Is there a trade in this civilizated world for poeple of the Anishinabae 'Bear Island' Reserve. Called "Anishinabae" which means "Deep Water Poeple" Dorty's Clan animal is the Loon. Not everything has to be serious and as in a Bingo Hall when one Native laughs, everyone seems to catch the laughing; this blog entry is to let us laugh together.
(photo Clan symbols of TFN)What is She doing now? Well as a good "Deep Water Person" she is washing the gravel. So I went all the way to Bear Island near North Bay to get a "Deep Water Person" to come and work here in Montreal washing my gravel and caring for my fish. She is now sitting on the edge of the bathtub busy washing gravel. Taking it out by the hand full, running water over it and put it a container. Yes the gravel must be clean for the fish to find their home beautiful and orderly.
As you can expect there is not much demand for "gravel washers"here in quebec but guess one could gravel for a dishwashing job if they really wanted to work. However, it is a professional job a "gravel washer"or fishtank cleaning person as they are called. Some people would pay as much as $20 an hour for a good tank washing. Of course need the proper equipment. But who is better at netting fish then a "Deep Water Person"
The fish are sitting on the livingroom table. No not watching television although the nature channel is on. Guess they are happy to be out of that old dirty fishtank and into the new bowl... Yes a bowl... No not the toliet bowl... ( I can hear the gravel being poured by Dorty in the bathroom, as the doorbell rings) OK Back... blogging visitors... or is that flogging... anyway... Dorty has become the friends of my two goldfish. They will never starve or will they go without a gravel cleaning. As we sit (necking) watching TV with the Wolf staring down at us she has been often heard to say "Do you think the fish would like to have the tank cleaned" Of course I reply "Fish don't think." but of course who am I to argue with a "Anishinabae", the deepest I have ever been is at 6 feet with a snocker mask.
Near the teepee Village (a reserve tourist project) and just beside the house of Monty (dorty's brother) is a bluff of black rock with some parts of grass and trees. All the kids, every summer look forward to going here to "The rock" and jumping of it into the lake. How high is it ? Well about two and a half stories (dorty says, of course she is telling me in White terms); or 20-30 feet. (photo) " Wish I was old enough to jump" or "Next summer I am going to jump"
Running as fast as possible and directly into the open air of the lakeview and sky, the kids being full of corage and very brave, Jump. Falling for what seems for ever, into a deep lake below; it seems that they go down, down and down for ever. Will we have enough air we wonder as we finally bob up, and take a big grasp for air.
Swimming to sure and getting out at the flat part just below the path, it is push and shove to run with everyone laughing back up the side of the rock to do it again.. Of course some stay to see friends do their first jump as they yell encouragement.
"Ok, that is pretty clean now.."says dorty, as she clean the fish's tank and I blog... So I must go and get the money to pay this "Anishinabae" who is for the first time since being in montreal into the deep water.
No, she has taken a bath in the last few weeks... Not a dirty indian... Damm styotypes...
"Ok I coming.. I'm coming.." Must move the fishtank back to the living room and "Just need to put the pieces together." Guess fishtank assembly courses are not taught on the Island.
So what do "Anishinabae" do in the big city... they play Deep water worker cleaning fishtanks.
A good laugh ... A good laugh for a white is to hear the Bingo laugh... One old lady starts laughing and then another, then another and before long everyone is laughing... even the old men who are crushing the women. The noise is so loud and last so long that the announcer just waits... OF COURSE, NO ONE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE LAUGHING ABOUT...
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