Ponderings, Photographs, Digressions Etc...: October 2008

Pictures as Promised!

Senior Boys with their Silver Medals

Group Shot...kinda dark....ooops:)

Senior Girls with their GOLD MEDALS:)

Coach and Captain, Trena and Allandria

BLUE TEAM....A

Well, we finally did it...senior girls got the gold medal in their units/districts yesterday...silver last year...remember?!?!? It was a close game with a tie-breaker...each team had won two sets, but my girls pulled it together and were they EVER happy :) And so they should be! It was wonderful!!!!! Then, the senior boys played and they won silver (but hey, they got the gold last year so I guess all is fair) I'll post pictures tonight....gotta go to work!

You Know You're An Indian When....

1. You lock your door with a Knife/axe/2x4.
2. You burn your grass instead of mowing it.
3. You light your cigarette with a toaster/ oven.
4. You have a reserved seat at Bingo/Casino/Off sale parking.
5. You've stolen wood from someone else
6. You drink coffee/tea and smoke before bed.
7. You owe money to at least three people.
8. When someone falls, you laugh.
9. You've used a piece of mail for dustpan.
10. You went to the store with a letter to buy cig's for your mom or grandma.
11. You've been chased or run from the police on foot and got away
12. The batteries in the remote control are held by a piece of tape
13. You whistled at the northern lights to see if the legend was true.
14. Your child drops his/her pacifier and you sanitize it by sucking on it.
15. You use jelly and jam jars as cups.
16. You play bingo/ and casino
17. You constantly hit *69 and ask ' did you call here'.
18. You point in a certain direction with your lips.
19. You pawn your valuables.
20. Your curtain is a sheet
.21. Your aunts and uncles came to visit you and never left.
22. You've drank alcohol by the age 13 or younger.
23. You've smoked by the age 9.
24. You walk the roads of the rez in the summer.
25. You've learned to drive by the age 12.
26. You know your Indian when you have a weird nickname like Lollie, bannock, Tzus, or even chicken

LOL! This may seem racially insensitive...but the really humourous part of this pass along email is that so much of it is true (and some of it is applicable)but the really interesting thing about this pass along is how many times I received it in my inbox and remember I am not an Indian! But, this just goes to prove that my nickname of Whindian was given to me for a reason...obviously...LOL...more posts to come! Yuppers, work is starting to settle down and I am starting to ponder and as always, digress.... Later folks :)

A Day @ The Beach...

All of last week there were Elders sleeping at the beach in their canvas tents, awaiting the next morning when a new group of eager students would join them for a day of cultural activities. From September 29 - October 3rd, St. Louis School had their own culture experience and Friday was our (meaning High School's) day at the beach.

The weather was perfect but the sand flies were pests (as usual) but the kids were happy to not be in class! (Big surprise). The Elders had the kids doing "gender appropriate" tasks but also mentioned that times are changing and that it is important to know how to do a little bit of everything, regardless of "whose job" it is. So, we did everything from skinning a beaver, picking berries, cutting meat, target shooting, making bannock, and of course, EATING! The cooks made a traditional lunch ...fresh pickeral, moose meat, blueberry bannock ....mmmmm.... My mouth is already watering! (or is it still watering?!?!? LOL)

The day went by extremely fast but we all had a great time. It really is wonderful to see our youth participating and learning from their Elders.... the power of passed on knowledge! What a thing to witness....

Making Bannock

Group Picture!

Me Cooking...LOL

Target Practice!

Time to EAT ! YUmmmmers!

Berry Picking

Beaver

Amber skinning the Beaver

Making Fry Bannock

Gabbie and Stacie helping Rosalyn with the moose meat!

...La Loche Or Bust...

The alarm went off at 5:15am and it took all the will power I have to not throw the alarm clock across the room...as if I had that much energy...LOL...Regardless, I finally got my ass out of bed, into the shower and into the destination of the school van. I was picking up 10 sleepy girls ....and we were on the road by 7am (or shortly thereafter) Sheena (grade 3 teacher/friend:) ) and I took the Senior Girls to a volleyball tournament hosted by La Loche...a 3 hour drive away. We played 4 games (a total of 8 sets) and did much better than in previous games...the girls are really starting to play their positions well and are developing a great team spirit...Unfortuantely I forgot my camera so I don't have any pictures but I'll get some from the next game (which will happen this Wednesday when we travel to Dillon) Anywho....we got home at 9:30 pm and I'm tired, so I'm going to bed...later...

A Week off....

Every year around the third week of September (b/c that's rutting(sp?) season for the moose) the community of Patuanak essentially shuts down and people live traditionally (and I say that carefully) in the bush of their choice for a week...no school, no clinic, no band office, just the changing colours and dreams and wishes of fresh moose meat to eat. Now, when I say traditionally, I suppose I should have put that in " " because I'm sure they never brought generators in which to watch television with back in the day, but nonetheless, it is quite the experience....

Last year I went to Key Lake Road during Culture Week but this year I went with Lisa and Barry to Dipper Lake (now I have been there during 3 of the 4 seasons :)) We had a bit of cold weather but it was manageable and the scenery was astonishing :) Anyways, it is Friday afternoon...and I want to get out of here...I'll post more later...enjoy the pics...