed and go shoot some legs or stab some legs. Ho wa, now that is a sick way to think :-0. My wife always gives me heck, "who in the hell thinks like that". I am not sure I guess lots of people?

So I am going to think about the situation and in the end try to be sincerely kind.
Reserve life is so funny but not really. I guess living in all that social dysfunction over the years does have a compiling negative affect. Hard to be happy in that environment.

The Death Clock.

2011-11-16T11:23:00.001-06:00

http://deathclock.com/

I went to a funeral parlor the other day. Does anyone still use the word parlor?
It is a sad fact that one hundred percent of us die. That is the truth and no matter how honest you are, that can not be changed.

It is a difficult thing to think about, death. Making arrangements at the time of death is even more difficult. I know that when someone dies, especially those that we love dearly, we want to send them off with as much as we can. That usually means getting the expensive casket. The big array of flowers. The great suit and expensive jewellery. I guess that must have always been the way. People buried with all sorts of treasures.

For me I want nothing but the funeral is a much for the living as it is for the deceased. So I guess some type of service and casket is in order. My Dad is dead set against a casket. He wants to be in blankets and wants to be cremated. If he could have his way, no service. So he has said a one day service. Sounds strange to hear my Dad talk about his wishes at death. But I guess he is being practical.

I spoke to a friend of mine, whose Dad had passed. It was a difficult time to make all the arrangements. Decisions are quick, you don't get a chance to think about the funeral or the wishes of the parent. It is a hard thing.

The other hard thing is that are we inviting death if we talk about it? Do we plan for a service ahead of time and by doing that do we speed up the process?
I hope not, but you never really can know about such things.

So I called Purple Shields (insurance company) to ask about my Dad's policy. They asked me if he had died, I said "no, he's just old". Anyway, my wife didn't think it was that funny. My brother laughed.

Jesus is killing Indians.

2011-11-09T09:21:00.003-06:00

Jesus is Killing Indians. Holy Heck!!! What and awful thing to say! It's blasphemy. I don't believe it is a bad thing to say that Jesus is killing Indians, because it is true. Yes, it is. Before you get all holy roller on me, and sentence me to Hell, let me state the evidence and my reasons.

There are over two billion practicing Christians in the world today and about one and a half billion Muslims. In North America there are approximately five and half million Native people. Not sure of what amount of the four million American Indians, and the one and half million Indians (including Metis) are practicing Indian Spirituality (i.e. Indian Religion, also known as Traditionalists). It is the aim of Jesus to convert people. Christianity has been very successful. We don't know how many Indian people still believe in their OWN way. They have been effectively killed of their own beliefs. Is this a bad thing? Jesus would say no, as according to him, He is "the only way". Christians believe that this their truth and therefore they can get away with anything as long is it in the name of Jesus; conversion, battle, governing, and betrayal.

Christianity is no stranger to killing. From the conversion of the Saxons to the First Crusades against the Turks. In our days [God] has fought through Christian men in Asia against the Turks and in Europe against the Moors.[29] So the evidence and history has been for Jesus, Christians to go to war. Much of wars, pre-industrial age, were savage and bloody. Even though Jesus is not wielding the swords of war himself, his minions are still carrying on the battle in his name. In society today, you can still find Jesus dressing up as a battle warrior or having his name used in battle cries and war groups. Examples include: God's Commando Army; Christian Commandos; The Army of God; Commandos for Christ; etc.

Christianity is very adept at rationalizing the conquest of people: Psalm 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Under various theological and legal doctrines formulated during and after the Crusades, non-Christians were considered enemies of the Catholic faith and, as such, less than human. Accordingly, in the bull of 1452, Pope Nicholas directed King Alfonso to "capture, vanquish, and subdue the saracens, pagans, and other enemies of Christ," to "put them into perpetual slavery," and "to take all their possessions and property." [Davenport: 20-26]

Jesus even has a "law" that allows him to claim land where Indigenous people are living. It is called the: Doctrine of Discovery This law has been used to rationalize the brutal slaying of whole cultures in the name of Jesus. Good stuff that Doctrine, if you want to wash your hands of bloody crimes against other people, of the other God's children. A good cleansing of the fact that in the name of Jesus, people are butchered and displaced. History is filled with accounts of the brutality all in the name of Jesus.

It is well known that the Conquistadors employed despicable methods of torture and de-humanize non-Christians throughout the southern seas. On a daily basis the conquistadors would take one of the local Indigenous folk and chop off their hands for all to see. Well that was way back when and people were brutal everywhere. In even more modern times we have seen the Jesus followers act in suspicious, if not really bad behaviour. Take Nazi Germany and the (attempted)extermination of the Jew.

Christianity and the Perpetrators
. Almost all perpetrators arose from Christian culture and some of them were devout Christians. For example the commandant of Auschwitz Hoess was a devout Catholic, Tiso the President of Slovakia was a Catholic priest. In many camps the killing was suspended on Sundays, so that the murderers could attend Church services. At no time were the killers censured by the religious authorities or denied the last rites in time of their execution.

A noted theologian, Prof. Littell stated:

"It is amazing to me, a Christian theologian, to see how the idea of "the silence of the churches" during the Nazi genocide of the Jews still is passed on. Why couldn't we hear "the silence?" Could it be because of the thunderous adulation accorded the Fuehrer by so many of the church "leaders," leading the mobs that after the Enabling Act passed for repositories of "public opinion?" Cardinal von Galen, actually in some respects one of the better clerics, in MARCH of 1942, in a Pastoral Letter to memorialize those fallen in battle, wrote: "They intended to defeat Bolshevism through a new crusade with the battlecry "God wills it" - as a few years before the liberator Franco in an address in Seville proclaimed Christian goals. They died for Europe, to hold back the threatening red flood and to create a protecting wall for the entire western world." There are many similar documents in the record. We may regret deeply the self-deception and misreading of the historical situa- tion that led to the churches' - and not just the German! - optimism about Hitler, but have we now come to a time of re-writing history? The bitter truth is that the Christians faithful unto death - Bonhoeffer, Lichtenberg, Delp, Jaegerstaetter, von Moltke - were FEW IN NUMBER, and almost universally abandonned by the Princes of the Church and other Eminenten of the established churches.
Conclusions:
Christianity does not bear a historical responsibility for the Holocaust, but because of the anti-Semitism it fostered, Christianity bears a moral responsibility for the supporting roles or inaction of the Christian population during the Shoah, and for the general indifference and silence of the Christian Churches.

Is Christianity the One True Religion?

Yes, Christianity is the one true religion. That may sound awfully dogmatic and narrow-minded, but the simple truth is that Christianity is the only true religion. Jesus said that He alone was the way to the Father (John 14:6), that He alone revealed the Father (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22). Christians do not go around saying Christianity is the only way because they are arrogant, narrow-minded, stupid, and judgmental. They do so because they believe what Jesus said. They believe in Jesus, who claimed to be God (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14), who forgave sins (Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20; 7:48), and who rose from the dead (Luke 24:24-29; John 2:19f). Jesus said that He was the only way. Jesus is unique. He was either telling the truth, He was crazy, or He was a liar. But since everyone agrees that Jesus was a good man, how then could He be both good and crazy, or good and a liar? He had to be telling the truth. He is the only way.

Christianity is not just a religion; it is a relationship with God. It is a trusting in Jesus and what He did on the cross (1 Cor. 15:1-4), not on what you can do for yourself (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Buddha didn't rise from the dead, nor did Confucius or Zoroaster. Muhammad didn't fulfill detailed prophecy. Alexander the Great didn't raise the dead or heal the sick. And though there is far less reliable information written about them, people believed in them.

The scripture is right when it says in 1 Pet. 2:7-8, "This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, 'The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone,' and, 'A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense'; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed." (NASB).

Lots of doom against people that are not Jesus followers. It is quite remarkable the amount of destruction Jesus has and is causing. Strange because isn't He the Salvation? I guess if you are not saved you get killed? Killing seems to the be way of the Christian. If they are not killing you literally, than they will kill your Spirit, your way of life, your belief system, and who you are. It is quite ingenious, and cruel. If you can't have the water, then poison the well.

We know that Jesus is very powerful, no doubt about it. We have Indigenous people all over the world bowing down to his Teachings. I can see the allure to his preachings. It is about the good things, that all of us hope to capture. We even start to use his voice, his language. Hallelujah. Me I don't know but I do like the song by Leonard Cohen (others like the song in the Shrek movie).

Well Jesus is definitely succeeding in his quest to kill all things Indigenous. You have Indian people condemning the non-Christian in their own community. You have Christians running over Sweat Lodges with their trucks. You have Reserves banning the practice of a Sweat Lodge. Our own Reserve has used Jesus to condemn people. A Chief, Ken C., now an Elder, was a very proud Traditionalist. At this election as Chief of our Reserve, some of the Jesus followers started throwing Holy Water on him as he walked into a meeting. Man, that is funny.Many of those Traditionalists that are being attacked will have Sweats Ceremonies honouring Jesus. I know several Elders that will hold a Sweat just for Jesus. The Catholic Priest of Sagkeeng even went Sundance with Deceased Ron Swampy in the Reserve. The Priest and The Sundance Holder were friends. If they can have respect for each other, how come others don't? Are they afraid of someone else's beliefs?

In our Reserve someone even took a shit at the base of the Sundance Tree. Can you imagine that! Oh Well (maano - let it be) all in the name of Jesus.

http://tulan.net/content/christian-crees-tear-down-sweat-lodge
http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2011/01/17/crees-ban-sweat-lodges-fns-spirituality-from-community/
http://www.rezdude.ca/sweatlodge/aboutsweatlodge.html

Pathway to Decolonization Gathering July 2012 Winnipeg Manitoba

2011-11-03T11:05:00.001-05:00

A Gathering will take place in Winnipeg, Manitoba this July. It will be a gathering to have youth enter into an understanding of the Ogichidaa Teachings. Ogichidaakwe and Ogichidaa will be providing Teachings. Elders will provide guidance and Teachings to those taking part. It is in the early stage of being organized but many Elders, Teachers, and Helpers are committed to take part.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pathway-to-Decolonization-Anishinaabe-Teachings-2012-Winnipeg-Manitoba/278979438797405

Hello Folks:

What it will take to make the Gathering happen.

by Ogichidaa Anishinaabe on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 10:21am

First, acknowledge the Creator (God). As always.
Then we have an idea, we take to an Elder for input, guidance and approval.
We need to start engaging people, getting more ideas, dates, places, speakers, helpers, Teachings, themes and organizing strategy. Some prayer and some more thought.

The dull parts: setting dates, securing a place, - done
Getting input and partners, Teachers, Elders, - starting.
Action plan: where are we right now, where do we want to be, how do we get there?
We are at the starting phase. Meeting with the OgichidaaKwe for their Leadership. Seeking ideas, asking for help.
- need 20 youth or adults to participate at a Ceremony - as Learners - to focus on
- need minimum four fire keepers to keep fire going first night second day and night, third day,
- need minimum two cords of chopped wood for fires.
- need Sweat Lodge carriers - for Lodges - first night, - second evening - third day - tarps as well - forks
- need Oskabawis (helpers) for the grounds, the lodges, and the Elders helpers.
- need Teachers - for variety of Teachings - Women's Roles as Ogichidaakew - Men's roles as Ogichidaa, How to recognize colonial thinking, Where to start journey of decolonization, The Lodges - Sundance-SweatLodge, Teaching Lodge,Threats to our identity- our duty to Creator & the People.
-need to have food for the target group, Elders, helpers, -all others fend for themselves.
- need to have cooks,
- need water.
- need Grandfathers for Lodges - minimum 200 (rocks)
- need helpers for grounds at night - to assist youth - campers.
- need financial assistance for travel for Teachers from far away.
- need billeting homes for out of town guests
- need organizer(s)
- need promotional posters of event
- need people to join and commit to the event
- need people to suggest a youth and make them aware
- need youth to commit to being focus target audience
- need gifts for the 20 youth that are being giving Teachings

- need more list of what needs to be done
- Need YOUR HELP
meegwetch

Tobasonakwut Peter Kinew Recieves Honourary Doctorate

2011-10-16T22:44:00.003-05:00

http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/hd-kinew

Honorary Doctorate

Tobasonakwut Kinew

Tobasonakwut Kinew – BA
Honorary Doctor of Laws

Tobasonakwut Kinew is an esteemed member of The University of Winnipeg community in his multiple roles as Elder and Faculty for the Indigenous Governance department and Master’s in Development Practice with a focus on Indigenous Development program.

As a compelling role-model and teacher, Mr. Kinew offers a graduate seminar, Pathways to Indigenous Wisdom, where students have their assumptions and world views challenged and enriched by a deep and complex understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing. By decolonizing the mind, students are open to imagining and, later, implementing governance strategies that are embedded in Indigenous teachings.

Born on a trapline in Lake of the Woods, Mr. Kinew was groomed from an early age by Elders for a political career and before the age of six was taken by an Elder to go on a fast and seek his vision. He is a pipe carrier, a high degree member of the Anishinaabe Mite’iwin, and a Sundancer of many years of both the Anishinaabe and Lakota traditions.

Through his long and varied career, he has instilled pride in his people, respect for all Indigenous peoples and their unique ways of thinking and perceiving the world. His journey has taken him to the Banff Centre for Management, the National Indian Brotherhood which he helped to renew in the 1960s, the Assembly of First Nations, and the International Indigenous Knowledge symposium in New Zealand (2009). He is a founding member of the Native American Academy of Science and was the Elder for the Assembly of First Nations delegation visiting Pope Benedict XVI in April 2009.

Mr. Kinew is described as a man “who can walk in both worlds….who lives his life sharing the Anishinaabe teachings with others, to change the world for the betterment of all peoples,” according to Phil Fontaine, LL.D ’08, former national chief, Assembly of First Nations.Tobasonakwut Kinew works tirelessly to bridge two realities, and leaves everyone he meets richer as a result.

Can anyone answer this question on Status Indian for Me?

2011-10-15T13:15:00.004-05:00

You know I was thinking, while in the shower, about the Jay Treaty and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. It is my intention to write the new Grand Chief of AMC about issues. You see I think AMC has become rather slow. Slow, not sloooooooow, in how they are operating. We need AMC to be fast, loud and brash. To be an effective something. As it is we really don't know their function. I assume they are advocacy for Status Indians or political pundits to the main stream audience on Aboriginal affairs, but I don't know me. Okay, I forgot I was thinking about the Jay Treaty and how it refers to Indians. That got me thinking to the whole Status Indian thing. For you out there that don't know, Status is a Canadian definition of who is Indian in Canada and who is not. A good resource for more information on Status refer to Pam Palmater ( an Indian woman who has knowledge about that stuff).

I am thinking about my girl. Her mom is a Metis woman (by the way their family has strong Indian lineage and Metis lineage, stronger than our National Grand Chief and the Grand Chief before him, but that is besides the point? Maybe?). My daughter is classified under the Status Indian as a C62 Indian. In doing this her children (if she marries a non-status) will be non-status (unless I arrange a marriage for her with a Status Indian or she finds one herself).

With my thoughts being all jumbled up I am wondering how this is the case. Yes I know the Status classification system is intended to eliminate who is an Indian over time. Got it. But what of the Indian? Just because we don't fit into the classification system, does that mean we are no longer Indian? And what does that mean about the Treaties? You see with the signing of the Treaties there was no Status system. You were part of the Band/Tribe regardless. Even the "mixed-bloods" were the People. The Status issue came later.
It is a weird thing. How come Canada can become a Nation well after the fact, and be determined a Nation, while the Nations of People in Canada are not allowed to remain Nations? How come other Nations can become Nations. For example Canada has become a Nation of Canadians. The Metis evolved into the Metis Nation. They had customs, culture, governance, roles, uniqueness to their own lives. Same with Indians. But now the Canadian government rules are defining who belongs to what Nation. My daughter is in the Anishinaabe Nation and Sagkeeng Band. Her children (if they are not status) will be what? No longer part of the Anishinaabe Nation or Sagkeeng Band, because of a policy, a law made by Canada? What becomes of their Treaty Rights? Do those Rights, which have nothing to do with Status Law, become extinct? That does not make sense. Do people that are not Status become Metis? When Metis Nations have their own distinct identity? Or do they become Canadians (only)? Why should Treaty Rights end with the end of Status? These are two separate animals. Two separate ideas/concepts and legal entities?

