Back in the Bay Living

Living in the Bay again, after all of one year living with a man who is keen on Native Culture , but, pushes the issues and preaches a little too much for me. After all he is a White-Indian well, better yet said a Wanna-be I guess you would say. Well, it seems to me he would like to be Grey Owl the 2nd but, there was only 1 Grey Owl , John and will never be another like him. You think or try to make me or others believe you know alot but,,,anyhow. Think again.

I tried living with this White Indian since the month of November in 2006. Thought that this man was a person who I would have seemed to gotten along with and was able to be happy with but, after getting to know this Man (John) He was a very different Man he was. He was an unusual type of person , someone probably just about any woman would fall for but, once getting to know the real John he was sure strange to live with I felt anyhow.
But, not everyone knows everything they want to know about the real person they are until sometimes it is too late. Oh well, I tried my darndest and its unfortunate it just did not work out living together.
Never will I do this again , meet a man on the net. I will stay single for all that matters now , till later on down the road I find my True Love, One and Only Love .
I haven't done any Blogging for such a long time but, will try again to now get Blogging again now that I have peace of mind and feel at ease being myself again. I am not blaming anyone mind you but, myself for jumping the gun to fast maybe and moving with someone I really didn't know very well. Silly me...lol....Kicking myself in the ass now. Oh well, they say Life goes on and You Learn as you go ehh. Well, I have learnt. As my friends would say Hopefully Dort you did learn. Smarten Up ehh..
Anyhow will after all gone by but, trying to make someone happy and giving all my Love to one I thought I could spend my Life with is now done after One whole year. For now I leave this at that and will hopefully be Blogging more than I have been.
Thanks for Taking the time to read this and see you all soon....

Surfing the Net on Ojibway Culture

As I sit here at 7 am with the sun rising (Easter Morning,, the morning of the rising Christ) I greet the morning and the day is so very beautiful. Noone on the streets. but the morning greets everyone the same.
But I am in front of the computer. Giving back.. Yes it is important to give back. (we receive and should appreciate it to the point of giving back)

So we will Surf on Ojibway culture. First... are there Museum on Ojibway culture. The net shows (first) Museum on Ojibway culture at 500-566 N. State street, St. Ignace, MI (Michigan) To know what this museum offers surf with me to Hunts' Guide to Michigan's Upper pensinsula. or visit the museum's webpage ( Image of Ojibway from webpage of Museum on Ojibwa Culture)

The Ojibway spreads across the Canadian landscape from Lake Ontario, north to James bay height in Ontario an dwest into Alberta and south into S. Dakota along the Lake Michigan. Here the Southwestern Ojibwa spreads west and has similar languages with the Blackfoot. So it is not suprising that Michigan should have a Museum on Ojibwa Culture. (the sun is so bright as I write this .. as if saying... "off the computer and go for a walk to greet the day")
Web surfing offers a choice of bed and breakfast locations. near the museum. And then there is the support..
"This summer, the Museum of Ojibwa Culture in downtown St. Ignace will come to life with cultural programs and workshops exploring drumming and dancing, story telling, traditional medicine and how to make Native drums, flutes, regalia and dreamcatchers." from the The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Official Web Site which explains how St. Ignace Museum of Ojibwa Culture receives $25,000 tribal grant from the Chippewa.
And what is the internet if not to research and find out what you want to know... Do you want to learn to speak Ojibwa..
Boozhoo for Greetings or Aanii for Hello. ant then there is Aniish na? for How are you?
Of course we all know Migwetch (Thank you or Gi zah gin( I love you) or how do you greet some at the door. "Beindigain" for Come in ... These and many more from NativeTech,.org which is short for " Native American Technology" which offers links on Culture Arts History Language Books, News & Authors Anishinaabe People All of interest to the reader seeking information on the Ojibway culture. And each of us will find something interesting on surfing the web for ojibway culture.. As an example I find.
"Since European contact many spellings of "Ojibway" have occurred. Depending on how it sounded to the ears of French and English speaking people, it has been written as "Otchipwe," "Ojibewa," "Ojibwe," "Chippeway," or "Chippewa." Because I am from Canada, near Thunder Bay, I will use the "Ojibway" spelling which is common in that area."
I was of interestin this because my companion and I come from north of Thunder Bay... Well enough...time to go to bed... (I work nights).So dear friend, enjoy all the links... have fun surfing. and enjoy Ekandasowin (the Knowledge)

a GIFT of Heritage (e-bay)