Why is it that Nations can develop over time, but Indian Nations can't? You see Canada is a developing Nation. You have all sorts of mixed-bloods in their Nation, and no one is saying, "well you are no longer in our definition of Canadian, so you are no longer Canadian". The point is that Nations evolve, add subtract, meld with other people, but they still are a Nation. Why are Indians different in that scenario?
Even the United States the biggest "melting pot" is a Nation. They have been a Nation, what 200 years? They change, evolve, add people.

My point is this, the Status thing is not about who is Indian at all, we all know that, it is about good old cash. Canada wants to get out of the Indian business once and for all. Damn if they don't want to look like they are not trying to follow the Canadian Constitution or adhere to the Treaties, but they want out. The way out is to have no Indians. Canada tried in the past; through legislation, enfranchisement, adoption out of the Indian community, and other genocide attempts, like Residential School. But this not what I wanted to understand. I know Canada is doing everything it can to abolish Treaty Rights, I get that.

What I need to understand is why are Nations, allowed to change, develop but yet the identity of the Indian Nation has to remain stagnant, stuck, frozen in time? Was our Nation never going to adapt with time? Yet it is clear we had commerce, trade links, laws, governance, culture, language, spiritual beliefs? Why are our Leaders/political pundits/advocates sitting there, saying "yup, I am Status".

The Status thing makes it seem like we don't know who we are. When I know who my relatives are. I know where my community is. I know who my people are.

Isaktewizaagegan no.39 (Shoal Lake) First Nation: ignore them and they will go away.

2011-10-07T23:19:00.005-05:00

Isaktewizaagegan Independent First Nation, Box 1, Kijick, Ontario, P0X 1E0, 807-733-2560. iskatweizaagegan@iifn39.ca

The People of Shoal Lake want you to understand what they are speaking about. This week the people walked from their Reserve in Ontario to the Legislative Building in Manitoba.

Here is there statement:

"For the Future: We share this plane and this particular place. Together, we have a reponsibility to enusre that as far as seven generations into the future there is a place of beauty, wonder and sustenance for those who will be here then. We ask that you join us in working together for a common future that benefits everyone. Miigwitch for taking the time to learn about us."

Reaching Mb Legislature
"Our Sacred Responsibility: At the time of Creation it was intended that we should reside in this place - Iskatewizaagegan. Our Teachings, Ceremonies and Experiences are deeply rooted in this place. There is no where that one can travel that you can't find evidence of our existence.
Our life here is guided by the Three Ancient LAWS - 'Manitoo Inakonigewin (Laws of the Creator0; Aki nankonigewin (Laws of the Land)
and Anishinaabe nakonigewin (Laws of the Anishinabe).
We have attempted since the time of the first contact to teach these laws to all of the newcomers who have arrived here since first contact and so once again we are extending this Teaching so that everyone is aware of the positions we take and the reasons for these positions.
We remain hopeful that we can come together as neighbours, as governments, and as people united by the beauty and wonder of this territory.
All We have asked for is respect for our Way of Life, the Treaty and our Rightful Place for our full participation in the growth and development of this territory."

"Our Shared History: Our Ancestors signed Treaty #3 in 1873 with your Crown and almost immediately a huge disagreement began over the terms and conditions of that Treaty. The written version that we received from Ottawa does not reflect our understanding of the terms and conditions. Our understanding is reflected in what is known as the "Paypom Version" based on the notes take by our interpreters.

Manitoba Colours
To our ancestors, the term Treaty means - "Tibaaimatiwn" and means the following: Tibaa: means a measure of payment in exchange for goods for something of equal value, currency and trade goods, etc. (compensation). Ima: means a place or the present right now, today. Tiwin: means the way in which business is conducted. Contractual arrangement with specific terms and conditions and to undertake a certain activity with time frames.
Thus the term "treaty" means annuities in exchange for granting the privilege of a right of passage to travel through the Anishinaabe Territory. There are two of these "travel corridors", one is the old Dawson Trail and the other is what has become Highway 17 - or the Trans-Canada.

Along with the permission to pass through our territory our ancestors set other conditions, especially on the acts of prospecting and exploration. That condition is simple, non-Anishinaabe were given permission to do these activities, and, if they found anything of value then they were to report to the Chiefs and Talks would begin about how to share the discoveries.
There is much more but these are two of the most important conditions concerning the issues facing us today.

We are not opposed to development and growth, but first and foremost it must honour and address the laws, traditions, and customs that we live by and govern human activity in this beautiful land."

The issues: Highway 17 Twinning. We have three concerns that we have talbed with the Province of Ontario regarding the twinning of Highway 17. That dips threaten a significant cultural area for our people and continues to infringe and erode our Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.

We have asked that the dip be moved more northerly and were told by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) that it could not be done because the development of Royal Lake Resort had spent a lot of money improving their SEPTIC fields and there was no way not to impact those fields.

Quite Bluntly - this means MTO values a septic field more than our Anishinaabe cutural areas. This is Completely unacceptable to us!

Shoal Lake Flooding and Water Taking: Shoal Lake is constantly flooded by Lake fo the Woods water to provide water to Winnipeg. Winnipeg has been taking this water since 1913 without compensating our Nation.

In the almost 100 years of this theft we have lost wild rice fields, lost acres of shoreline and lost the economic foundations of our Way of Life.

Opening up the Water
Still on Trans Canada in Winnipeg
We have tabled a request for compensation in the amount of $124 million dollars a year. Dollars which are needed to strengthen our school, health facilities, housing and provide for economic opportunities for our People."

Proud Isaktewizaagengan Anishinaabe

Walking

ON the Steps of the Legislative

Winnipeg & Manitoba is not being Fair

Youth in Action

Youth Councillor, and Water Keeper

Flags

Chief Ovide Mercerdi

Chief Eli Mandamin Made a statement to the People gathered at the Legislative building.
" I want to begin by acknowledging the children, women, men and Elders our Nation for their strength, perseverance, and belief in our Rights as a people and Nation. This journey has been a heartfelt expression of the commitment and sacrifice our people are prepared to make to insure that justice and fairness are finally achieved...
...Water is the fundamental element of Life in the Universe. When we start our journey from the Spirit World to this Physical World, we must make that journey through the water our women carry in their bodies. During all the time we are in the Physical World we must continue to have that water to keep us alive.
In our culture we hold ceremonies thanking the Spirits of the Water for their continues support of our lives. We have asked the Water Spirit of Shoal Lake for her guidance on how to address this issue of her being taken to provide water to Winnipeg.
Since 1913, she was forcibly removed from her home and made to take a journey to a foreign place to be used by strangers. She wasn't asked if she wanted to come to this place because she his not seen as a living entity who needs to be respected and consulted.
She has reminded us that since the beginning of time her and all of the Life Sustaining Spirits have been here to make sure that us poor pitiful humans have a good life. She also stated that since the arrival of the newcomers they have brought only one thing that is now needed to support human life and that is - shooniya, money, and she said that she could assist us in building our economic capacity to meet our needs.
But her assistance is contingent on her rules. We as humans can never take for granted the gift she gives us. So we are instructed to carry out a yearly cycle of ceremonies to keep ourselves reminded of this gift.

She also said that no one person or family can reap any gains from this effort. That whatever is done, must be done in a way that benefits all of the people now and into the future..."

Councilor Fawn Wapioke

Chief Terrance Nelson

Councilor Fawn Wapioke also made a statement: "...I want to extend my deep gratitude to the children, women, men and Elders or our nation...
...Women and Water have a fundamental relationship as Life Givers in the Universe. From the time of Creation of First Woman and First Man it has been the Creator's plan that all Female Life will be the ones that insure that the next Generations of their kind successfully enter this Physical World.
Our fundamental relationship as Life Givers is honoured through our Ceremonies, Songs, and Traditions. The Teachings we received as we pass through our various stages of life deepen our understanding our role and responsibility and how Water is an ever present supporter and sustainer of our existence.
The removal of the water from Shoal Lake is an assault on all women. The female spirit of the lake was never consulted, never asked for her permission to be used in such a manner. Her assault is the same assault we have endured when our children were torn from us and taken to Residential Schools; when the Children's Aid Societies stormed into our homes and ripped our children away and when those children were adopted out all over the world with many lost to us forever...

Whenever the word consultation is the principle of free, prior and informed consent. Consent and Choice are Sacred principles in our culture. From the moment a child enters this world they have the power of choice and consent. When our ancestors agreed to negotiate treaties they saw this as a process by which they will make choices and grant consents.

The Spirit of the Lake and our people never the opportunity to consider the choices of how our waters would be used, so we never had the opportunity to gran our combined consent for the uses Winnipeg had in mind...

Our Requests are simple - extend to use the respect and dignity that was not extended to the Spirit of the Lake and our People almost 100 years ago...

Fighter Jet flies by a number of times.

Chief Eli Manitoba

Councilor Fawn Wapioke

Shoal Lake 39

AFN Vice-Chief Bill Travers, Elder Peter Kinew, Elder Frank Greene

Drum Carrier

Donald Courchene, Terrance Nelson, Bill Traverse

Arriving at the Legislature

We made the Walk from Ontario to Manitoba

There were no Provincial Government officials on hand to meet or listen to the People of Shoal Lake. No Winnipeg officials to listen to the People. No other Leaders of the Treaty One territory where Winnipeg sits on.

The People of Shoal Lake stood almost alone on the steps of the government building. There were some supporters: Chief Terrance Nelson of Roseau River First Nation, Elder Peter Kinew, Chief Ovide Mercerdi of Grand Rapids, Vice Chief Bill Traverse of the Assembly of First Nations.

The Mayor of Winnipeg has said that the Water issue is a provincial issue. The province is not really interested in meeting with Shoal Lake.

Chief Eli Mandamin made a profound statement regarding the absence of Native Leaders, "there are no honourariums here, that is the nature of things these days".
I was saddened and embarrassed that our Leaders chose not to support our relatives from Ontario.

For those of you that do not understand or relate to the Water Teachings that the People of Shoal Lake talked about, maybe you can relate to the documentary: Water.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1195401/water_the_movie_trailer/

For full movie watch over here: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/water-great-mystery/

The Provincial government, the City of Winnipeg, and other Manitoba Native Leaders can try and ignore the People of Shoal Lake. They can hope that Shoal Lake will go away.

Chief Eli Mandamin said it best:

"For 20,000 years we have been an independent and self-sufficient people capable of meeting our needs in harmony with this beautiful territory given to us by the Creator. It has only been in the last 100 years that we have lost our self-sufficiency and independence. That loss has been because of the deliberate laws, policies and regulations passed by the federal and provincial governments in an attempt to eliminate our Rights.

Those Efforts have not been successful. We are Still Here."

And then this guy comes along

2011-10-06T09:42:00.001-05:00

When your feelings don't match your mind.

2011-10-06T09:16:00.004-05:00

I have been on Citalopram for almost six years now. ("Other side effects, such as increased apathy and emotional flattening, may be caused by the decrease in dopamine release that is associated with increased serotonin. Citalopram is also a mild antihistamine, which may be responsible for some of its sedating properties.^"⁾
^{I guess I started on anti-depressant to help me with my depression. Although I could not admit to being depressed at the time. I knew I needed to get out of the deep hole I was in all the time. Everything was so difficult. All I wanted to do was stop. Stop everything, stop breathing, stop thinking, stop existing. So going the citalopram seemed like something to do. Going to a doctor was a chore.}

^{But things are not as bleak as I once felt they were. I genuinely have fun when I am with the Grankids. I think about them all the time. I also feel the fear in me, when I think about them and the loss of my Boy. I am afraid of the damage that could happen to them.}

^{The last couple of weeks have seen some accidents. The kids have been getting bumps and lumps. Suz says its normal for active kids to get some bumps. I know I know that is true. A couple of weeks ago, I asked Amelia, my granddaugther to get her jacket, which was on the back of one of the chairs in the dining area. She is four. Jackson, her brother, who is two, ran for her coat. Jacks shoes were on the floor in front of the chair so he tripped and fell on the chair. His face hit the chair. The chair is wooden. He fell and screamed, jumped up and ran over to me. It was awful. He had a big bruise under his eye, which latter turned into a black eye. And then two days ago, I had them playing at central park, downtown. I go there to wait for Suz to get off work and the inner-city park has been fixed up pretty nice. Jack was running and another boy ran into him. He was crying and standing by the mom of the other boy, she was trying to comfort both boys, when all of sudden Jack just fell over and banged his head on the cement. He has a very huge scrape on the side of his face. And yesterday, I was at Canadian Tire, a hardware type store, looking for oil. I had both Amelia and Jack sitting inside a cart. I was at the counter asking for some assistance in looking for an oil filter. When I turned to move, I moved the cart with me. Amelia was standing in the cart reaching for something on the counter. The movement of the cart got her off balance and she fell face first onto the ceramic floor. The ceramic covers concrete. She laid still and did not move. I had seen it all because I was right there; the side of her head hitting the floor, the sound it made and her hair covering her face. I swore and picked her up. She started crying. I took her to the car and then went to her Dad's home. She was very quiet and wanted to sleep, not saying anything and looking dazed. I took her to a Walk-in Clinic to have the doctor look at her. As time went on she became more talkative and more like herself. Her Mom and Dad were there, so I left. She is all-right.}

^{The thing that really bothers me, is that my emotions don't match what goes on in my head. In my head I am crazy with fear, with hurt, with pain about what has happened. But my emotions don't feel the same. It is really strange. It is like I am numb in my heart. But it's not that. The pain is mixed up. Lot of anger in there, but the sorrow is some how blocked. I could not feel right all night and today. I am messed up over what is going on. I feel fear and am scared to have anything happen to my family. Yet, my feelings seem all messed up. I see pain on others, but it doesn't register in my own body. It's like I am watching pain, but not feeling it. So that really scares me. There have been many instances where I see hurt and it doesn't register with me. In my head it is there, but not in the emotions.It's like I have a "stone heart".}

^{Other things that happen are in my dreams. They are so vivid. Like being there. The dreams are so real and many times disturbing. And every single night I dream. Sometimes I wonder about what is happening in my head. The doctor says I will most likely be on the pills for my lifetime. I used to stop taking the pills and my emotions would return, but mostly anger, and things would feel weird. Like turning my head but the vision takes time to catch up, but not exactly like that. Difficult to explain.}

^{I guess I am just trying to get away from feeling so awful for my grankids and my kids. It's like the black cloud is following me and is some-how starting to follow those around me. Most days I have a hard time liking myself, but lately I loathe who I am.}

Road Kill (& other stuff)

2011-10-04T13:19:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I went to visit my Dad in the Reserve. I noticed a heck of a lot of dead animals by the highway. I figured I would share some of what I saw on the trip. The trip is not that long. Sagkeeng is about 150 kilometers from the City of Winnipeg on Highway 59 north. I didn't take pictures of all the animals I saw on the road, but that's okay.

I was thinking about hosting another blog site entitled Road Kill (& other commentary). This site would be about crap. (No not the stuff you see in your toilet bowl after you have had a mean one. And why do they call it a mean one? And who says they don't turn around a look after the deed is done? Me, I check every single time. I want to keep a mental inventory of what goes out. I try to compare with what comes in and what makes it out. I even thought of doing a blog about that. Take pictures after every construction period and call it something like Crap & other nasty stuff in the world. I know you guys have "code words" for your bowel movements, everyone does. I call it construction. My wife says "I don't want to know". I even tell her about "maintenance". You know, when you have some remnants of construction that it kind of bugs you or hurts when you are out and about. So I say, "I got to go and do some maintenance", in other words, wipe my bum. My wife hates that I share everything with her. With this blog I would do commentary on the shit that is happening all over, not just in Indian country. Like people getting all bent out of shape over driving in the city. Or politicians getting got with someone of the same gender, I mean who gives a crap?) The Road kill site would be a commentary on the highs and lows of society: road kill. The political environment, and other road kill nonsense. But I don't think I will. I am not sure if I could stomach researching about all the negative stuff in society. It's hard enough just keeping my mind sane with what goes on in Indian country or even what goes on in my community.

So I think I will stay with confessing my little sins on this site. After all, who says I can't (or haven't been) posting crap on here.

Good driving folks.

Poor animals. I guess they come close to the road in the evenings. The road stays a little warmer and maybe that is attractive to bugs, animals. So cars come along and bash their little heads in and smash up all the little bones. Destructive those vehicles. Do you ever wonder how many millions or billions of bugs are killed by cars? The amount of butterflies and bees that are smashed? No wonder there is now a bee shortage.