Writing this Blog for Dorty, and attempting to guide her toward her heritage; I have only my own beliefs and force of the Almighty. The name of "Kitche Manitou" (or Great Spirit) is "The Almighty" to Dorty and natives whom attempt to be "Good" or "Human Being".
(photo of 1990 publication..not 1997 plain gray cover publication)
'Boozhoo niijii’ (Aanishinabowiin - it means ‘greetings, my friend.’)
Well, looking on e-bay for publications by Basil Johnston, I found for a few dollars Ojibway Heritage, the first publication which Johnston wrote. Basil Johnston, a Northern Ojibway, is one of the major writers of Native historial facts.
"I would like to state that I have not received any benifit from any patron, fund, foundation or council in the prepartion and writing of this book" (written by M.Johnston in his preface) Meaning this was his first writing and a heartfelt effort based on his love of his Heritage. Now it sits in front of me, thanks to Fred Abrey on Arvada, Colorado. Imagine, going to the southern USA to get a book written by a Canadian Ojibway.
After the great flood which covered the earth, The Women spirit, whom had two new children but with out her man was invited to come live on earth by the water creatures.(photo by native)
"The water creatures observed what was happening in the heavens, sensed the weariness of the spirit women and pitied her. In their compassion, they sought ways to provide relief for her. Eventually, they persuaded a giant turtle to rise to the surface of the water and offer his back as a baven. When the great turtle agreed, the water beings invited the sky-women to come down."
"The sky-women accepted the invitation, left her abode in the skies, and came down to rest on the back of the great turtle. When sky-women had settled on the turtle, shed the water animals to give her some soil from the botton of the sea."
"Gladly, all the animals tried to serve the spirit women. The beaver was one fo the first to plunge into the depths. He soon surfaced, out of breath and without the precious soil. The fisher tried, but he too failed. The marten went down , came up empty handed, reporting that the water was too deep. The loon tried. Although he remained out of sight for a long time, he too emerged, grasping for air. He said that it was too dark. all tired to fulfil the spirit womens request. All failed. All were ashamed."
Finally, the least of the water creatures, the ruskrat, volunteered to drive. At his announcement, the other creatures laughed in scorn, because they doubted this little creature's strenght and endurance. Had not they, who were strong and able, been unable to grasp soil from the bottom of the sea? How could he, a muskrat, the most humble amoung them succeed when they could not?"
"Neverthe less, the little muiskrat determined to dive. Undaunted he disappeared into the waves. the onlookers smiled. They waited for the muskrat to emerge as empty handed as they had done. Time passed. Smiles turned into worried frowns. The small hope that each had nurtured for the success of the muskrat turned into despair. When the waiting creatures had given up, the muskrat floated to the surface more dead than alive, but he clutched in his paws a small morsel of soil."
"When the great had failed, the small succeeded" (This is similar to the Christian saying of "The last will be first and the first will be last" when being accepted in to Heaven.)
And so the earth was made by the Spirit Women.
"While the muskrat was tended and restored to health, the spirit women painted the rim of the turtle's back with the small amount of soil that had been brought to her. She breathed unto it and into it the breath of life. Immediately the soil grew and covered the turtle's back, and formed an island. The turtle had given his service, which was no longer required and he swam away. The island formed in this way was called Mishee Mackinakoug, the place of the great turtle's back, now known as Michilimackinac."

Hey.... I won the 6/49

Well, I did not win the 30 Million but anything is good to win. Now, how about $1000. That is a good win.
Now what will we, Dorty and I do, with so much money. Well, I can think of a lot of things.
First, I am tired of Dorty using her phone Camera to take Ditigal Photos
and need to send them by web to Bell. who charges an Arm and a Leg for the sending.. Often in the middle of sending the communication is cancelled and the photos are not send. Yes a Digital Camera is on the Purchase list. Yes there is so much I want to buy. Even be nice to repair my car. Need a whole new exhaust system. (Only $600) still leaves a little.

Guess, I should say that I almost lost the ticket... Well I did lose the ticket. I came home from taking Dorty to the bus Terminal ,friday morning, and as it was around 7 and the store opens at 8; I decided to wait and get my morning beer. I bought the super 7 and 6/49 ($4 each) because the jackpot was so big. Well, Friday night after petanque and the draw of the Super 7 was done; I looked for the tickets. No where to be found. I looked everywhere. Even in the garbage. (It was dorty who on Wednesday, looked in the garbage for the 6/49 because as she said "I just cleaned the table top and throw everything into the garbage".

Any way, I gave up after trying all my pockets (pants, jackets and shirts). So when I was puting on my jacket (which I stop wearing because it is a winter coat) I empty the pocket and found the tickets. I put them on the Computer to check when I got home after work.

Oh Dorty, hun... I will be coming up to North Bay on the 13th (friday) and will use the 1000$ to rent a car. Also when we are there, I would like to get a room at the Voyager on Friday night. Why... so we can have like a honeymoon suite after our dancing ... Ha ha.. Anyway. enough for this blog. Oh by the way,,, I found a nice site on the web which said "I love you" so click the I love you for the site...

Writing waits until Dishes done.

It is snowing outside, and we, (Dorty
and I), have just finished biking to the Nature Park. It was such a nice day, only a few minutes ago. I am wanting to write this blog but first, I asked Dorty; "Do you want me to help you with the Dishes?". She replied "Well it will get done faster and we can have supper sooner." So this blog will wait for the Dishes. Hehehe... SO NOW DISHES ARE DONE..

This blog is written for Melissa who said she reads everything and like to hear about all the nothings. As I look through the computer for a photo for this blog and find this one of Mellisa, I am told she will say ""FIHTP, Why did you use that picture. Hehehe (the obijway laugh).

Well, as we did the dishes; I turned off the light over the sink so we could look out the kitchen window at the snow in the tree. A native love of nature. As we looked, a Seagull flew by, and I said "I bet that is the big Sh.. on my car..Those damm birds.. I think I am going to buy a BBgun and sit on the pouch and keep them off the hydro line above my car. Well, this is the story that Dorty told me about her life on Bear Island.
"My dad, use to build Bird feeders and put out Seeds for the birds. He hated those big black birds, like crows and black birds. He would sit out there, near the door and watch for them with his Slingshot. To shoot and scare off the big birds... He loved the Chickadees. Even when we moved from the Island to Temagami he would use his BBgun and protect the feeder for the small birds. He would even open the Bedroom window and yell at the big birds or shoot at them." Yes even the natives on the reserve can have a perference of who feeds in his bird feeder.
"There is Don Cherry" dorty saids as the Toronto and Buffalo game is starting. "Babe are you coming to watch this with me?" So this is all the nothings for now... hehehe... But than again I did get the dishes done and I did get that good picture of Melissa posted.. Apaenimohaung (ojibway for "From our hearts" I believe)

Mi- Gweetch Kokomis

Well Dorty is off to North Bay on Friday. Going to help with the first grandchild. so Kokomis finally. (Kokomis is grandmother or old-women in ojibway)
The oldest son of Dorty, Dave always said to his grandmother.. "kua-qua Kokomis". (Hi Grandma) As we grow in the language of Dorty we learn more and more words.
At work, the other night, I was saying to Dorty, as she worked on the other machine; "Qua-qua Kokomis" and she was answering'"qua-qua Shumis" (ojibway for 'Old Man'). with that cute ojibway smile of hers. Hehehe... Photo is the grandfather and grandmother of the APTN children's program "Tipi Tales".

Life Living on an Island

Well, in this Blog I will be telling everyone about my Childhood living on the Island near Temagami, Ont. (Bear Island) that is , which is up in the North country when talking up North I mean about 3 1/2 hrs North of the City of Toronto, Ont.
Yes 3 1/2 hrs. of driving up North is the small town of Temagami , Ont. a town so small that if you blink your eyes going through it you will miss it. That at least is what everyone used to joke about. I would have to say it is a small town of 1,200 population wise. It was a mining town at one time there was a big mine there called Sherman Mine. At that time of the Mine being in Temagami I guess the town was booming then.

But, to get to the access road to go to Bear Island which is on Lake Temagami you have to go about 10 miles south of the Town of Temagami, Ont. and travel up this dirt road to the Landing where all the boats land, this road is called the Mine Access Road, which is a winding road for at least 15 kilometers or more but, for part of that road it is up and down like a roller coaster for a bit at the beginning like coming from the highway I mean
That trip driving down the Mine Road takes all but, at least 20 minutes to get to the Landing then from there you get in a boat and travel across the lake to get to Bear Island which again , the boat ride is about 15 minutes across part of Beautiful Lake Temagami.

I remember coming and Living on the Island, called Bear Island since about Grade 3 , back then living there on the Reserve was like living in the Old days with no running water , no inside washrooms , which meant you had only outhouses then.
That to me was the memory of living on the Island I still have in mind the most of.
Cause, getting up through the night at like 3 am and having to go outside to the Outhouse to go to the Washroom was to me , just not a pleasant memory especially when it was Winter and 35 below zero outdoors.

And you gotta remember the outhouse was not just outside the door we had to walk on a little bit of a path to get there, during Winter was not too bad not too scary I mean. But, during the summer months getting up at that time in the Morning and going to the Outhouse was always to me a little scary as there used to be alot of Bears on the Island , there was always a fear of seeing one on your way to the Toilet.



Another clear memory of Living on the Island is the fact we had no running water and carrying water up the big hill we had in front of our house to get to the Lake was pretty steep I guess in the summer months it was not bad carrying water in a couple of pails up the hill was not too bad but, it was the Winter Months that it was hard because, well first off in the Winter months we had to begin by chopping the hole first in the ice to get it. Then well, at nights you would put a cover on the hole so that it would not freeze up too much overnight to keep the hole open you would put a board over top the hole , but of course if it got very cold at nights then the next morning when you go to get the water again you would usually have to chop the ice away from the hole first , then carry a couple of pails of water up that steep hill to the house.