INDOCTRINATION the answer for Native Peoples

2011-09-27T09:46:00.001-05:00

1. to instruct in a doctrine, principle, ideology, etc., especially to imbue with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view.

2. to teach or inculcate.

3. to imbue with learning.

When you hear about indoctrination you tend to think in negative terms. Like a cult or about fundamentalists or even extremists. Lot of that thinking may be influenced by media, but that's another topic. I believe that indoctrination serves a purpose and can be beneficial to society.

I realize the aim in many people's mind is to be of one race, the Human Race. Let us all get along and be at Peace. That is not going to ever happen. Our differences is what life is about (whether good or bad).

I really like that I am different and part of a group. I am Anishinaabe, Sagkeeng born and raised, a man, a Dad, a Son, an uncle, a granddad, a cousin, a Baby boomer, and a good friend to some. It is who I am. That is what indoctrination is really about, defining us.

The Governments of Canada and the United States attempted to change the identity of many Natives (and other peoples; Blacks, Chinese, Latino, etc) to be something different than who they are. In many instances the indoctrination attempts did not work well. The indoctrination didn't work for a variety of reasons. The main reason being that in their attempt to change the person, they first knocked down, who they are. That didn't make sense in the people's minds. So the result was a mixed message. Be this person because the person who you are is no damn good. Most people don't want think of their Being as no damn good. They want to feel good about themselves, not feel bad about who they are.

That is why indoctrination should be about what is good and great about who you are. For Native people, Indians, it is all about feeling good about being Native, being Indian. That is the answer to all the woes in Indian country (not really but is where to start), to feel good about who you are, and KNOW who you are. That is what indoctrination will do.

You have to start with the people when they are young. Start at home. Teach them about being Native. Use the schools to sink the message in; you are a good people. These are your people and this is where you come from. These are the Teachings of your People. The Teachings of Creation, the Language, the Way of Life.

That is the answer, Teach the kids about who they are. Not what the world wants them to be. They are different. They have their OWN Teachings. We know about the teachings of other people, but not our own. So that is where to start. If we don't differentiate from the main stream, we will continue to spiral down the path of despair. That is where many of us are right now. Many people living on the edge of society, not fitting in. But Indians can fit in society, but on their Terms.

It is great to see the Jew wearing a Kippah, or a Sikh wearing a Turban. Society gets all bent out of shape for a person wearing a kirpan. I love the look of the Dashiki. In Winnipeg, Manitoba you are starting to see more people wearing the African shirts, Dashiki. For Aboriginal People they wear their Braids proudly, happily. There is history there and differences there. That is what is great about people, they are different.

Indoctrination of Native people to be Native people is what will change their way of life.

We are All Treaty People.

2011-09-16T22:44:00.002-05:00

There is an Office of the Treaty Commissioner in Saskatchewan, a Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba and similar offices in other territories. From what I can understand these offices are there to:

The Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba (TRCM) is a neutral body created through a partnership between the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) and Canada with a mandate to strengthen, rebuild and enhance the Treaty relationship with mutual respect between First Nations and Manitobans.
The TRCM will enhance and maintain positive intergovernmental relations and cooperation, conduct independent research that advances discussion on Treaty related issues, and facilitate public understanding of the importance and role of Treaty making in building a stronger and healthier nation.

If it were not for the big television commercials, news paper advertisements and bus ads, I don't believe anyone really knew the offices existed. I am not sure what it exactly the office does, but I think appeasement is the goal? In any case, there is a product that is quite visible coming out of the TRCM and that is the slogan "We are all Treaty people". Cool. But what the heck does that mean? I guess it is a campaign to try and get people to...like Treaties? Not really sure.

The reason I wonder about the whole We Are All Treaty People push is that I just don't get it. The TRCM is a Canadian Government funded entity. I get that. I would suspect that education is part of its mandate. But with the government of Canada, their modus operandi has been to get out of the Treaty business. So why the push for a campaign to draw attention to the Treaties.

Let me put some context on this. Canada does not want to recognize the Treaties to begin with. They are trying to get away from the Treaty obligations they have made with the Native Peoples of Canada. The Treaties ( "a formal agreement between two or more states in reference to peace, alliance, commerce, or other international relations".) are Agreements between Sovereign Nations. The Canadian Courts have stated that Treaties between Indians and the Canada are sui generis. They don't want to it to mean that is an Agreement between two States, because its different. Okay, so its different, but really its not. That is one attempt to get out of the Treaty business, by not recognizing it as a Treaty.

In 1982 Canada altered its Constitution and moved it away from England. Some consider a good thing and others not. In any case its here. The Indians fought hard against the new Constitution, because of the Relationship they had with the Crown (Queen of England). Indians were afraid that Canada would once again burn them. The Canadian Government really wanted to bring the Constitution back home so they made some changes and added a part (Section 24 Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Section 35) where they recognized Aboriginal Rights. Good stuff, right? I would think so, even if the government did insert that little word: Existing. That puts everything in a tail spin. No one has really defined what Rights exist. Because the government has been reneging on all the Rights to begin with.

With the We are All Treaty People campaign, it does outline something that is true, Canadians do benefit (immensley) from the Treaties. Just look at all the Resources that has made Canada a developed nation. But what about the Indian? Yeah, the "you get everything" arguments have been the wooden bat for the naysayers of Treaty obligations. Let's not get into that aspect of what the Treaties promises were or the "Spirit and Intent" of the Treaty debate, but let's look at what is taking place.
Former Assembly of First Nations Phil Fontaine said it: "Our treaties were not negotiated and designed to have one party impoverish the other party to the agreement. Sadly and unfortunately that has been our history with respect to our treaties."

The other issue (and what is going on with the Treaty action) I have with the Government and the whole Treaty thing is that they are going about getting rid of Treaty by classifying Indians out of Treaty. We are not signatories, families or children of Treaty, we are "Status". Status is a classification under the Indian Act as to who is Indian and who is not. The classification is designed to end numbered Indians (get it Numbered Indians). So on the one hand the government affirms and recognizes the Rights of Aboriginal people through Constitution but yet classifies them out with legislation? What is the message here? Please forgive if I don't understand the whole "We Are All Treaty People" exercise.

If the Treaties were to benefit both Nations, why is it that the Government is actively involved in ending, not fulfilling the Treaties?

I miss my friend

2011-09-14T18:15:00.003-05:00

This Friday Thelma Hart and her partner Lyle Morrisseau will be hosting a Ceremony Feast Giveaway for their boy, Gerald Hart. The Ceremony will take place in Sagkeeng Anishinaabe Nation, Manitoba at the home of Thelma and Lyle on the North Side of the Reserve.

Gerald took his life 10 years ago. I have never met Thelma, but I am going to the Ceremony this Friday to say hi. It is important to remember. At least I like to think so. And Thelma's Words say it all.

From Thelma: "

"Thinking of my son Gerald. It will be 10 years since he decided Suicide was his only option. It hurts knowing that he could'nt come to me, his mother, for help. Please, if you ever think that suicide is your only option, reach out for help. There's so many people who care. Don't leave broken hearts behind. Like mine........ "

Meet a beautiful Burmese woman: Naw Kay Seng

2011-09-12T15:21:00.005-05:00

Kay standing by her weave

I met a real beautiful lady today. Her name is Naw Kay Seng (call her Kay)and she is originally from Burma. She has been in Canada (Winnipeg) for Five years now. Before that she was a refugee in Thailand. To survive she has been making Karen ("Karen or Kayin people Karen: Pwa Ka Nyaw Poe or Kanyaw in Sgaw Karen and Ploan in Poe Karen; Burmese") Handwoven sling-bags, scarves and Nea (skirts). She lived in Thailand for eleven years. There she and other Karen refugee people continued the Traditional art of spinning cotton and weaving into clothes. She showed me a picture of her and other people weaving in Thailand. The lady in the picture with her, had died in Thailand. The woman told her not to forget her.

I was glad to have met her and promised to have tea with her in the future.
Her name is Naw Kay Seng and you can contact her at 204-783-1195 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her wares are inexpensively priced. I bought sling bags for forty bucks. The items make great Give-away gifts, and Christmas, Hanukkah are coming up, so might want to have them for those occasions.

Kay just made this table clothe

Some more product

Sling Bags

Her literature

The people just work hard and take pride in their accomplishments. Kay is one of those people. Traditional skills being maintained in a new country.She is a gifted artist. I was very glad that she called me to go visit her at her home. She got my number from this fellow I met at a dinner. Sue's friend does a lot of volunteer work in the new immigrant community. It was his dinner event where we met some Burmese people. I showed interest in the sling bag this young man was wearing. He invited us to his sister's wedding. We didn't make it but he gave my number to his friend. That is how I met the lady, she called me.

To Appreciate the art and her skill your really have to see the sling bags and scarves.

Sling Bags and scarf.

Are you Indian enough? The Hierarchy of Aboriginal people.

2011-09-03T00:26:00.025-05:00

You ever hear the terms, redbone, apple, nosebleed, wannabe, Mooneyash, wemittigozhi,waabishkizi, baakwaayish, and wiisaakodewinini? Probably not. If you are an Indian you may not appreciate other Natives saying those things to you. There is a real battle going on in Indian country and it is the battle of identity.
We are battling among ourselves as to who is an Indian. Can't really blame us for being in that predicament. The governments of both countries, the United States and Canada, tried to eliminate the Indian. They attempted to get rid of the Indian by many different means; genocide, persecution, prosecution, sterilization, and assimilation. Governmental Policy has always been a tool to get rid of the Indian. The latest policies have Indian being killed off by categories.

In the United States Natives or American-Indians are being "de-rolled" or denied enrollment into Bands/Tribes. There is a Blood Quantum policy used by the Government and the Tribes to determine who is Indian enough to be considered Indian. In Canada the Indian is defined by the policies of the government. Legislation (laws) have been enacted by the Federal Government that decides who is Indian enough to be called an Indian. The Bands/Tribes really have no say in who is an Indian in their community. The outside government makes that decision with the notion of "Status". Status cards are issued to Indian who make the cut.

The Old Status cards did not come with an expire date and you could get the card at your local Band office. That is not the case anymore. The new status cards are being issued. It will be like making an application for a passport. I am not sure but I guess the government does not trust the local Bands in handing out Status Cards. It's funny when I was a kid we didn't call ourselves "status Indians", we were called Treaty Indians. I guess the Treaty thing is more permanent wording and status is better for government as it is a policy thing. Get it? Just changing a word can change the whole dynamics of a mind-set. We no longer refer to the Treaty, where we maintain many of Rights are entrenched, but rather we refer to Status, which is a policy that can be changed at the will of the government. And we just accept that. The Government has changed who is an Indian through their Indian Act. In this act there are categories of degree of Indians; 6-1, 6-1(a), 6-2. In this category system it will be a few generations where no one will be Status. It will not matter that your family was signatory to the Treaties. There is no Treaty Indian anymore. Treaties will be empty because under the policies of government no one is Indian anymore. Ingenuous and diabolical. The only way for the Status Indian to survive is to marry another Status. With the world shrinking that is difficult. Unless Indians go into a breeding program. Just kidding.

But where the heck was I going when I got side tracked with the status thing, Oh yeah, the Hierarchy of Indians, who is more Indian.

Indians are fighting among themselves (regardless of the government policies) about who is nose bleed, and who is Indian. Indian people want to be in the FBI category; Full Blood Indian, ah-ho! (Oops getting a little carried away there)

Well not everyone is FBI. Does that make them less Indian? I guess it does. Wait wait, let me explain. There are those that say well I am Indian in my heart. That's good, I guess. But really what makes us Indian? The DNA of our Ancestors? The language, the songs, the Teachings, the lifestyle, our financial situation, the environment? Good question. I am not sure but this what I see, but don't necessarily understand fully. There is a hierarchy of Indian-ness. At the bottom of the pyramid or in this case the bottom teepee (instead of pyramid, get it? Both are Triangles or maybe I should just have said ladder, that way it would be easier to envision) is the wannabe.

AT the bottom of the hierarchy, the wannabee has no Indian blood or connection but has been drawn to the image of the Indian and desperately wants to be Indian. This person will wear their hair long in some cases. They will go to Sweats. In some extreme cases will move to a Reserve and marry and Indian. Ah - HO! Now that is commitment right there for sure. If you really want to examine the Wannabe, there are several layers of Wannabe. There is the bottom of the ladder Wannabe; the classic German and the Karl May and the old Shatterhand (cool name by the way) image. There is other types of Wannabes, like the Academic. A cool professor, wears his hair long, or she wears the scarfs and long skirts, goes to all the Indian Gatherings and sits in Talking Circles. I kind of like those Wannabes, they work hard at Ceremonies. There are other Wannabes that are higher up on the ladder and these are the "other ethnics" who claim Indian heritage. You know the like the Hondurans or the Uruguayan people (Which is kind of crazy because they were/are Indigenous people of their own right). There is a really weird Wannabe, those are the ones that learn to speak the language of the Indian and become fluent. These guys can be higher than even the dark skinned ethnic wannabe. These are amazing people. There are people that are not at the bottom of the ladder like Chantal Kreviazuk. She is famous and has been found out to be Metis. Too bad for her as she is now being called down by the Storm Front (I won't put a link to these people). Just because her blood is tainted by Indian.

At the top of the Hierarchy is the Full Blood Indian (also known as the flat broke Indian). These are the people that have not gone to Residential school. Speak their language first. Have a Traditional link to the Land. Still know the Traditional Teachings of their people. Have not been indoctrinated by Christianity. Are not educated in a western school. However, these are very few, so we can forgive the schooling category in their otherwise Ideal Indian-ness. At the top with FBI are FBI's from Isolated Reserves/Reservations. People that live with the Land and have many connections to family ties, cultural activities, BUT, are Christianized Indians. Many communities are in this category. They have the Land and language along with a bit of sustenance lifestyle, but are worshipers of Jehovah (and other saints and angels.)

Just below that is the Indian that is full blood and cannot speak fluently but can understand the language and knows enough to follow a conversation and respond to a fluent speaker in English. He or she has not been indoctrinated in Christianity. The numbers of these people is still significant but threatened. As the Golden-Agers and Baby-Boomers start to die off, the FBI will become less common.

Next on the ladder is the mixed Blood Indian that is fluent, has not been indoctrinated by Christianity, still maintains links to the Land and knows the Teachings of their people. This is a controversial ranking as the mixed blood with the stronger language skills could be higher on the ladder than the full blood who can't speak. It is a toss up between the two types of Indians. In many cases the mixed blood, who still looks Indian will be higher on the ladder of the Full Blood who can't speak his/her language.

As you move down the ladder the battle for who is higher on the tipi continues. You have Full Bloods that have been adopted out and raised in White families. They by chance of who and how they were raised, are not very high on the ladder. They are very close to the bottom of the ladder as well. Environment ways heavy against them in this case. It is the case of the real Indian looking dude that knows absolutely nothing about his/her heritage except for the movies, Dances with Wolves and Hondo. They look good but are sadly lost in the world. This leads to another type of Indian low on the tipi scale (hierarchy of Indian-ness); the Born-Again.

Born-Agains want to be on top with the FBI's, but can't understand that even some mixed Bloods are higher Indians than them. The BA's boss other Indians around, tell them what a ceremony is really suppose to be. They tell you how many Pipes they now have. How many names they have been given, how many times they dragged skulls, how many Grandfathers (rocks) they have had in a Sweatlodge. They even become Elders in their thirties. Born Agains are tolerated by other Indians. Quite frankly, they scare the shit out of people (Indians). They try really hard to speak Indian with really heavy White accents. These Indians are the ones who give Whites a really really hard time. They are not on the bottom of the ladder but are can be at different levels. Some Born-Agains are high on the ladder if they look Indian and have gone to the Rez sometimes throughout their childhood. Others that look white and have been to the Rez more times than the darker Indians will struggle as to their spot on the ladder/hierarchy. There are many Born Agains, some sit in the middle of pack but some are pretty high up on the ladder. Because they have all the elements of the Full Bloods and the Traditionalists, but were originally ignorant of their own Indian-ness. But they re-evaluated their essence and have climbed up the ladder.

We touched a little bit on environment and that is where the battle really heats up again for Indian-ness. There are the born, raised and went to school in the REZ Indian? By nature of where they were raised sit pretty higher middle and some are even close to the top of the ladder (depends on their language skills, their up-bringing and education). The born on the Rez Indian will sit at different levels of the ladder by nature of their blood. More Indian blood, higher on the ladder. However, this could be off-set by their Teachings. Heavy Christianity knocks some of the Indian-ness off of the Indian. So a lighter Indian by way they were raised could sit higher on the Indian-ness scale (you know just like Moh's rock hardness scale). So the Born on the Rez fair skinned Indian may have higher standing than a browner skinned Indian that has no bush ties, like a cement stomping Indian (city born and bred). Even good old cash plays a part in your Indian-ness scale. The poorer you are the more Indian (in some cases) you are. You may not be as Indian if you were raised in a rich neighbourhood. It's true. You have cash and you don't have the community links that are part of being Indian. You become a "drive-by" Indian. Drive by the Reserve or drive by the hood.

There is the born in the hood (inner-city and other really poor areas of the city) Indian. These are the crazy ones. Strong voices and wanting to be high on the ladder. The Rez Indians resent these Indians and they have the most fierce battles on Indian-ness. Much of the Born in the Hood Indians have stronger Indian accents than Rez Indians. Many of these Indians sit a little higher on the ladder because of their social and economic backgrounds. Many of them have never set foot in a bush or a canoe, but will maintain that they are "keepers of the Earth". It is frightening to put them low on the ladder. Their fierce grip of an Identity (however distorted) makes them middle of the pack on the Indian-ness scale.

The lines are pretty muddled in the middle rungs of the Indian-ness ladder. But someone will put a chart out there to show who sits were on the hierarchy of Indian-ness. Interesting to note, some of the Indian-ness scale is influenced by hardship faced by the Indian. Also the Residential school attendance is fashionable right now, and increases the Indian-ness factor.

Sorry if I didn't get to all categories but this is just an Introductory Indian-ness and you will have to sign up for the advanced tutorial on Indian-ness; check out this and take a course with this fellow. (His standing on the scale notwithstanding ). If I think of it, I may come back to clarify the ladder rungs a bit more, or the Moh's Indian scale or Maslow's hierarchy of Indian-ness scale.

Later Indians.

A change is gonna come...

2011-08-29T12:59:00.000-05:00

In the Reserve people always say they want change. Not sure what change they are talking about?

I think people want change that includes them. That is what kind of change they want.

6 years of missing my Son.

2011-08-23T22:13:00.001-05:00

August 25th will be six years since my son, Donovan killed himself in his Mom's place. The police said he was there for a least two days. I remember that day when the police went in. I think about and wonder what he was thinking. That is the reality of suicide. You are left with so many questions, what if's, how could I have done to change it, and why? Why did he do that? It is difficult enough and impossible to make peace with that. I will always know there could have been better options. I would change places him in a second. For him to be here and for me to be gone. That is the thing that can never be, wanting it to be a mistake, a dream and finally to wake up from it.

There has been a little talk in the news media about suicide since NHL player Rick Rypien took his own life. The stories skirt around the issue of suicide, but focus rather on depression. Depression is a serious issue and has the stigma that comes along with mental health issues. People don't want to say crazy in the head, but they are thinking it.

Anyway, I am not sure if suicide will ever be without the negative stigma. There is all the negative connotations associated with suicide: cowards way out, selfish, a Sin, against the law and so on. For me, I am not sure of what to think. I know my Son is not in Hell. Even if there was a chance that he may have been going there, David went traveled there and got him and his cousin out of there. He told me so.

So we have come another year and time has not kicked in and eased it. I am still waiting for time to heal all wounds. Still it is not as severe as it once was. I can laugh, I can enjoy time with the Grandkids. Still my time alone is when my mind takes me back to that place with my Son. A lot of the those thoughts go back to the mistakes that I made. Those are the thoughts that haunt me. It is a hell of place to be alone in time. Those are the things that keep me buried in a mound of dirt, covered in earth, seeing only the darkness of things.

I wonder what thoughts haunted that young NHL player?

These are the days...

2011-08-06T01:17:00.002-05:00

A happy song for you out there. I thank you for reading the blog. I am going to take a trip next week and won't blog for a couple of weeks. Going to see Montana.

Cancer is the Beast.

2011-08-04T23:10:00.004-05:00

Weendigo (windigo) is a beast. That beast eats and eats. It is an incorporeal being. It is the essence of greed, selfishness, and evil. The Windigo comes from Ojibway (and Cree) Teachings. The Teachings of the Windigo show us the nature of greed. The nature of evil unchecked.

Ronald Wolf a writer explains the Windigo this way:

You probably won't find a more savage or terrifying creature as the Wendigo. Americans and Canadians share this legend which is very similar to a werewolf. The Wendigo (also known as Windigo, Weendigo, Windago, Windiga, Witiko, Wihtikow) is a mythical creature appearing in the mythology of the Algonquian people.

It is a malevolent cannibalistic spirit which humans could transform, or which could possess humans. Those who indulged in cannibalism were at particular risk, and the legend appears to have reinforced this practice as taboo.

Wendigo psychosis is a culture-bound disorder which involves an intense craving for human flesh and the fear that one will turn into a cannibal. This once occurred frequently among Algonquian Native cultures, though has declined with the Native American urbanization.

Recently, the Wendigo has also become a horror entity of contemporary literature and film, much like the vampire, werewolf, or zombie, although these fictional depictions often bear little resemblance to the original entity.

The Wendigo is part of the traditional belief systems of various Algonquian-speaking tribes in the northern United States and Canada, most notably the Ojibwa/Saulteaux, the Cree, and the Innu/Naskapi/Montagnais.

Though descriptions varied somewhat, common to all these cultures was the conception of Wendigos as malevolent, cannibalistic, supernatural beings (manitous) of great spiritual power.

They were strongly associated with the winter, the North, and coldness, as well as with famine and starvation. At the same time, Wendigos were embodiments of gluttony, greed, and excess; never satisfied after killing and consuming one person, they were constantly searching for new victims.

In some traditions, humans who became overpowered by greed could turn into Wendigos; the Wendigo myth thus served as a method of encouraging cooperation and moderation. Among the Ojibwa, Eastern Cree, Westmain Swampy Cree, and Innu/Naskapi/Montagnais, Wendigos were said to be giants, many times larger than human beings (a characteristic absent from the Wendigo myth in the other Algonquian cultures).

Whenever a Wendigo ate another person, it would grow larger, in proportion to the meal it had just eaten, so that it could never be full. Wendigos were therefore simultaneously constantly gorging themselves and emaciated from starvation.

All cultures in which the Wendigo myth appeared shared the belief that human beings could turn into Wendigos if they ever resorted to cannibalism or, alternately, become possessed by the demonic spirit of a Wendigo, often in a dream.

Once transformed, a person would become violent and obsessed with eating human flesh. The most frequent cause of transformation into a Wendigo was if a person had resorted to cannibalism, consuming the body of another human in order to keep from starving to death during a time of extreme hardship or famine.

Among northern Algonquian cultures, cannibalism, even to save one's own life, was viewed as a serious taboo; the proper response to famine was suicide or resignation to death. On one level, the Wendigo myth thus worked as a deterrent and a warning against resorting to cannibalism; those who did would become Wendigo monsters themselves.

Among the Assiniboine, the Cree and the Ojibwa, a satirical ceremonial dance was originally performed during times of famine to reinforce the seriousness of the Wendigo taboo.

The ceremonial dance, known as a wiindigookaanzhimowin in Ojibwe and today performed as part of the last day activities of the Sun dance, involves wearing a mask and dancing about the drum backwards. The last known Wendigo Ceremony conducted in the United States was at Lake Windigo of Star Island of Cass Lake, located within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota

That is what cancer is. "Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues". We know that Cancer is a Spirit. We know it takes indiscriminately. I have no love for Cancer. I know that there are people out there, Traditional people who are working hard at fighting Cancer. Sometimes Cancer wins and takes a life, other times it loses and the people win.

Cancer is a bastard. It took a number of family members. My aunties on both sides of my family, my Mom and now it threatens my Cousin's little baby girl. She is only two. It hurts to see my cousin, his family in such pain. Trying to live normally. What ever the heck that is. We can offer words, but what else can we do. We can pray. However, it is the battle between the two that is going on. Maybe the medical community can win where the Traditional Healers cannot, or maybe the Healers can win where the Medical Community may not. I hope and pray that the baby wins. Hope is not an answer or method but sometimes it is all you have.

I will send you on your way with a story our Friend Annette told us the other day. Her grand-Auntie had a bout with Cancer. She beat it. Anyway this one day she felt a lump where her belly button is. She panicked. She got worried. She had already dealt with Cancer before and didn't want to deal with it again. She wanted to make sure it was okay. She went to the hospital. The doctor found a hard ball of dirt in her belly button. "Clean your belly button Auntie".

Aboriginal Circle

2011-08-02T17:40:00.000-05:00

@wabkinew "I hear a lot of people say the Native community needs heroes, well we already have our heroes, so lets take a moment to remember them."

She is at rest now.

2011-08-01T12:04:00.006-05:00

"God wanted her back. He is in a better place now. She is not suffering anymore. He is in Heaven. Time takes away the pain. She is with your Mom now. You will see him again. I know how you feel. It is meant to be. Time heals all wounds. Don't be sad. Don't feel bad. It's time to move on. Let him go. You are holding them back. It's Gods plan. Be strong. Only the good die young. You have good memories. You will have other children. You still have your children. You have to keep doing things, keep busy. You had time to say goodbye."

Holy Heck, people are dying like crazy in Sagkeeng. Seems like every week there is a wake. Lot of grief going in the community. So it might be a good time to brush up on the old sayings when you run into someone. I can't remember a lot of them, so I cheated and went online to look at the old cliches of the well meaning sympathizers.

Yes it is true, all of those things may seem like a good thing to say to someone, Hell I've said them lots of times myself to people who have suffered a loss. (Shit can't even say it right, death.) Those people had someone they loved died. So we try and say things that might be helpful. We mean good by them, when we offer our advice or words of kindness. But it just seems so wrong, you know? You boy is dead and it was meant to be? Holy shit. Your Mom suffered through cancer and it was meant to be. She is at peace? Holy shit, she suffered a lot of pain to end up dead and she is at Peace? Seems kind of weird to think like that, so I guess the best thing is to say... nothing.

If God wanted her back, then he is a one insecure bugger. He is in a better place right now, That's okay but I want him here. She is not suffering anymore, True, but why in the heck did she have to suffer in the first place. Anyway, you know where I am going with this.

Death is a natural thing, I know, but shit it still hurts like heck when it finds you (you know your loved one dies). I know a few people right now that are really suffering because they lost their Moms. My Auntie just lost one of her boys. He was murdered in a fire along with 4 others. Some crazy drunken lady set their house on fire. I wonder if there is a saying for dealing with that.

Well never meant to end on that note, so trying to think of a story for you to send you on your ways.

My nephew was away working, so his wife and their boy were home alone for a couple of months. Anyway, the boy wanted orange juice, but Mom said it was too expensive. Little boy told Granma and she went out and got them orange juice. The boy was given a glass of juice and he took a sip (I say zip, but my wife says it is sip) of the juice. He licks his lips and says "taste expensive". Little guy is four and doesn't know what expensive means, but it is cute.

Aboriginal people are Crazy!

2011-07-21T13:20:00.016-05:00

You want to know something, Indians are nuts. No, it's true. I know, I know it sounds cruel, because there are so many good people out there that show us that they are fine. But Indians are nuts.Okay I admit it, not all are nuts but there are some people out there that do strange things. So strange that you would think they are nuts. Yeah, sure you say that it is not inherent to one group of people but to all races. I guess that could be true, but I'm talking about Indians here, the North American kind, you know, the yip yip yaahoo yaahoo kind (as portrayed in Disney's Peter Pan or Hanna Barberas Quick Draw McGraw). Of course you may not know that I love Indians. Some of my best relatives, sisters, brothers, parents, cousins and kids are Indians. Still I may be wrong but Indians are nuts. I am going to talk about people here, so you may get the idea that I am calling them nuts. Not at all. I mention them because I want to contrast the sane with the insane. Some of these people are very sane and not nuts at all. Who the heck am I to call anyone nuts anyway?

Take this guy for example: Robbie Knievel breaks record Motorcycle Jump at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Casino. Now I don't know if this is what you call a nut-bar, I don't know. Maybe he is just adventurous. Yeah, that's it, he is an 'outside the box' thinking type guy. Yeah that's it. A person of great intellect and grandiose spirit. I like that. He's not nuts. Not sure if he is Indian, but that's the kind of strange behaviour I am talking about. People who do and say things the normal, average, individual may not be inclined to do. Lot of Indians are crazy in ways like that, but they are crazy in subtle ways as well. You know those people that have 20 cats kind of crazy. But not the "baby cooking crazy". The subtle crazy is what you can't really get a hand on, but it's there. People of Aboriginal heritage know it well. They see the signs: Got a big dog in the yard but no dog house. Have a car but no drivers license. Have a canoe but no paddles. Sleep all day and walk around all night. Go to AA for the free coffee and treats. Yell at the Chief because the screens on the windows are gone. Yell at the Chief just because she/he is the Chief. That's the kind of crazy they recognize, those Indians.

I see many people in my Reserve that are nuts. They hang from Trees. Can you imagine that? They have a stick shoved through their skin and they are hanged from a Tree. Crazy, I know.

Sundance 1900's

Yes, they are crazy, but really they are crazy for life. They do the Piercing as part of a ritual in a Ceremony. So I can see that they are not at all crazy but really quite sane. However, there are others that do it, the piercing thing. They are the people that make us see the difference between nuts and not nuts. Not sure of the reason behind this, but hey if it makes them feel good, well 'all-ridey then'.They seem to pierce for the sake of piercing. Hooks here and there. Some even pierce the naughty bits of their body.

Shark girl with hooks

Hanging from hooks

Rae Schwarz wrote an article explaining this hanging from hooks thing. She seems sane, but stupid. A quick read of the article has the hanging of hooks as somehow connected to the Sacredness of the Sundance Ceremony and the sacrifice people make at that Ceremony. ??? WTF??? Exactly. In any case it's ART. Good for them. Crazy and nuts but good for them. One person's crazy is another person's art.

Bad Eagle American Patriot

There is this fellow in the United States, called David Yeagley and he has this site called Bad Eagle. Now I am not calling this guy nuts are anything. I just wanted to share his site. He is an American patriot and his site is dedicated to American patriots. Here is what he writes:

" Liberal American Indians protest the use of the name "Geronimo" in the Bin Laden killing operation. They think they are standing up for American Indians, but they are shilling for white liberals. Contrary to their Indian chauvinist pretenses, they have betrayed and denigrated every sense of Indian honor, and no doubt contributed to the depression and alarming suicide rate among Indian youth. "

I guess the Liberal Indian had a hand is the direct link to Aboriginal Suicide. Maybe I can see that if I look real hard while hanging from metal hooks. I read some of Yeagleys online forum and think that many of his colleagues or followers are nuts. Crazy with a capital "C". I am not sure if you can be judged by the company you keep. But I do see that some people tend to stay away if they think someone is crazy. Not sure if crazy is hanging out with people who are interested in seeing your people disappear, but that is something different.

Grand Chief Phil Fontaine - Canadian PM Stephen Harper

Look at former Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Mr. Phil Fontaine. Phil Fontaine is a smart guy and certainly not crazy. He knows crazy when he sees crazy. Phil is from our Reserve. His Dad and my Kokum were brother and sister. Phil is the poster Indian for success. Smart, charismatic, well spoken, educated, speaks Ojibway, has triumphed over the Catholic Church indecencies and has had the Pope grovel (well not really, the Pope didn't do a public apology but rather a closed door sorry and oops) and apologize to him. Now that is one smart Indian and NOT crazy. He can spot crazy. That is why he surrounds himself with the non-Aboriginal. He knows Aboriginal people are crazy. He does not want to get that crazy stigma. So he stays away from Indians, aka Aboriginal people. Now that is smart. He knows about insider crazy that other Indians know about. The kind of Indian crazy where a guy will go over to your house when he knows you are away just so he can talk to your woman. Or the kind of crazy where he/she uses your name to try and get a free hotel room or meal at a restaurant.

Another fellow that is smart is this guy: Notice how he has the Headdress neatly (strategically) situated to sit on his head.

Chief oops, Senator Patrick Brazeau.