Once in the house then we had wood stoves back then also so put a pot of water on the wood stove to heat up enough to fill the old bath tub so we could then have a bath.
Yes wood stoves was another memory , there were many days and mornings that I remember we were asked to go outside and split some wood and get a good fire going in that stove to heat the house up on those cold Winter mornings. But, yes all of those good memories of my childhood was part of being an Ojibway Indian. Those memories taught us how we had to work for what we wanted , to me all of those things we had to do growing up there on the Island was to me just good experiences in Life.

Those experiences and lessons My Father, and Mother taught us are now good memories those things teach me to now appreciate everything that Witcha Manitou puts in front of me today.

That to me was just a natural way of living.

Now today you go up on the Island on Lake Temagami and now you will see the difference in living back then to now. On Bear Island now today they have roads all over the Island , It is not like that Island is that huge or anything the size of the Island is 3 square miles. Population wise is probably about 1,000 if that.

They also now today have a Septic system on the Island now and Fire Hydrants also along side of the roads here and there. People on the Island for Transportation they use Four Wheelers to get from Point A to Point B.

Well, that for me is a good start to letting people know of my life growing up the Reserve to which I belong to, good ol' Bear Island on Lake Temagami - Mi- Gweetch Thank-You Merci ... hehehe The little Ojibway laugh at the end.. As my Boyfriend would say. Till later Bye.

Skywalk open for Hualapai Indian

The news has much to do about the way the Hualapai Indian used their reserve on the Edge of the Grand Canyon to show the beauty of their land. With the openning of the long awaited "SkyWalk" yesterday; there was still natives of the Hualapia tribe whom felt that this land was best keep free of the public visit. The Skywalk (see slide show ) opened today and the first person to walk on the Skywalk was Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin whom was the second man to walk on the moon.

This slide show is shown as the way a native reserve poeple can open up the land and sacred places to tourism and live from the land without the need to destroy it. With so many indian reserves being logged, fished and hunted or other ways of destroying the nature; this is a great example of a native poeples insight into tourism.


On a different subject, Dorty and I did a greeting of the day in the woods at 4pm and as we stood on the road and realized that our path was like the road; we were greated by a deer in the middle of the road We had just began to discuss the way our path joined and how we were fighting to follow the path. A turn in the road just a few feet behind us seem to be our past; and the deer, a young of last year, stood in the road to greet us. It seem as if the great spirit was welcoming us up the path we were walking.
We walked to the deer and I was talking (vocal sounds I know deer understand) to him and noticing his reactions. Dorty has quite the force of spirit, as always when I am with her there seems to be something new of nature.

Wonderful Visit Over

Well some poeple are more than luckier than others. Well, for example my Son William and his Girlfriend Samantha were down in Longueuil, Que. visiting with John and I for about 9 Days and when they came down they did not have much in spending money during the time of their stay here but, things went fine.

One day we decided to take the both of them to the Casino in Montreal and I think Witcha Manitou was looking out for them. They were going to be taking the bus home to North Bay, Ont in a couple of days, and they were pretty well out of money.

Well, when we had got there after several levels of parking; and we walked into the Casino; John was telling us to fill out this application to get a Casino card. He said that we could use it to gain free things, while playing at the slots.

John had told William and Sam that it would also give them a Plastic Casion Card as a souvenier to take home with them,
So after we all filled out the applications for the card we then stood in line, my number was 089 and Wiliam was getting his card at nearby service window. Now, to encourage new visitors to sign up for a Casino Card; the Casino have a number from your card, posted up every day, (it is a different number, and when you get to be the lucky player with the number on your card; there is a wheel of MoneyAmounts, that you can spin and have a chance to win Cash.

Well, William was that lucky man that day as he had number 90 on his card. When he got to go up and spin the wheel , he was told he had the chance to win up to 5,000.00. John, Sam and I were standing there watching the wheel go round and round ,as Will had given it a really good spin. It was exciting to see what he was going to get as the amounts were $25 to $250 and a special 10x. If he arrived on the 10x he had a free spin and that amount by 10 times.

Witcha Manitou must have known that they needed some money to spend on there excursion back home to North Bay, Ont. The `10x'passed several times and was coming back for the last time. It passed slowly and stopped immediately after it on $ 150.00.
Such great fortune, at the time when they needed to win they did and we were all very proud of him. Of course, the man in charge of the spin had to yell so everyone could hear. "And we have a big $150 dollar winner."

They were very happy that we had taken them to the Casino cause, therefore if we did not go with that that night they would have not had that chance to win any money at all, so all in all it had turned out to be a good night for William and Samantha.
William did really enjoy being there at the Casino and said he would have liked to stay there a bit longer that evening but, it was a good decision that we did not as they did have spending money on the way back to North Bay, Ont which was good for them to have.

Anyhow William and Samantha are welcome to come back to visit with us anytime they wish to, we would be gald to have them back visiting again not a problem. Mi- Gweetch William and Sam for the Wonderful Visit in Longueuil, Que.

TRUTH "Information or Critizism"

Very often when we read, or hear, something; we apply it to ourselfs. Of course, information is knowledge and we all should learn and change with knowledge. The mistake often made, is in TRUTH,
we learn about our world and ourselves. (photo is the Truth symbol (in which language?) and is interesting information from blogger site http://abc.typepad.com/3blindmice).

But, the difference in learning new a idea;(or information) and being critizism is when we know the writer or speaker. Otherwise, we would just read something (or listen to someone) and apply the information. But by being personal; we don't just read but instead feel the comment is directed toward us. Remember, this blog is just a message board of information and not a "To do List"

Self-Critizism - Too often we critizism ourself; long before anyone else has. We often judge and condemn a fault we have, as the first sign of change. Without seeing our fault we can not move along a path toward being a better person. Self-critizism is bad because we can not get mad at ourselves and defend ourselves from this sort of self evaluation. But, a Anishinabek (good person) is always growning in spirit and the spirit of GOOD tells us that we must change. EVEN WHEN WE ARE VERY HAPPY with WHOM we are.
Recently, two new contributor or writers to this blog are added.It is hoped that they write about their experinences in their seeking the Ojibway path as they too are native Ojibway. (this is a good photo of will and Sam because it is hard to know who is who..(lovers)
But their opinion as youth, and views are to be taken as information and a view. Likewise, with the spirit 'All Mighty' they will not see critizism from fellow writers. Welcome, Will and SAM. Write your way to Anishinabek and a better life.

Morning Prayer And Kitche Manitou

Dorty, today showed me a morning prayer she has started with greeting the day.
Although my teachings to her about the directions and the spirits of our earth; her prayer welcomes the day for the gifts and joys to be received. (Photo is of a drawing by Squidman, a native blogger on http://www.fanart-central.net/pic-69716.html who tells of the story of Kitche Manitou intervention to help Sky women with her loniness)

Dorty has grown in knowledge of Kitche Manitou. (for non-native readers of this blog, Kitche Manitou translates to "Great Creator" and appears in all native cultures using the same words. If you watched the movie "Dance with Wolfs" about the Southern Sioux you would also have heard this name. It is much as Christ appears in all Christian churches)
It was suprising of her first prayer when she first moved down to Quebec. It was a couple of weeks after we arrived and we had looked for her Turtle which was a gift from a friend. I had told her to pray to ask for to find it and although she was slow; a week later it just appeared in front of us. I asked her if she had prayed to Kitche Manitou, and she replied that she had not but just today had asked him to help her find it.
I am amazed at the strenght of her union with HIM because I was one night going to sleep and was in that dream state (between wake and sleep) and talking to Dorty which often happens; and I said things which I had no knowledge about. I realized after I began to analysis the discussion that this dream state communication was a message to me; as Dorty was concern with a recent decision. ( I asked her if she had asked Him for help and she said she had just thougth of it before I started to talk to her from my half-asleep state)
Recalling what had been said and trying to understand the meaning of it and why I sould say those things or even see those images; I realized the decision that was needed and when I told Dorty of the decision she was immediately releived of her worries and sorror. (photo is a color painting called "Dream State" found on http://www.onecloud.nu/Visual/mystique/mystique.html

Kikinowautchi-beegaudae (It shall be written)

The Path of Life

The Path of Life - Today we have three Ojibway visiting Montreal, the land of the Mohawks. It is great to have Sam and William down from the North and so for this blog it will be about the Ojibway "Path of Life"
from Basil Johnston's "Ojibway Ceremonies"
Basil Johnston, Anishnaabe writer, storyteller, language teacher and scholar, was born on the Parry Island Indian Reserves in Ontario, Canada, in 1929. He attended elementary school at the Cape Croker Indian Reserve school until the age of 10, after which he attended St. Peter Claver's Indian Residential School in Spanish, Ontario. He left school for a time before finishing the ninth grade, but soon learned that it would be difficult to support himself without further education. In the meantime, St. Peter Claver's had gained a new Father Superior who reorganized the school as Garnier Residential School for Indian Boys to deliver a secondary school education, instead of as a trade school. In 1950 Johnston graduated valedictorian from Garnier and then attended Loyola College in Montreal where he graduated with honors, earning a B.A. in 1954 (from http://www.hanksville.org/storytellers/BasilJ/)
It was not my intention to make mention of Williams decision to leave school and go to work, which seems to be the path of Mr. Johnston in his earlier years; but his path took him back to school later to become one the most reconized Ojibway authors. (Maybe, Williams path is likewise going to take him back to a educational way.)
Page 134, THE PATH OF LIFE - " Our Ancestors taugh us - and the Midewewin teaches us - that there is a land of souls. In that land there is not sickness, no hunger, no sorrow, no anger and not envy. It is a land of Peace inhabited by men and women of peace. For them there is plenty and confort and joy."
"Our aucestors tell us that only men and women of peace may enter theree. Others will suffer hardship and misfortune and sickness in this life. Or they will be caught in the river that divides the Land of the living from the Land of Souls"
"The Midewewin tells us that we must lead good lives - following the Path of Life. The Path of Life will give us good fortune , good health, and peace of heart in this world; and bring us admission into the Land of Souls"
"And the Midewewin tells us what the Path of Life is. We must honour Kitche Manitou and thank him for life - for the winds, the sun, the waters, and the land we live on."
"We must honour our elders - for they are the recipients of a great gift of long life from Kitche Manitou. If they are slow and febble and sometimes infirm, we must feed them , help them, listen to them and be patient. That is also our destiny. Someday we too wil be old."
"We must honour our elders brothers - the wolf and the bear, the eagle and the robin, the snake and the turtle, the butterfly and the snail, the whitefish and the trout. We must honour the rose and the corn."