Senator Patrick Brazeau. Brazeau is an Algonquin from Quebec. He is the youngest person to be named Senator for Canada. He was picked by the political Right Conservative government. Brazeau made his name known as the leader of the group, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. Not sure what this group does but he was the leader. Brazeau is like the American Patriot Yeagley, in that Brazeau is a Canadian patriot and fights against the left thinking Indian. Because of his "right minded" thinking the Prime Minister of Canada made Brazeau the Indian on the Senate. A good choice for the Right. Now that is some smart thinking. Brazeau has been using his new found platform really well. Putting down any and all left political parties that are debating for Canadian Indians.
Brazeau is not crazy, he knows that it is better to be in the camp than sitting outside the camp. He's not crazy just mixed up or jealous of the Indian crazy. Who knows?

This is one thing I imagine must make Phil Fontaine crazy, nuts, is that Phil was a very loyal member and advocate of the Left minded Liberal Party and they never made him Senator. Now that is nuts.Those liberal bastards. They had their chance to show how fair minded they were/are but didn't come across. Now isn't that a kick in the head. A party that is anti-social, anti-people, anti-Indian appoint an Indian to the Senate. A plum position like that? But yet this social conscious minded, friend of the Indian government failed to make similar moves? Now that is nuts.

Kahentinetha Horn, 71, publisher of Mohawk Nation New

There is this one person that I know must be nuts. She constantly gets attacked for talking and walking. She is harassed, kicked beaten but yet she will not keep her mouth quiet. Now that is nuts. If you put your hand on fire and keep getting it burned, burnt, wouldn't you stop? Now that is exactly the thing I am talking about. This lady was in the hospital recently as a result of her constant talking. Talking about how Indians are being abused, stolen from, being wronged at every turn from the government. And what has this talk gotten her. Nothing but abuse, neglect and scorn from others. That lady is Kahentinetha Horn. I don't know Ms Horn, but she must be nuts! Being subject to all sorts of abuse and still she keeps talking and speaking about Indian abuse. Man that is crazy.

Scrap the Indian Act.

2011-07-12T18:00:00.004-05:00

The Assembly of First Nations is holding a summit in Moncton, New Brunswick. The are calling it a Peace meeting with some key areas to be addressed. I won't get into all the issues that Indians have to deal with and what the Chiefs are talking about at the summit. The issue that is key for Grand Chief of AFN Shawn Atleo, is the scrapping of the Indian Act.
I think everyone would agree that the Act is a paternalistic piece of old history and it should be scrapped. Thing is, what next? I think a fundamental shift in how Indians see themselves has to take place as well. The Chief and Councils of Reserves don't think of themselves as governments. They are more caretakers of the Reserve than anything else. Do they make laws? In theory they do, but in reality they do not.
People in the Reserve don't look at their own Chief and Councils as the leaders. There are many examples I could speak of to demonstrate that mindset.

Let say for example, if a Reserve Chief and Council made a law prohibiting people from hunting for a year, what do you think would happen? Would people in the community recognize the Chief and Council law? I don't believe that would happen. People would go out and hunt and the "federal laws" would support them. They would say it is their Treaty Right. The people would not see the Chief and Council as the authority. This problem is demonstrated over and over again. The "bannishment" of people from the community is something that a Band would do in certain cases. You can not banish people from the Reserve anymore. The Chief and Council do not have the authority.

In the Oka Crisis of 1990, the Provincial and Federal governments could not get a handle on who was in charge at the site. They were trying to get out of the situation and come to some kind of end to the situation of Oka. The government did not really know who was in charge. People (Peacekeepers of Kanehsatake) in the area discounted the Chief and Council, some recognized the Traditional Grandmothers and others spoke with the armed Indians. There was no clear idea of who had authority to speak for the people.

This is issue of not recognizing Chiefs as leaders can be linked to the Indian Act and the Indian Agent. No real power was ever in the hands of the Indians. All "laws" made by Chief and Council, (like dog by-laws and other important laws) had to get approval from the Federal Minister. It is now ingrained in the psyche of the Reserve Indian. Its now the way it is. The Chief and Councils are only care takers of the community situation.It is funny that the Federal government knows this fact but yet acts like all the shady deals made in the past by Indian Agents were made by the Chiefs and Councils. Yet is was the government that insured the Chiefs had no real power to make decisions. All decisions were made by the Indian Agent or the Ministry.

In order for the Reserves to start being effective in dealing with their own issues, they have to recognize their power. The power is in the people and it is loaned to the Chief and Council. If we don't recognize that power, how are we to lead ourselves, when we don't consider our own power?

For many the Indian Act does not allow Reserves to broker their own financial decisions. Borrowing on Land for development and other ventures. For all the woes of the Indian Act, it did one good thing; that is it kept the Lands in the hands of the community and not individuals. The whole essence of Indians is their collectivity and the Rights gained by Treaty from that Collectivity. The Indian Act, never meant to, but it keeps that collectivity first and foremost. So if the Indian Act could be scrapped without affecting the communal aspect of Reserves, I am all for it. I wouldn't want some Individual to lose the Land (in a failed business venture) that our Ancestors negotiated for us to keep. Some people want the Indian Act gone, just so they can access bank loans. Reserves mainly have two things, Land and People. You can't sell the people, but you can sell the Land.

Manitoba Flood: A benefit for some.

2011-07-11T01:31:00.006-05:00

The Province of Manitoba in Canada is experiencing the worst flooding it has seen in modern history. If it's not the worst flood in Manitoba's history, the flood sure is getting the most media coverage of Manitoba's history. Regardless, the flood is devastating. Devastating on both sides of the U.S. and Canada borders.
Many farmers, home owners, businesses, cottage owners and towns are being affected. People have lost their homes in the town of Minot. It is the same for a number of towns in Manitoba.

Lot of lives are going to be affected negatively. My in-Laws have a small cattle Farm in the Interlake region by way of Lake Manitoba. They are going to be left with the decision whether or not to continue farming. It is already difficult for them to continue being a farmer: with the cost of fuel, the crazy weather (drought and flooding in a couple of seasons) and the problem of no Hay for the cattle. Hay land is flooded out all over the Interlake region. Hay fields will not be able to be cut and bailed.

So with the people of Manitoba fed up with the flooding, who do they turn to? Everyone turns to the government of the day for answers. It looks like no one really has answers for the flood problems. The province has tried to mitigate the flood damage to high population areas, but that has left some areas to fend for themselves. Or the flooding efforts have led to some purposely flooding of areas. This is not sitting good with people. The people are tired, angry, exacerbated by the governments response to the floods and they need an outlet for their feelings.

With a provincial election in the next 4 months, the people are going to express their anger at the situation through votes. The government is helpless to combat this. Who will benefit from the situation of the flood? The opposition will benefit. The Conservative Party of Manitoba will be the beneficiaries of Misery ( flood victim).
Those lucky bastards are going to come in and sweep the elections this October in Manitoba. All because of Natural disasters. Funny thing, you don't hear a peep out of them on how they could help the situation. What would they do differently if they were the ruling government in this time of flood? Nope the Conservatives are not offering alternatives, advice or guidance. They are sitting back gloating and waiting.

People vote with emotion. Emotions are definitely high. It is a shame that some have to vulture off the misery of others. Nature of politics I guess.

David Blacksmith: Healer & Teacher

2011-07-08T11:38:00.008-05:00

This is David Blacksmith from Cross Lake First Nation, Manitoba. He is a Traditional Teacher, Healer. (In some places he is called an Elder, but I think he is still very young, but that's what I think)Even with his young age, he does have the distinction of being in an Elders circle of Knowledge.

David is an interesting individual. He is not your average "Traditional Teacher". He is very knowledgeable and very crazy.

There are those that don't like David. That is okay. I am okay with David. He is there when you need him. We don't hang together anymore, but life takes you different places. It does not matter we will always be family and friend. I know he is good where he is at. I like him. He is hard to take sometimes but he will be there if you need him. You have to know him. He likes to tease and laugh. That is one of the endearing things about David. I respect him and acknowledge that the Creator has indeed given him some kind of Jazz (power) to work with people. He has a very special connection to my wife and daughter. He was there visiting us at the hospital a half hour before my girl was born. He held the ceremony for the naming of our girl Chloe. You ask him something and he will try hard to do what is asked.

One thing is that people expect our Teachers to be on a pedestal. That does a disservice to all our Teachers. They are Human Beings, capable of fault and frailty. Anyone can put a person down, but its much better to look at the Good in others. David does a real service for people. He lives a life that is not easy. Being Traditional is a hard thing. You can pretend to live that way, but to walk that way calls for sacrifice. We all need to, at some time, sacrifice for our loved ones, our people and our Land. David is one of those rare people that knows sacrifice. He is constantly giving of himself for others. That is Tradition. I know plenty of "traditional" people that have no clue really. And that's okay for them. It's like your "Sunday going church goers"; being close to God only for one hour on Sundays.

I think of David and laugh. A good happy laugh. A warm laugh. A sad laugh. A lonely laugh. A loving laugh.
Be good David, I'll talk to you later.

Canada Day Winnipeg & a Tattoo

2011-07-05T19:57:00.007-05:00

West Coast Native Art style

60's Style Woodpecker and pin up girl - Thrush mufflers?

Like the Transformer movie style

Walking around Winnipeg on Canada Day (July 1st) I couldn't help but notice all the different tattoo artwork on people. Some of it is too busy that I could not make out what it was. Some tattoos were cartoonish, while some were simple and many were elegant. I like the art work. I am a little aware of how much a Tattoo can mean to someone. For some it's a statement of their individuality, while others it is a sign that they are not conforming to society's image of what is proper. For some it is a deep cultural connection. And for many it is a calendar. A calendar of some event, important in their life.

I remember this one fellow years ago had a tattoo of a "joint" on his arm. He told me it was a part of who he was; he liked to smoke dope. To me it was dumb. But to each their own. When I think back I guess it was important to him and was a part of him. I have a couple of art pieces as well and I like to think that the art represents part of who I am. I have some Maori friends and I know Tattoo is a very special part of who they are.

I took a few pictures while we were out walking around, but missed out on some great work. Still here are a few of the people walking around the city.

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

A skull in yellow

Alice in Wonderland Disney style

Not sure of the style, but it shows you where to look

Death. I think

Roses and Brass Knuckles

Biker Style 60's

Asia style Dragon

Pretty, fun and happy

Menora perhaps or Chandelier

Too bad I didn't get the whole picture, than it might have made sense

Memory

Sea Horse

A visit with Iskatewizaagegan (Shoal Lake First Nation #39) Ontario

2011-06-24T17:55:00.007-05:00

Shoal Lake First Nation is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes drive from Winnipeg Manitoba. The Reserve is located northwest of the Lake of the Woods Ontario and is signatory to Treaty number three. The current Chief is Eli Mandamin.

The land is typical Canadian Shield; lot of bedrock, granite, some swamp and deep cold water lakes. The scenery is spectacular. It is like you are in one of those National Geographic documentary film.

The Shoal Lake is almost prestine water. No development has taken place near the Lake or in the Reserve. The beneficiary of the Lake is not really the Anishinabe of Iskatewizaagegan, but the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Winnipeg has NO agreement with Shoal Lake for the water. The Water is pumped from Shoal Lake Ontario to Winnipeg Manitoba. It is a 135 kilometer "aqueduct". There are NO agreements in place for Shoal Lake to compensate them for the water and the impact the aqueduct and the loss of water rights and some land has caused. I don't know much about the situation, so I won't comment on what is taken place.
However, the Shoal Lake people are getting tired of being ignored by the city of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba. Winnipeg is getting their water free from them and are now in the act of selling the water to other neighbouring municipalities. Shoal Lake has lot of patience, but that they should be treated better by Winnipeg and Manitoba.

There is a barge that takes people across the lake to the other side of the Reserve. A new road is being planned that will eliminate the need for a barge.

My visit came at an opportune time, the Reserve was celebrating Treaty Days. The events that took place were great. Lot of children came out to take part to have some fun.

The day was gorgeous with the Sun shinning and the air filled with laughter of children. You could not ask for anything better.

The school was the site for the Treaty Day Celebrations.

Green house

Band Office

Sagkeeng Lacrosse boys

Two man three leg race

The title holder

Shoal Lake muscles

Organizing the games

Barbeque

Karate Kid Flying Swan Kick

Look what I won

I'm taking home food

The Reserve has a very beautiful Powwow arbor. When we drove by I notice that there was a Teaching Lodge set up near by the Powwow site. My sister told me that Mediwiwin initiations were taking place in Shoal Lake this week. I asked the Chief if Ceremonies were taking place and he said yes. I didn't get to take a picture of the Powwow grounds. My brother tells me that people are very Traditional in Shoal Lake. It is good to hear a lot of Anishinaabe Language being spoken. They are strong in that area as well.

To serve and protect - with style!

Clans

Behave yourself, she's an Officer of the Law

The food was plenty, the cooks were busy, the people were friendly and generous. Lot of laughter and some good feelings. There were some good people: Chief Eli, Marion, Charlene, Barb, Christine Chan (school principal), Chuck and all the people on hand.

Sagkeeng High School principal Allan Courchene, along with Teacher Rich Bruyere brought a group of boys to demonstrate Lacrosse. Sagkeeng is very active and very good in Lacrosse. The boys did drills and had some of the Shoal kids taking part in shooting at the goalie.

A very handsome young man was eating a watermelon. He was cute as can be. Don't you love little Indian kids?

Shoal Lake people showing some good hospitality to the Sagkeeng visitors.

"It takes a community (whole village) to raise a child"

2011-06-22T21:36:00.000-05:00

You know the thing about living in a Reserve is that it is a community. Community in the sense that everyone belongs to the community. It makes sense that everyone would want the best for the community since everyone thrives from the community. A thriving community means the the people in the community are thriving. The essence of a Reserve was to have a safe place, a permanent home for the people. It is still home for many. Home to come back to even if you are a world away.

We are in an ever changing climate. The home we knew or expect to see is something different. You ever here the phrase "you can never go home again"? It is from a book written by Thomas Wolfe:
The title comes from the finale of the novel when protagonist George Webber realizes, "You can't go back home to your family, back home to your childhood ... back home to a young man's dreams of glory and of fame ... back home to places in the country, back home to the old forms and systems of things which once seemed everlasting but which are changing all the time — back home to the escapes of Time and Memory." Our homes are like that, gone and we can't get it back.

I think our community has changed. Not just the Aboriginal community but the way we live all over the world. There may be a few exceptions, but I am speaking generally about Western society. With our community we have changed quite a bit. So much so that you may not recognize it as a community. We are a community in the sense that we all reside in the same place. But as for it being a community that is not truly there anymore. We are a place of individuals. We no longer act like a whole community. Self interest rules the playground. We are more interested in short term immediate wants. With that way of living the good of the whole community is neglected.

We have become so individualist that the community has no say in our lives. We don't want anyone telling us what to do. That means correcting our behaviours. When we were kids, the whole community could correct our behaviour. It was the way it was. Now if you try to correct a child's actions, you are at risk for some angry parent coming after you. "Who the heck are you to say anything to my kid?" This really comes out with the schools. Teachers are hand-cuffed when dealing with students. Parents are so angry towards Teachers. Everyone is so guarded.

A community is not allowed to raise a child.

Wisdom: of the Seven Teachings.

2011-06-10T15:32:00.002-05:00

I admit I don't know the Seven Teachings. I mean I can memorize them and the descriptions of what they are and who carries what and that sort of thing, but "I don't know them". The Teachings may be part of the Little Boy Teachings and I don't know enough to really know.

I wrote about Humility in an early blog post. In that post I joked around about being great and being good at being humble. I really don't know how to walk with that Teaching. As well as the other Seven Teachings. Really I don't know where these Teachings come from. I just know that they are everywhere now. Like many people I get schooled in Teachings by many different people. This Teachings I get schooled in are all different. Sometimes they relate to the popular Seven Teachings and many are different kinds of Teachings. Sometimes I am schooled by a little child and sometimes it is an authority figure and sometimes it is just some schmo that I don't think much of. If you think about it Teachings are Experiences. We are shown them, but it is what we do with them, that is the trick.

Take Wisdom for instance. I am not sure how to use that Teaching or how it is schooled to us. I want to think that some day I will have Wisdom, but not sure when that will come. Is there an age when you are suppose to be a holder of Wisdom? I don't know. How is Wisdom a Teaching? I wonder.