To make a comment following this quote from Mr. Johnston's book would be disrespectful, as it is complete and well presented.

Blogs coming out of this..." Midewewin" What is it? Others books of Mr. Johnston (check out http://www.hanksville.org/storytellers/BasilJ/) Balance (rose and corn or eagle and robin)

Mi-gweetch and " Kego gayae" (Watch over us)

Dorty's Stories

During a recent discussion of the early days of living on Bear Island; Dorty discuss the travelling across the lake to school.

It was interesting and I suggested that she write it as a Blog. The previous entry was the result. Ofcourse there is so much to say that Dorty just keep writing and writing.
Walking on Breaking Lake Ice. One of the interesting things which she discussed was crossing the lake to school with her father during the "Ice breakup" or "Ice freezeup". She was talking about crossing the lake with the canoe and walking beside it as the ice was still on the lake but they could easily break through the ice and would then jump into the canoe.
So as Dorty tells it. The canoe had a long poles across the front and back to prevent it from falling through the ice if it broke through.
Each of four kids each walked on each side of the canoe to jump in fast if the ice broke under foot. With her sister and cousins, Dorty walked with her father and his canoe, a 40 minutes walk in freezing spring weather, across the ice to meet the bus on the landing. The native kids did that for their school days (3 or 4 years).

Another interesting thing is the "Ice Road" which is now in place for the past few months; across the lake.
The ice being strong enough to support cars and trucks is cleared by the Island Band's plow. As Dorty tells it. The residence whom travel across the Ice Road during the winter; all know to cross with their windows open in the car or truck. This is because if the ice did break and the car sank into the lake it would be possible to get out the windows. (It appears that under pressure that the windows can not be open) To date Dorty says that there has been no cars lost in the lake even though all the 1000 or more residence use this method of transportation during these three months. (December to March)

Back in the School Days

The old school days, well there is so much to say about my old school days although to some may not seem so long ago but, to me I am now 41 yrs of age and when I finished my High School days I was 19 yrs. of age which is now 22 yrs ago for me.
Well, first off I will start when I was going to Grade school back in my old Hometown of Haileybury,Ont which was one of the towns up North further past North Bay, Ont about 1 and 1/2 hrs further.

What I remember of that school and town was that I know one thing for sure was that I only went to that Haileybury Public School,till I was in Grade 3. Then after that we then moved to an Island on Lake Temagami near Temagami,Ont the Island is called Bear Island which there I continued going to school on the Island of course continuing there my Grade 3 as it was in the middle of the school year moving there. Quite the difference living on an Island when coming from a town where it seemed to be big compared to the Island. I felt much more at home there on an Island in the bush. Where I was pretty much raised. I felt very proud to be raised in the community where this man called Grey Owl who has movies and books out of himself also had visited for years and lived on for some years of his life, and is now a well, known author to the Native people anyhow.

Now my school days up on the Island were a little different as there is a time of year being on an Island where you cannot travel either by boat or skidoo as the lake is either freezing up or breaking up of ice. Which then meant we had to walk over to school in the mornings and home at the end of the school days. At that time there was no trails we had to make our own trails. So my Father used to walk us to school on the main part of the Island leading us the way , and as he lead us the way was also making a path by, brushing it with an axe, making a path that we would be able to see and know how to come back home through the woods. Cause, also as we had walked through the trail he would also bring a can of spray paint and paint a little part of the trees now and then to show us where we had gone. Which then made it easier to follow home again.