In the meantime I am searching for some answers to that Teaching. "The wise know their limitations; the foolish do not." — Benjamin Hoff (The Tao of Pooh)

Until I find out how that Teaching of Wisdom is to be carried I will try to get that Teaching from the Wisdom of others.

"In the story of Ugly Duckling, when did the Ugly Duckling stop feeling Ugly? When he realized that he was a Swan. Each of us has something Special, a swan of some sort, hidden inside somewhere. But until we recognize that it's there, what can we do but splash around, treading water? The Wise are Who They Are. They work with what they've got and do what they can do."
— Benjamin Hoff

Lots of Prayers at the Sundance

2011-06-06T22:49:00.014-05:00

Kete'Anishinaabe (The Old Ones)

Such a beautiful sight. A Lodge filled with offerings to the Kimaamokimishomisinan, Creator, to God. Prayers for loved ones, for family, for community, for the sick, the loved ones gone, for the people. Can your hear the Whistles blowing. The beautiful sound of the Whistles from the Dancers. The Colours of your family, your clans, your names, your offerings.

The Nest sits high on the Lodge.

The Colours, the Cloth, the Prayers of the Dancers, wrapped on the Tree.

People offered their lives here and sacrificed their flesh here for the sick, and for the families.

The Stalls of Dancers are now empty, but the Prayers are remembered. The Stalls have been broken at Dawn for the new beginning.

Colours of Prayers.

I Never took pictures of People Dancing. That is something I know not to do. However, this Elder and friend of mine did say "our Ceremonies are strong" and "not disappearing, we have no fear of people stealing them". So Don't be afraid if someone takes a picture.

These Lodges are in our Reserve. The People come from all over to Dance.

There a number of Lodges going on right now and will be going on in Indian Country for some time. David and Sherryl will have their Lodge next weekend.

Now you have Four Songs.

Never ending song of love for you

2011-06-03T00:09:00.001-05:00

Most likely the best song ever. It reminds me of people having fun. Having fun.

I like the way others chime in and hoop and holler as the song goes on. Just like a Powwow song, when some of the singers hoop and holler or give Eagle cries. Excitement and fun built in.

Tooth decay high among Native Children

2011-06-02T17:46:00.001-05:00

"Tooth decay study targets Native kids"

"a release from the university's media relations office

A Waterloo health researcher is collaborating with colleagues around the world to develop a program to reduce incidences of childhood dental caries among First Nations populations.
The unique program designed for pregnant First Nations women will begin this spring in several communities across Ontario and Manitoba. First Nations populations have a higher-than-average rate of dental caries — a bacterial disease that results in tooth decay."
"Indigenous people in Canada, Australia and New Zealand experience a much larger burden of chronic diseases compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts," said co-investigator Laurie Hoffman-Goetz of Waterloo’s department of health studies and gerontology. "Extensive tooth decay among young Indigenous children is common, is linked to the development of other chronic diseases, and significantly reduces the quality of life for afflicted children, their families and communities. This international collaboration will provide a foundation for culturally-appropriate preventive dental care, oral health education and greater oral health literacy for pregnant Indigenous women, which will hopefully reduce oral disease for their children."

I have seen lots of baby bottle syndrome and how it looks. My own son had it. Rotten teeth, and if you don't do something about it, the teeth get pulled or they get the silver caps all over them. Not very nice.
My brother in law Al, introduced me to something new for brushing your teeth. He said just use soap, a white soap bar. So I have been trying for the last couple of weeks. Your mouth gets really full of soap and it doesn't taste too bad. It really lathers up. My wife says as long as I don't use the arse soap that is in the shower (might have it's own floss ewww). You know the soap bar you use to lather your self all over your body, in every nick and cranny. That's the soap bar not to use. But hey it's soap, it must be clean. My wife said do I listen to everything Al says. Well he is a very smart guy and I just looked it up and some people agree with him. So go out there start to brush your teeth with soap people. Save your teeth. :D (big toothy smile)

http://www.torontosun.com/life/healthandfitness/2011/01/19/16947581.htmlDo you enjoy paying dental bills? Or having dentists scraping plaque from your teeth? If it's a pleasure, there's no need to read this column. But I've never enjoyed these regular checkups. Now there's a way to retire dentists, prevent cavities, protect gums and rid teeth of plaque, using cheap, ordinary soap.
My first reaction when I read this report was, "Come on, Dr Judd, you must be kidding! Who would ever brush their teeth with soap?" But Dr. Gerald F. Judd is no nut. He's a retired Emeritus Professor of chemistry at Purdue University.
I admire people who have the intestinal fortitude to question well-established theories that may be wrong. Besides, I discovered he and I both believe dentists are wrong on another issue.
Dr. Judd reports that acid destroys enamel and that cavities would vanish if people rinsed acids from their mouths quickly. Tap water is all that's needed to do the job.
He also claims that bacteria cannot damage the tooth's hard outer enamel that is composed of calcium hydroxy phosphate. The proof is that bones and teeth are resistant to earth-bound organisms. After all, we've all seen pictures of skeletons that have been unearthed after hundreds of years with teeth still intact.
But why use soap to clean teeth? Judd says glycerine is present in all toothpastes and it's so sticky that it requires 27 washes to clean it off. This means that teeth remain coated with a film and cannot rebuild enamel. And if they're not clean, adenosine diphosphatase cannot provide phosphate to enamel.
His next point is what I wanted to hear. Brushing with soap destroys bacteria and viruses. No professor at The Harvard Medical School told me about that. Or that brushing with ordinary bar soap not only cleans teeth but also removes hard plaque stuck to the bottom of enamel.
Removing plaque from teeth is vital as it invades gums, separating them from teeth. This sets the stage for gingivitis, poorly anchored teeth and eventually possible loss of teeth. It's shocking that 25% of North Americans over age 43, and 42% of those over 65 years of age, have no teeth!
Dr. Judd also believes that the fluoridation of water and the use of fluoride toothpaste is a useless, dangerous biological poison. He says calcium fluoride seeps into enamel, making it weak and brittle, destroying 83 enzymes along with adenosine diphosphatase.
I couldn't agree more. Look at the warning on fluoride toothpaste. Parents are told to watch children under six years of age while they brush their teeth. To be safe, only a tiny amount of toothpaste is used, and none should be swallowed. That should tell you something! In 1974, a three-year old child had fluoride gel placed on his teeth. The hygienist handed him a glass of water but rather than rising out his mouth, he drank it. A few hours later, he was dead.
If fluoride toothpaste is the answer to dental decay, why is it that 98% of Europe is fluoride-free? Sweden, Germany, Norway, Holland, Denmark and France stopped using fluoridation 29 years ago. These are not backward, depressed nations.
The sole argument for fluoridation is that it reduces tooth decay. But several studies involving as many as 480,000 children found no beneficial evidence between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.
Dr. Hardy Limeback, Professor of Dentistry at the University of Toronto, says children under three should never use fluoridated toothpaste or drink fluoridated water, and mothers should never use Toronto tap water to prepare baby formula.
Will I practice what I've preached in this column? You bet, as I'm curious to know whether I can say goodbye to the dental hygienist who scrapes plaque off my teeth, not to mention the cost. The test will take three months and I'll report the result.
No doubt all hell from the dental profession will descend on me. This doesn't worry me. What does is that my dentist will read this column and keep a big rusty drill handy for my next appointment.
Visit Dr. Gifford-Jones' website at DocGiff.com.

Painting the City Poor areas.

2011-06-02T14:40:00.002-05:00

My Friend says you can tell when an area of the city is going down, they put murals on the buildings. I thought I would take a few pictures on a quick trip around the city. Some of the murals are quite nice. I only took a few snapshots, but there are murals all over the place in Winnipeg. Not all of them are in the poor neighbourhoods, but all of these paintings are in the poor areas of the city.

ADAM BEACH on Ellice Ave.

Ellice Ave.

On Sargent Ave.

Arlington

X-Ques cafe, my buddy Sal's place.

Ellice

Sargent.

Sundance in Manitoba

2011-05-28T23:40:00.000-05:00

Spruce Woods Sundance Itinerary
Wednesday, June 08/11 to Sunday, June 12/11
Out of respect for the many new dancers and visitors we have to our Sundance, we have opted to distribute this document to better prepare everyone. Although some Traditional people and groups may not agree with what we do at our Lodge, our Elders and the Grandfathers support our embracing of technology to get the word out to the People. We respect the opinions and views of those who disagree and we only ask that they respect ours.

Very Important: There will no longer be a communal kitchen. Each camp/person is responsible for feeding themselves except for sponsored feasts. Each person is also expected to bring a feast kit with their own plate, bowls, cup and utensils. This is in accordance with our Sundance teacher’s desire to be kinder to the Earth.

Wednesday, June 8th – Camp Day

On this day, people begin arriving and setting up their camps. No open fires are permitted; you must obtain a portable fire pit from the park office. Your camp is responsible for returning it. Everyone is expected to help build the giant tipi late afternoon.

Thursday, June 9th – Last Sundance Meeting

People will continue to arrive and set up their camps. Those who have completed their camps are expected to help complete the giant tipi before sundown.

Everyone at camp is expected to come into the giant tipi at sundown for the last Sundance Meeting. For those dancers who have not made any of the 3 previous meetings, you MUST be present at this meeting. Every camp/family is expected to make a food contribution to the potluck feast.

Friday, June 10th – Tree and Lodge Day

Sunrise (approx 6 a.m.) – Sunrise and Nest Ceremony
• 7 Men who have lost a parent will gather the Thunderbird Nest. All dancers are expected to be present to greet the nest.

7:00 a.m. Tree Ceremony
• Everyone expected to participate
• Women will dig hole and make a bed for the tree (bed made up of blankets)
• Men will locate the tree and bring him to the lodge from the south
• Women will dress David in the Sundance Tree’s cloth so that he can greet the tree (assign 2 men to stand between him and the hole)
• The tree will be placed on the bed
• Excess limbs removed and stump painted.
• Men will carve the lightning and Thunderbird on each side of tree (bring sharp knives)
• Women will paint the lightning and Thunderbird blue
• Tree measured for height
• Men make Thunderbird nest and attach to tree
• Women will dress up the tree in the cloth
• Offerings (ribbon, tobacco, food, sweetgrass) placed in hole
• Men raise and straighten tree (long sturdy ropes needed)
• Main tobacco offering – everyone attends and makes their offering of pouch/tin of tobacco (someone collects wrappers, containers)
• Main tobacco offering wrapped in white cloth and a virgin male is assigned to be the climber. He will scale the tree and attach the main tobacco offering.
• The tree is feasted with fruit, rice and raisins and tea.

11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Building of the Lodge
• George Muswagon will lead the men in constructing lodge. Men will need axes, shovels, and fencepost diggers.
• A Woman will be announced as to who will lead the women in collecting the strapping needed to construct the lodge. Each woman will require a sharp knife.
• Patrick Scott will take some men and get firewood.

4:00 p.m. Sweating the Dancers
• Each dancer will attend and partake in at least two rounds of a sweat. The sweats will be conducted by whom the Sundance chief chooses.

6:00 p.m. Dancers last Meal/Lighting of Sacred Fire
• Feast will be catered. Potluck is still recommended for those who want “Special” Dishes such as wild meat.

7:00 p.m. – Sundance starts
• Dancers will place their bedding, etc at the edge of the boundary line
• Dancers must have red wrap (men), skirt or dress (women), sage crown in red cloth, eagle whistle, at least two flags (1-2 meters of colored cloth – no black – with tobacco tied to a stick).
• Dancers must be dressed/prepared for the weather (gets cold at night)
• Everyone to turn pipe over to pipe men (yet to be named). They will remain in the lodge for blessing all weekend.
• Dancers will be lined up by seniority (4th years first, 1st years last).
• Dancers will be placed in their stalls and will remain in the lodge for the remainder of the weekend.
• Women dancers on their time or who start their time will be placed in their own area near the boundary line where they are also to remain for the duration of the ceremony.

Midnight – Dancers go to Bed
• Everyone expected to return to and remain in their camps. Keep quiet so dancers can rest.
• Parents/chaperones must keep kids/teens at their own camps.
• Volunteers needed to tend to Sacred Fire all night and assist dancers as necessary.

Saturday, June 11th – Sundance

5:00 a.m. - Sunrise and Pipe Ceremony
• Dancers and workers are expected to be in lodge to help Grandpa Joe and David greet the sun.

5:30 a.m. - Pledges make their intentions known:
• Males report to Ken Courchene if you are hanging, dragging or piercing.
• Females report to Sherryl Blacksmith if you are piercing or flesh-offering.
• Important: If you are pledging - It is proper protocol to present tobacco and a gift to your cutter.

6:00 a.m. – Men Piercing Lead by Ken Courchene in following order
• Hangers – suspension from piercing (You MUST talk to and obtain blessing from David to hang).
• Draggers – dragging 4 buffalo skulls around the outside of the lodge.

9:00 a.m. – Break/Dancers rest

9:30 a.m. - Complete piercing of the Men
• Piercers – piercing on the traps or chest and attached to the tree.

10:30 a.m. – Women Piercing Lead by Brenda Watt in following order
• Piercers – piercing on the traps/shoulders and attached to the tree.
• Flesh Offering – an offering of flesh is cut from the arm and offered.

1:00 p.m. – Break/Dancers Rest

1:30 p.m. – Pipe Giveaway
• David and Sherryl will bestow pipes upon certain individuals.

3:00 p.m. – Preparation for Buffalo Dance
• Bring cloth offering to line the ground of the lodge (any color but black)
• Bring ribbon offering (any color but black) for blessing from the buffalo.
• Bring blue or white ribbon for blessing of lost souls.

3:30 p.m. – The Return of the Buffalo Dance
• The Buffalo Dance has returned to our people to assist in our time of need, in our case they have returned to help those lost to suicide (lost souls).
• A Woman will lead Buffalo Dancers into the lodge.

6:00 p.m. – Break/Dancers Rest

7:00 p.m. – Home Fire Ceremony
• All camps are asked to bring a log of wood from their home community.
• 7 Men will be asked to share a Fire Teaching and to dance with this wood.
• A fire will be built within the lodge from the wood from our combined home fires.

9:00 p.m. – Doctorings (Healers names to be announced)
• Those suffering from sickness can come forward and ask for healing from the lodge.
• Important: If you are asking for healing - It is proper protocol to present tobacco, cloth and a gift to your healer.

Midnight – Dancers go to bed

Sunday, June 12th - Sundance

4:30 a.m. – Preparation of the Lodge and Dancers
• Lodge branches bent in half
• Each dancer Must be painted with blue facepaint

5:00 a.m. - Sunrise and Pipe Ceremony
• Dancers and workers are expected to be in lodge to help Grandpa Joe and David greet the sun.

6:00 a.m. – Men Piercing Lead by Ken Courchene in following order
• Hangers – suspension from piercing (You MUST talk to and obtain blessing from David to hang).
• Draggers – dragging 4 buffalo skulls around the outside of the lodge.

9:00 a.m. – Break/Dancers rest

9:30 a.m. - Complete piercing of the Men
• Piercers – piercing on the traps or chest and attached to the tree.

10:30 a.m. – Women Piercing Lead by Brenda Watt in following order
• Piercers – piercing on the traps/shoulders and attached to the tree.
• Flesh Offering – an offering of flesh is cut from the arm and offered.
1 p.m. – Break/Dancers Rest

2:00 p.m. – Children’s Ceremony
• All children are to attend to be dressed up in red wraps/skirts, headbands and will run the lodge for an hour under the guidance of Tristen Daniels.

3:00 p.m. – Giveaway Ceremony
• Lead by (To be announced)
• All 4th year dancers must have a giveaway.

4:00 p.m. – Horse Ceremony
• Anyone who has dreamed of a horse will accompany Sherryl Blacksmith to the Horse ceremony.
• Needed: Blankets, cloth, water, rice and raisins, sweetgrass, ribbon and the horse cloth (white with polka dot).

5:30 p.m. - Windigo Ceremony

• Parents: Ensure the children do not follow the Windigos out.

7:00 p.m. – Sundance Closing Ceremony
• Dancers brought out
• Given first drink of water
• Final dance around David/Sherryl and the Drum
• Feast will be catered. Potluck is still recommended.
• Families: Bring your dancers favourite for them, they earned it!
• Do not forget your pipe.
Also, Dancers and visitors can bring extra metres of colourful cloth to hang on the rafters and beautify our lodge.

Monday, June 13th – Cleanup Day

David and Sherryl request that anyone who can stay behind and help cleanup (we must pickup everything, including cigarette butts, garbage, etc.)

AM radio a part of Indian Nostaliga

2011-05-25T22:09:00.002-05:00

I remember as a kid we used to listen to the radio coming out of Portage la Prairie. That is a station that has been around for a long time, CFRY, 920 on the AM dial. For those that don't know, there was AM radio before FM. The radio would come in good at nights. Portage is quite aways from Sagkeeng so, we were lucky to get it in the evenings. On this station they had dedication lines, where people would phone in and request songs. We could tell from some Reserves where the callers were from, especially Peguis Reserve. That radio station still has a request show. It is on Sunday mornings from 11:00am to 1:00pm. People are not live on the air anymore, but the DJ will read who and where the requests for songs come from. Many of the requests, are from the Indian community. Even people from our Reserve still send requests for certain songs. I am amazed at the old songs.
The type of songs are mostly old gospel country. It is a good pass time listening to the station on Sundays. My wife and I make it a habit to listen. We will remember Sues' brothers Gord and Brian, my brother Poncho and our Moms. The songs are good and the AM radio still works. Nostalgic. Sometimes we use the television radio stations to listen to CFRY.

An Apology

2011-05-22T22:34:00.000-05:00

Hey Folks,

Just a quick apology for the content. Indians are known for their humour, but that is not reflected in a lot of this blog. Hope that it gets better with some stories. Got to slap that guy who posts stuff.

I lost my glasses the other day because I got kind of distracted. My daughter in law called in a panic. Jack had two woodticks in his ear. She phoned, her dad, my friend Earl, my boy Ed, and the doctor. I told her I would be right there. There were two ticks all right, in the top part of the ear lobe. I could have pulled them out. So I carried boy outside to the car, to get a better look. In all the mayhem, I lost my glasses. I felt I was in a cool calm manner. We ended up at the emergency room and Brandi and two nurses took the wood ticks out. My wife grew up on a farm in the middle of the bush, and I grew up in the Rez, so wonder why mayhem ruled the day?

The rule of an Addict

2011-05-19T22:17:00.001-05:00

"Are you going to go up the river and get lucky?" "Its not luck, its a sure bet." Fabian (Burnell) talking about going out with a girl in the Reserve. The thing with addicts is that you can bet money on them. The rule is that they will always find a way to screw up. That is the rule. No matter how nice a girl or a guy they are, the rule is that an addict will screw it up. Any Addict, gambler, drug user, pill popper, or a drunk. It may not be today, but it is a sure bet, they will screw up.

You can bet against the odds. Maybe he won't get drunk this time. Maybe she won't spend all the grocery money on the slot machines. She will be able to make her work shift. Bet money and you will lose. Bet your marriage on it and you will lose. Bet your friendship on it, and well, it will be tested. Will there be lies? If there are no lies, that is something, I have yet to see.

Get your hopes up and have them crushed. Can it change?

There are of course the people who are constantly working on beating the Addiction. Those people I will wager on and maybe, I will get lucky. But that's the thing, we go all in anyways.
I certainly hope for a win.

Life and death in the Reserve

2011-05-18T18:15:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy two months in our Reserve. We have had about 11 funerals in in that time. This week it is a son of a man that killed him self last year. This time the son decide to hang himself as well. A month ago one lady from the Reserve was in a bar having a couple of drinks. She went out for a cigarette and was stabbed by young girls. For a damn cigarette! Now that is some sad stuff there for sure.
A friend of mine buried his Dad about two or three weeks ago. An older gentlemen so no surprise. Trouble is he and his brothers are in a real war against each other. With one of the brothers being a real bad guy. Another brother was brought to the Service for one hour in chains. He is a gang member and is in remand custody, so he was not eligible for Funeral pass.

We had a pretty successful Gathering. By success, I mean people came and we were able to feed them all and provide some very good information. I was glad about that.

Our computer is in for repairs, so I am borrowing this one for now. I hope to come back and share some stories with you. So take care, exercise your compassion and do at least one kind deed a day.

News Release: Circle of Life Gathering: life after addictions & suicide

2011-05-09T21:08:00.003-05:00

For Immediate Release

Circle of Life Gathering: life after addictions and suicide Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Former Canadian Heavyweight Champion Mr. George Chuvalo and former NHL hockey star Theo Fleury are taking the fight against drugs. May 10 and 11^th the Thunderbird House at 715 Main St, will host a Gathering. The Gathering is a volunteer event aimed at people who have suffered the loss of a loved one through suicide and addictions. Chuvalo and Fleury are here because tragedy can happen to anyone and they want to share their experience. Chuvalo has lost family to addictions and suicide. Fleury has come close to suicide because of addictions. Aboriginal Elder Peter Kinew and his brother Elder Fred Kelly share more than just being siblings, they both share the loss of a son through suicide. They are participating in the event to inspire and offer hope to those still grieving. Betty Laschuk and Marcheta Tanner, co-chairs of the Compassionate Friends of Winnipeg, want survivors of loss to know that there are people in the community that understand what they are going through. Speakers Chuvalo, Fleury, Kinew, Kelly, Laschuk and Tanner are a few of the people sharing their life stories at the Circle of Life Gathering in Winnipeg. Loss of life through addictions is very difficult to deal with, especially suicide. The amount of grief and suffering left behind by addictions and suicide can be unbearable. The Gathering is utilizing a Ceremonial approach to help with the Healing process. Elder Kinew has invited Catholic Archbishop of Winnipeg James Weisgerbrer to Bless people at the Gathering. Kinew and the Archbishop had traveled together to Rome to hear the Pope’s apology for Indian Residential School. Elder Kinew is going to be conducting a Ceremony of “Wiping Away the Tears” for those that are grieving. Healing Sweat lodge Ceremonies will be held on the grounds daily at 6:00 p.m. Contact Steve Courchene 204-470-5207.

Circle of Life Gathering. Update

2011-05-05T18:55:00.002-05:00

Circle of Life Gathering: Life after Addictions and Suicide

May 10^th & 11^th 2011

Thunderbird House

715 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB

Aaniin – Booshoo

Welcome

Circle of Life Gathering: Life after Addictions and Suicide

Welcome to our Gathering. This is a personal journey for us all. It is not the vision of one person. This journey is not meant to be a sad journey. We are here to help, to guide, to walk with, and share a journey that we are not alone.

The Circle of Life Gathering is about sharing. It is through the volunteers and generous spirit of others that we can join you today in this setting. This year we, our friends, our families and our community have grown. We have many people that are helping to create a healthy safe journey. We come together because of a sad occurrence, that thing being grief. We are positive that our journey can be helpful to others. We all endured a great period of grief. That Grief is due to many things; like addictions, loss of a loved one and or a suicide. The grief of addictions, of loss and of suicide knows no boundary. We have people from all walks of life that are here to meet, to offer advice, to share resources, to pray, and to visit with you. These people come willingly to meet and share with you.

Life after addictions and suicide can seem like the end of life for us. We end up walking in a fog. We go through the motions of living. We carry the burden of hurt, of anger, of sadness, the bitterness, the not knowing where to turn. We know what life is like with that grief. Grief comes from a lot of areas. It can come from the aftermath of addictions. The loss that addictions brings; whether that loss is material things, loss of home, loss of family, loss of self-worth and loss of life. We know what the loss of a loved one is like. That crushing feeling in your chest and the hurt so harsh that we never know if we can get passed that pain. Well there is life after addictions and loss. That life can be a good life.

A person once asked if speaking engagements work. “Do people benefit from the talks of others?” It is a very difficult question to answer. We believe that there is benefit from others. It can come in two ways: inspiration and awareness. Perhaps a person can gather inspiration from the life story shared with us. Better yet, you become aware of how your life is and aware of how you can start to live again. Through the sharing of your life experience, you begin to feel how there can be answers for you. That is what we are trying to share with people. We are here to share how we made a new life. It is not a life that we forget about our grief. It is sharing how we endure. It is how we found that bridge to new life. Whether that new life is finding a cause or whether that life is becoming a better, kinder person. It is a life that only you can define.

We are pleased that you are joining us. We are very thankful for the volunteers. This is a true ‘grassroots’ initiative. It is through friendship, community connections that the Gathering is taking place. Please make sure to thank the people who have given their own time and expense to come and share with you. It is through their generosity that we are here today. We do not receive any (or expect) pay for this event.

Kizhaay Anishinaabek giinawind. (We are kind people)

Circle of Life Gathering: Life after Addictions and Suicide.

Day One:

8:00 am Pipe Ceremony – Margaret Lavallee & Jules Lavallee

Open Prayer

Welcome guests.

Welcome Song – Roger Greene and Ernie Daniels Jr.

Opening remarks – MC – Brian Mcleod – Don Courchene

9:00 Tabosonakwut (Peter Kinew) - A life after Addictions – The Spiritual route

10:30 Break

10:45 Brian Mcleod – Comprehensive Community Initiatives (CCI)

11:15 Jeff Brightnose – Cross Lake – The Spirit Within the Tongue

12:00 Lunch Bannock and Cold Cuts.

1:00 pm Mr. George Chuvalo – Fight Against Drugs

2:30 Break

2:45 Chickadee Richard – The consequences of Addictions: From the Front Lines

3:15 Life Circles- Sharing – Sally & Ron McDonald, Betty Laschuk, TBA

4:15 Days Recap

6:00 Madoodiswan - Sweat Lodge Ceremony -4 Sweats – Lodge Holders Ron & Sally McDonald, Ernest & Charlotte Daniels, Perry Fontaine, Chickadee Richards.

Circle of Life Gathering: Life after Addictions and Suicide.

Day Two:

8:00 am Pipe Ceremony – Sheryl & David Blacksmith

Welcome Guests

Welcome Song – Little Ernest Daniels. Roger Greene

Opening Remarks – MC

9:00 Betty Laschuk - Marcheta Tanner - Working with Compassionate Friends.

9:30 Brenda Watt – Working through the pain

10:15 Break

10:30 Theo Fleury – Don’t Quit Before The Miracle Happens

12:00 Lunch Coleen Rajotte’s film “Back to Pikangjikum”

Hot Lunch supplied by Volunteers and donations.

1:00 Ron Linklater – Addictions Foundation of Manitoba

2:30 David Blacksmith – Dealing with Suicide

3: 15 Find your Passion– examples from Sally & Ron, Tabosonakwut, Fleury, Wab, Chickadee, Jessica Burton,

4:00 Where to From Here?

4:30 Prayer – Margaret & Jules Lavallee

6:00 Sweat Lodge Ceremonies.

Madoodiswan - Sweat Lodge Ceremony -4 Sweats – Lodge Holders

Tobasonakwut Peter Kinew: Tobasonakwut is considered to be "a teacher extraordinare" by students and faculty at universities where he has taught and at reservations and conferences where he has spoken. A fluent speaker of Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway) and English, Tobasonakwut is an imaginative thinker and orator. Tobasonakwut is a pipe carrier, a member of the Mite'iwin, and a Sundancer for many years in the Anishinaabe and Lakota traditions. Tobasonakwut is a well respected leader and elder in Anishinaabe society and across Canada and the United States. He has spearheaded action to strengthen treaty rights, language and culture, and to improve the socio-economic situation of First Nations people and communities. Education:
St.Mary'sResidentialSchool,Kenora
St.FrancisXavierUniversity,CodyInstitute(communitydevelopment),1966
University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics & Native Studies), 1987

Experience:
Consultant to Tribes, First Nations and organizations 1970s-ongoing including Great lakes Indian Fish & Wild life Commission 1997-ongoing
Mino Aya Win Health Services, Fond du Lac, Minnesota 1992- ongoing
Walks Tall program facilitator, Duluth and Leech Lk, MN 1996-ongoingLecturer in Anishinaabemowin and Anishinaabe Philosophy, Native American Studies,
University of Minnesota 2001Instructor & Elder, Native Health & Wellness Diploma program, University of Manitoba 2001Instructor, University of Winnipeg, Western & Indigenous Philosophy Seminar 2001Elder & Advisor at Brandon University; member of advisory committee to design the Indigenous
Counseling degree program (a First in North America, based on traditional knowledge) 1998-2000University of Minnesota Scholar in Residence, Native American Studies 1998Faculty Member, Banff Institute of Management, Aboriginal Government Relations 1992, 1996, 1998
Political offices:
Grand Chief Treaty #3 1972-5; 1991-5
Executive member of the National Indian Brotherhood and the Assembly of First Nations
Regional Chief Representing 118 First Nations in Ontario 1982-3Chief & Councillor of the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation 1970-76; 86-88

(Bio from http://www.silverbuffalo.org/NAA-Kinew.html)

George Chuvalo was born in Toronto in 1937 and became Canadian amateur heavyweight champion in 1956 at age 19. He retired from boxing in 1979, but during his 23-year career he fought some of the best boxers in the world including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Joe Frazier, and Jerry Quarry. In total, Chuvalo won 79 fights recording 68 wins by knockout. Known as a brutal puncher as well as one who could withstand tremendous punishment, Chuvalo was never knocked off his feet in either amateur or professional careers. He reigned as Canadian heavyweight champion for 21 years and is Canada’s most celebrated boxer in history. He had two memorable fights against Muhammad Ali: The first bout was in 1966 last fifteen rounds. The decision went to Ali but the respect of everyone who saw or heard the fight went to Chuvalo. The second bout was in 1972 and went twelve rounds with, again, the decision going to Ali. These fights (along with Ali’s fight with Chuck Wepner), provided inspiration for Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky. Chuvalo was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997. He faced the best boxers of his time and was ranked in the top ten longer than any other heavyweight.

His performance in the ring, however, is only part of the general esteem Canadians have for this extraordinary man. As he refused to be knocked out in a fight, so he persists in standing up in life against personal devastation: He lost one son and his wife to suicide and two sons to drug overdose.Choosing life over losing, Chuvalo currently gives lectures against drug use and actively promotes his own charity, Fight Against Drugs. In 2006, an Honorary WBC Heavyweight Championship belt was presented to him in continued recognition of his fighting spirit and unwavering dedication to the prevention of drug abuse.

He was appointed Member, Order of Canada in 1998 and awarded a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2005. (Bio from Canadian Sports Hall of Fame)

Theoren Fleury: Theoren Fleury is a former NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup winner and Olympic Gold Medallist. Recently, Theo fascinated readers with his #1 bestseller, “Playing With Fire”. Now he is one of the country’s most in-demand keynote speakers. He shares funny stories behind the scenes with the game’s biggest stars. Theo tells jaw-dropping anecdotes of living hard at the top of the NHL, the crash that followed, and finally his comeback and redemption. Theo knows what it takes to become a champion, build a strong team and overcome incredible odds. His presentations entertain, motivate and inspire. (From Theo Fleury Official Website)

“With the help of Kirstie McLellan Day, Fleury wrote his autobiography, Playing with Fire, which was released on October 16, 2009. In it, he alleged that he was sexually abused by Graham James over a period of two years. While he stated he "doesn't want to become the poster boy for abuse by James", Fleury hoped that speaking out might make it easier for other childhood sexual abuse victims to come forward.^[131] He blamed the abuse for turning him into a "raging, alcoholic lunatic",^[132] and claimed to have placed a loaded gun in his mouth and contemplated suicide in 2004.^[133] He revealed that he had spent most of his income on alcohol, drugs, gambling and women.^[134] Fleury also claimed that he failed 13 consecutive drug tests while playing for the Rangers, but that the league did not want to suspend him because he was a leading scorer. The league disputed this, and stated that its substance abuse program functioned appropriately.^[135]

He has also begun a career as a public speaker with the hope that sharing his story will encourage others to seek help for their problems. ^[143] (From Theoren Fleury Wikipedia)

Jeff Brightnose was born in Norway House', in 1962 he lived in Cross Lake till the residential school burned down he came from a broken home where he grew up in many foster homes; there came a time when he was taken away with his other siblings by an Indian agent and was taken down to the united states(the 60's scoop) he spent 16.5 years there, in and out of many Institutions this is where he was first introduced to his culture, all though he lost his language, Jeff Now lives in Cross Lake Mb as a spiritual care giver he believes that the people of the land's first languages & culture are a crucial component in their transformative learning and healing process as told to him by his grandfather. If only you could see what my spirit sees, what my body sees, not just the physical sight with your eyes, for it is then that one will understand the true meaning of healing oneself he has come to the understanding that we all have a duty, and responsibility to better our people's understanding of the language which is the key tool; understanding the parables within the mother tongue, it is through the spiritual stories and teachings that Jeff carries and wishes to share to his people Ekosani

Betty Laschuk is a long standing volunteer at the Compassionate Friends group. She is dedicated to helping others with copying with the loss of a child.