Not like now there is roads all over the Island now and Also they now have things like Fire Hydrants along side of the roads here and there, and also they now have a Water Treatment Plant up there on the Island which these , sort of things were never there before when attending Grade school there. How things change through our years of growning up. Then when I started attending High School while living up on the Reserve that was a little different also. We then had to wake up at 4:30 am in order to get ourselves ready for the day and give us the time to either go by boat or skidoo to the place they call the Main Landing at the Mine access road , where we would then catch that little school bus to get into Temagami which was a 15,or 20 minute bus ride over the mine access road which is a dirt road. I always found that ride a little thrill for me especially that early in the mornings as the thrill to me was the end of the access road near the highway to Temagami was like a roller coaster up and down alot but, straight as can be. I couldn't wait till that part of the ride in the bus was over as I did not like that part of my bus ride.
Then as we got into the town of Temagami we then had to transfer buses to go to the High School which was in New Liskeard,Ont. which was just 10 minutes further up North past Haileybury,Ont. Which from Temagami took like about a half and hour to get to. Lets just say when school was over we still had to travel back to the Island which was home to me.

That day for us did not end until 5:30 pm at night. All in all I was just so very happy to have the day end. Now here I am living in Longueuil,Quebec with my Boyfriend which I love and care for very much and am very happy to be with.

Now and I also have three beautiful young adults now 2 Boys and A Girl.

My boys are ages 21, and 19 and my Daughter is 17.
And also I am very excited to now be a Grandma which my Daughter is going to be delivering a child in April of 2007, My little Anishnabae daughter having another part Anishnabae boy I believe , whatever she delivers does not matter to the Parents and Grandparents as long as the Baby is Healthy is all the really matters or should matter in Life.
That is it about my school days and about living on the reserve and being an Ojibway Indian and how life can be. Adventurous, exciting, and happy , that is just how it should be. Proud to be an Anishnabae ...Mi-gweetch -- Thank-You

Harmony in Anger - Spirit Wind and Sun's Wager

Harmony is finding that strength to be calm when all seems to be moving in the wind of life.
I watch the trees bend with the force, the snow pushed through the cracks and can feel the cold although I am behind this big bay window.

How often do I feel like the Wind. It's force and coldness. Such an invisible thing as Air, which makes up wind; and having all the force to do so much. We poeple which He (Witcha Manitou)made are such an invisible thing, in his big world. And our Anger is sometime the force which we are so proud to show; and sometimes we know only the story of being mad.

Mad at others. Mad at ourself. Mad at Life. Why does this have to happen to me I hear others say.

Wind Spirit and Sun were having a discussion on their importance and as Sun was telling him of how important his energy was to growing the crops and feeding poeple. Wind became angry and decided to prove his points of how strong he was.

"See that man walking there" said wind as he pointed to the traveller on the road doing his morning walk. "I wager you that my strength is such that I can remove the jacket from his back" he told Sun . Wind wanted so much to prove that a way of force is better than a way of gifts ( hea, light and warmth).

So Wind gathered up his best gush of wind, and from behind the man lifted up the jacket and began to blow over his head. Man was so surprise that he immediately grabbed at the jacket and pulled it down in place. The harder Wind blew the stronger man was and more determined to keep his jacket.

Wind stepped back, discourage at the determination of the Man.; to hear Sun say. "Sometime force is only met with more force from the other person" The man was still holding his jacket tight to his body as the cold wind disappeared and he began to feel the warmth of the sun. His grip was eased and within seconds he became so unconfortable in the morning sun; that he took off his jacket and strung it over his shoulder.

As the man walked away, Sun just continued across the sky without a word toward Wind. It served no purpose to be right or prove anything wrong with what Wind thought. Wind would always be Wind and never know the pleasure of giving warmth and joy.

Witcha Manitou, in his use of wind builds a world of harmony. Does not the trees bend with the wind and then spring back afterward. Does not the animals turn their backs to the wind to feel less of it coldness. Even the deer, and animals which place so much importance on detecting scents, use wind to detect danger. They move into the wind to catch what is being send to them. Wind even spreads the seeds of plants and is used today by man for energy. And ofcourse the pleasure of using the Wind. (sailing, Kites, or even just storm watching)
To bury one's anger in harmony and find peace within is hard to do but the joy allows for harmony in others as we forgive and forget. In the end we find a greater peace of self.

But also it is good to let out a good yell once and a while... Maybe at the Hockey game or when excitement permits the joy of expression. Not during those moments of Anger...
Wisdom in the Morning pray is found in the North which is where the cold North wind comes. The color white of the North is where snow is seen when Mother earth is covered.

Happy St-Valentine Day

Well Dorty's Valentine Gift is a Airplane Trip.... Up and Away.... As Dorty has not flown in an Airplane these photos are the experience or what she would sees. ENJOY
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First, Above the Clouds seems like snow landscape, but because of being at 28,000 feet it is clear the clouds are below you.

As we descend into the clouds and come at their level (20,000 feet) it appears more like a trip across the snow.

These photos were taken by myself as I went to Nova Scotia to collect my Cadillac. The same boat (15.5 feet long car) that was loaded as we returned from North Bay.