Marcheta Tanner is co-Chapter leader of Compassionate Friends of Winnipeg. Marcheta brings a warm heart to the Gathering.

Brain Mcleod – Director of the Strong Hearts Youth group. Brian is also board member of the Comprehensive Community Initiative for Addictions program. A Traditional Teacher who is always willing to help out in the community.

Ron Linklater – Ron has been involved in the Addictions field for most of his adult life. A representative of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, Ron brings a wealth of knowledge regarding addictions.

Chickadee Richards – A Front line Cultural worker in a very tough field. Chickadee faces the consequences of hardship and poor choices daily. As a Cultural liaison, Chickadee is the support person for people incarcerated. She has come face to face with suicide of young people. Her compassion is vital for her work and her life.

Brenda Watt – Brenda is a strong Aboriginal woman that shares her experience with people and is always willing to assist those in need.

Sally McDonald – A Teacher and a student of Aboriginal Teachings. Sally willing shares her knowledge and personal journey with those that she encounters. She reaches out in the community to help people. Sally continues to work in the community and volunteers for the betterment of people. Sally has a strong Traditional knowledge of Teachings.

Ron McDonald – A Traditional Teacher and a Traditional Dancer. Ron is a very knowledgeable and generous individual. He is willing to help out when the need arises. Ron is a very humble Teacher with a vast amount of knowledge. He continues to Teach others by doing. Ron is married to Sally.

David Blacksmith – A Traditional Teacher and well respected Aboriginal representative. David has traveled extensively working with many Aboriginal communities throughout Canada. David brings a forthright view of the world. He is sought out for the Teachings he carries and for his work with Healing.

Margaret Lavallee – An Elder, originally from Sagkeeng Ojibway Nation. Margaret continues to work in the community and openingly shares her knowledge with others.

Jules Lavallee - Jules Lavallee was born in St. Laurent Manitoba in 1941. He was raised in a Métis lifestyle of fishing, hunting and trapping and was taught by his family a rich and beautiful way of Métis life and everything that has to do with the culture (language, foods and customs).

Jules remembers the small houses usually filed with many children as large families were the norm in St. Laurent. At no time was there ever a sense of needing or wanting anything. Sadly, Jules moved away from St. Laurent in 1952 at the age of 11 to River Camp, Manitoba, a military base. Given English was the only language spoken, Jules had to learn English so he could attend school. After high school in 1959, Jules moved to Winnipeg Manitoba where he began a life on his own as a young 18 year old adult. Jules is a pipe carrier and sweatlodge conductor and was appointed in 2004 as a Elder-in-Residence at Red River College where he still works today. (from Red River Community College)

Ernest Daniels – Ernest is from Sagkeeng Ojibway Nation. He is an Elder with humble beginnings. Ernest is always open to sharing and helping out whenever he can. Ernest continues to work in the social arena, Teaching and listening with all those around him.

Charlotte Daniels – An Elder originally from Swan Lake First Nation. Charlotte is the daughter of a well respected and knowledgeable Elder Joe Esquash. Charlotte is an Elder that works with people struggling with their mistakes and consequences. A

Don Courchene – An educated and experience manager. Don comes with an open agenda to help others. His knowledge of organizations and human resources is fundamental in working with groups and individuals. Don is vital to organization and helping with logistics of the Gathering.

Wab Kinew (pron: WOB ka-NOO) is a one-of-a-kind musical talent, becoming one of the artists to watch for from the Western Provinces. He is a hip-hop artist and CBC radio producer/host based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Wab exemplifies what it means to be multicultural in Canada today, holding both a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and training in the traditional Medicine ways of his Anishinaabe people. (http://aboriginalpeopleschoice.com/artists/wab-kinew/)

Sherryl Daniels – A Spiritual Advisor who works with Corrections. Sherryl has a long history of working and helping out in Ceremony. Sherryl has the knowledge of Old Teachings passed on from her Grandfather. Sherryl is a mother, grandmother and a Traditional Teacher.

Volunteers:

Without the volunteers the Gathering could not happen. We need to say thank you to those that are here but may not be visible at this moment. Kitchi Meegwech. A Big Thank You.

Supporters:

Without the kindness and generousity of individuals, we cannot go forward with this Gathering. We need to say thank to those individuals, those individuals behind agencies, those that took the time to consider our Gathering. Kitchi Meegwech. A Big Thank You. There are many of you and we are sorry we missed a few of you:

Sagkeeng Health Centre – Ken Courchene

Sagkeeng Community – Chief & Council

Kirk Guimond

Thunderbird House – Stephanie Eyolfson, Chrissy Gauthier, Rose Thomas

Comprehensive Community Initiative – Brian Mcleod – Board

SPEAK – Jessica Burton

ARBOC – Larry Solider

Larry Morrissette

Melanie Daniels

Edwin Twoheart

Barry Anaquod

Perry Fontaine

Sean Vanwalleghem

CMMK Design – Corrine

Paul Daniels

Sal Infantino – Xcues Cafe

Ceremony Protocol:

Please conduct yourself with compassion.

Be kind and considerate to your fellow attendees.

Keep your area clean and help out when you can.

Be respectful of those around you and to the facility.

Silence your Cell phones.

Remove your shoes

When your heart breaks

2011-04-30T19:31:00.000-05:00

This year is coming up on six years that my Son, Donovan took his life. I am still not happy. I am still not able to cope, still not able to "move on" as they say. Wonder what the heck?

I am messed up today, right this very second. Do you know why I blog? It is because I want my boy to stay alive. For me to be able to talk about him and not see the expressions in peoples faces. The "oh no" faces. I know others have it more difficult and there is much more pain out there than what I have. Still it is because I am a selfish bastard that I put it out there. I want my boy back. I want to try again and make it right. Make it better. Be a better Dad. Listen more. Not mold him into something that he was not. He was a sensitive boy. And I messed that up. Want to know what suicide is all about? Its horror. Its heartbreak. Its ugly. Its all over.

If I needed you
Would you come to me
Would you come to me
For to ease my pain
If you needed me
I would come to you
I would swim the seas
For to ease your pain

Think you know Winnipeg? Where is this?

2011-04-26T18:07:00.003-05:00

Some of these sites will be easy for you to place. Maybe a couple might be harder to guess. Have fun and good luck. I just went to a few places that you could walk around to. In the future I will go to more areas of the city.

Knox Church on Edmonton St across from Central Park

Old Manpower offices Edmonton & Ellice

From Ellice view the famous MB hydro building

RC Church on St Mary's Ave across from City Place

Church on Smith across from Library

Old Metropolitan

Inside of MTS Centre arena

Portage Ave. beside old Clarion Hotel

Mb Hydro Building inside.

door of the Ming court on Edmonton

Remand centre Winnipeg

301 York Ave. Forces Recruiting and IE office

Being nice is easier than you think

2011-04-25T10:31:00.004-05:00

I was very impressed with the Trainor Family out of Victoria Beach, Manitoba. This guy didn't have to do this. He has put an open invitation for the people of the Reserve to be able to pick rocks at his quarry. Now this may not seem like a big thing, but think about it. He took that time to paint this onto his sign. It took conscious effort to let people know what he thinks. I am very glad that there are people that still have a generous heart.

It is the little things we do that make the world a better place. I know we are prone to make mistakes but the little good things we do can make all the difference to someone else. It is not that we are looking for recognition when we do kind things, like exercising our compassion, but it is nice to acknowledge it. I am happy that the Trainor family did that and made the Indians feel welcome. Good for them.

Oh yeah, Thank you.

Kitchi Meegwetch.

You know it is easy to get upset and think bad. Or want to do mean things to people. We know what we can do if people are rude to us. In the movie "The Unforgiven" with Clint Eastwood, he had some great lines: "All right, I'm coming out. Any man I see out there, I'm gonna shoot him. Any sumbitch takes a shot at me, I'm not only gonna kill him, but I'm gonna kill his wife, all his friends, and burn his damn house down." That's how we all feel at one time or another. We know that we can hurt those people that ask to be hurt, by doing the ugly things or saying the ugly things they do. But what does that do to our own inside, our own well-being, our own souls? We are better if we practice that little bit of kindness, even if it hurts us. So we could be like the Trainors, exercise some compassion.

"You don't know me, you only think you do."

2011-04-18T10:07:00.001-05:00

I was reading about the suicide rate in republican areas and how the number of attempts is higher than in democratic areas (a U.S. article). Why is it that the Right (political term to describe a certain set of beliefs) seem to be harsh or hard people? My wife and I were talking about the election in Canada, over here. There are at least three political parties that have a goal to help the poorer people and look after the Earth. The other party is hard. Hard in their way they deal with the public and with themselves. They are in power and will mostly likely get in power again. The other three steal votes from each other, while this one party only has to contend with people who are hard like them, the Conservative Party.

I am not posting about politics, I want to explain how I feel right now. People know Indians, at least they think they know Indians. But really what does the public really know? We can get a picture or idea from what we see, what we read and what others tell us. Still we will never ever really know, unless we are in that box with them. Living with the rules (the way things are) they live with. Not necessarily the legislative rules, but the mindset, the norms of how we live. You only think we know them, but we really don't. The government and bureaucrats interact with them all the time and they don't know them. They measure them with the scales of main stream rules and norms. They don't know really what the "ways" are. Like a way of thinking 140 years ago, the 'mixed bloods' were not left out of Treaty because the People didn't want their grandkids left out of the community. Today there is a underlying view of contempt for the mixed bloods, even by others that have mixed bloods. So you live with that in your life, that little bit of resentment. It is just the norm. There are ways that you live that people don't know.

With me it is the same thing. I seem normal (whatever normal means) and function as well as can be under the circumstances. Is it I am fine? Nope. I am crushed inside. I am in a deep pit that I can see out of once in awhile. I feel dirt piled on me and I can't look myself in the eye.

I miss the company of my son, my boy. Sure it is going to be six years. Six years. Can't I get over it already. Why hang on to that pain? Strange. Why keep on pretending that I am okay?

I am a kind person. Or am I a monster that is just lurking to lash out on imagined (or real)wrongs that were done to me or my boy?

Yeah, you don't know me, you only think you do.

Me too.

Praying at the Sweat with Cousins

2011-04-16T23:30:00.001-05:00

My Cousin Barry and his wife Sharon came into town last week. Barry made a Little Boy drum for my cousin Ernest. Barry wanted Ernest to set up a Sweat for the weekend. So Ernest had his son-in-law David Blacksmith do a lodge up at this place.
We went out and met with family over there.
We had the chance to pray for my cousin Frankie & Chantal's daughter Chanel. She has been found to have cancer. She is two years old. It was a sad and happy occasion at the same time. We were happy to visit with cousins. Sad that our cousin and brother Frank is suffering.

We think of him often but what is there to say. We can't know the pain he is going through, the anxious moments. We can only hope and we can pray that there is healing for the baby girl.

It is nice to Sweat with family. You laugh, you tease, you talk and you pray.

My cousins Joe, Barry, Uncle Harold, Paul & Ernest

David & Donald

Al/Randy, Barry, Sharon, Ernest, Don.

Joe, Ernest, Harold, Paul

Steph, Yolanda

Joe, Harold, Paul, Don

Inside the Lodge building

Sharon, Ernest, Sheryl, David

Circle of Life Gathering: Addictions and Suicide

2011-04-08T17:29:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Life After Addictions and Suicide: A Circle of Life Gathering.
Honouring the Spirits of Our Loved Ones
ThunderBird House in Winnipeg, Manitoba will be the host site for a Gathering on May 10th and 11th, 2011. The Gathering is bringing together people from all walks of life. The goal of the Gathering is to look at ways to progress past the anguish of Addictions and Suicide.

Elder Tobasonakwut-Peter Kinew, Mr. George Chuvalo and Theo Fleury are slated as Speakers at the Gathering. In addition, Traditional Teachers/Oshkabawis Chickadee Richards, Sally McDonald, film maker Colleen Rajotte, Don Courchene, News Reporter Wab Kinew, Jeff Brightnose, Betty Laschuk, Ron McDonald are going to be involved either by Speaking, or as Helpers in the Healing Journey taking place at the Circle of Life Gathering.

This Gathering is a continuation of a Survivor of Suicide Gathering held in 2010. The focus of the 2010 Gathering was to bring suicide survivors together to start healing and continue a process of living again.

This year the Gathering will look at "finding your cause". Perhaps the way to keep living is to work at a cause. Whether that cause is fighting drug abuse, or bringing awareness to abuse, or following a Spiritual path. The cause no longer is a cause but it becomes part of your life. The cause becomes a healthy way of living.

George Chuvalo, former Canadian Heavy Weight Champion has never been knocked down in his life. However, the weight of addictions and suicide was almost too much for George to handle. Addictions and suicide ended up taking half of his family. George is a survivor of addictions and suicide loss. He was a fighter in the ring but now he fights outside of the ring. George has made it his life to Fight Against Drugs and to try save lives.
Theoren (Theo) Fleury the former Calgary Flame of the National Hockey League is a champion. He was a champion on the ice for the Flames and for Team Canada in the Olympics. Now Theo is a champion for the fight against abuse and addictions. Revealing his life story of abuse and drug abuse in his book, “Playing with Fire”. Theo has let the public know about how hard it was for him to cope. He is going on with his life and is choosing to help people. Theo once considered ending his own life. Only through what Theo says is a miracle, he is on a path to living a healthy way of life.
Peter Kinew is a Spiritual Elder well recognized in the Aboriginal community. A number of years ago, Suicide and addiction hit Peter. Peter walked away from an active political life as the leader of a regional Aboriginal organization. He met the tragedy of suicide and addictions with a choice to look for Healing. Peter makes it his life’s work to help those in need. He is known for his knowledge of Ojibway Teachings and Traditions. Peter says “we volunteer for this event because it is a way to reach people who are suffering, like we have”. The Life after Addictions and Suicide Gathering is an opportunity to continue the journey of healing. We welcome the public to this open event.
Comprehensive Community Initiative (CCI) spokesperson Brian Mcleod says, “We need more events that come from the immediate community, that is why we felt the need to support the Gathering and help with the costs of bringing in Mr. Chuvalo and Mr. Fleury”. “We know the work they are engaged in and realize that addictions and suicide have no boundaries”.
For further information contact: Chrissy Gauthier 204-940-4240, Thunderbird House 719 Main St. Winnipeg, Mb. or Steve Courchene 470-5207.

(30)

Sagkeeng elections results

2011-04-05T19:06:00.004-05:00

Donavan 725 Lyle 665 Derrick 436 Kirby 313 Johnish 294

Our people have made one change to the Council, my cousin Joe has not made it back in this year. The rest of the incumbents remain the same.

Now how does that make me feel? I did put my name in for Chief. I thought I went out and campaigned. It is now clear that I did not do a well enough job visiting and getting in touch with people. You have to be gracious in defeat. Even when it is crushing defeat. I am a bit confused in how I feel about another loss.

I do know that the community is not familiar with what I have to offer. It is disheartening but the people are comfortable at how things are going in the community. I still feel that things could be different. Different in a community cultural shift. From being individual thinking to more community broad based thinking. That is something I do hope will gain momentum in our community. A focus on more long-term community based mindset.

You know what? I do feel bad. Kind of sad and disappointed. There is an opportunity that you realize when you can be good for the community. Maybe it's for the best, but I am hurt. I live a life that is for Indians. I love my community. I don't get paid to pray or get paid to help people. I don't do stuff for recognition. I do it because it is the right thing to do. It's not like I don't have the skills.
I am friendly to people, help where I can and am just a nice person. That is hard to say in my state...depression. Lot of times I see myself in a whole different light. I honestly made an effort to let people see who I am. Not sure what to think.
I guess I am wrong and our Chief is doing right by the people. They chose him overwhelmingly. So we need to honor our Council and that is what I hope to do. Our community has made the choice.

Lot of mixed feelings. People didn't vote for Don. Here is a guy that ran major entities in the private and public sector. Is strong minded and can get things done. Yet people will elect candidates with no experience in governance? So that frustrates me. It's not the ability that gets you, I am not sure what it takes? Oh well, no use spending too much energy on second guessing a voting public.