As we begin to see the city or earth below it can still be hazy as the clouds can be low (10,000 ft)

Whooops. Dorty is afraid ... it seems to high.... so guess it is best to come back down to earth. The Airport as we approach the runway


And finally on the ground...


Hope you enjoyed that first experience of a flight.. Now to do the real thing... Fly like the eagle.


Love to you on St-Valentine day DORTY

Oh sure, for you readers, I gave Dorty other things but certainly not to be mentioned on this blog... hahaha...Jo kin Kwa Kwa... John

Dorty's Family on TV (APTN)

Well, that last Blog of Dorty was nice words about me. OH GOSH I think I am blushing.. But I must add my 2 cents now... Haha.
Well we were watching the Tipi Tales after I registered the section. I registered it because I though SAM the little girl looked like Dorty. (Those dark eyes, Ojibway face style and black hair make me think it was Dorty). Then the old man (great grandfather) looks like her brother (Fra....)
Can you name the family members from the photo. Haha..

So we both laughted how much they looked alike. Especially when Granddad laughs with is hand over his mouth. Which Fra... does all the time.
So now when we are watching it, Dorty now has her whole family in there. Russell, the little boy she says looks like her brother Barry. Now all are there. It seems every character looks like someone. (sitter, brother.another brother... ha ha ha) But I must say the puppets do have the Ojibway character in the faces although the program is announced as " children's puppet series illustrates the seven sacred teachings of Aboriginal spirituality."
There is alway a big laugh between Dorty and I as we watch Sam and Russell sing their songs. We even have began to sing one when we are skiing. "When you are happy you laugh, when you are sad you Cry...etc) And now today, the program was complete broadcast in the language of the program. (cree or Ojibway)
So now I will attempt to e-mail the program site (APTN) or Tipi Tales to see if a translation of the actual language program can be e-mail to us. It would be great to know the english of the total Cree (or Ojibway) program.

Native Television (APTN)

Well, about this t.v program Tipi Tales. My boyfriend John has alot of interest in the Ojibway ways and getting me(Dorothy) back into my Ojibway ways also.

Never thought of meeting and living with Someone in Quebec, let alone meeting someone from there that was into my Culture and Spiritual ways of the Ojibway and helping me with getting back into my Culture.
Well, this t.v program Tipi Tales he was watching while I was in bed still sleeping , he then decided to Record some of the programming for me to watch as there was a few words in each program in the Ojibway Language, which I think was the main reason for him recording those shows , to then Show me them and learn the Ojibway words.
S0 far I have written down the words that were said in Ojibway Language which are : SAND- Canishie Dongook , NOISE- Gudong Bigazan , SOMEONE WHO HELPS OTHERS FIRST- Gazoonzee Adah , Now all of these Spellings of the words I learnt are spelt in a way only which I hear them, could not be correct but, it is just how I hear them. So that I understand how they are said is why I do it this wayI am very happy to be living with someone I Love and admire being with , that is also very interested in the Ojibway Culture.
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And is always looking to learn something new all the time and is helping me with the ways of my Culture . Meegweetch -Thank-You

DNA tell the Whole Story

Would you believe that the poeple of the Anishinabae 'Bear Island' Reserve as part of the OJIBWAY nation isa member of the only North Americian Aboriginal People with origins from Eastern Europe. A recent APTN movie made by KANATA showed the discovery of North America by a poeple coming across the Ice from Europe and settling in the Virginia Region of USA.

What does that mean?. In short, as explained in the movie; the Ice age tribes which became the aboriginal poeples of North Americia seem to have crossed the Alaska Land Bridge from Russia. But because of unique DNA markers found only in the Ojibway poeples, they are identified with primative poeples of Eastern Europe. Because DNA markers are found in each of our DNA and hold unique markers for all previous generations back thousand of years; it is a possible with this science to identify the origins of a poeple.

Although all the Aboriginal Peoples of North Americia, The Ojibway also, show the similar DNA markers of a Western Europe(Russia) originin and show family ties to each other; only the Ojibway poeples show the unique markers of the Eastern Europe migration of tribes. This connections started with a settlement in the Viriginia (USA) area and now apply only to the Ojibway.
The movie of "First Civilization" explain the finding of a unique Spear Point in the Virginia region which in it method of construction is unique and similar to those found in Eastern Europe. The story explains how the last Ice age spread far south and even created an ice passage (used for hunting) from Europe to North America; and how a lost band of hunters from Europe probably crossed to North Americia. '
Because the DNA markers found in everyone's DNA it is possible to find the origins of a poeple. This article explained how except the Ojibways of Northern Canada, there is no evidence of other migrations to North Americia from Eastern Europe.
Isn't interesting to know that the Ojibway are unique and that the TFN can trace their origins to similar tribes of Eastern Europe.