I liked the mist of hoar frost air as it touched my windshield and immediately turned into a beautiful mosaic of ice crystals, making me smile instead of frown on this cold winter morning. The icy windshield made me think of times when this type of weather didn’t bother anyone. But today, the cold is either an enemy or a friend depending on if you must stay home from work or not. I like to call days like this the domino effect times.
Jordan’s Principle came about after people became outraged by the inequality of public services afforded Indigenous children compared to all other children in Canada. As a result, programs were created to address the inequities and to try to ensure that they are not the norm anymore. Perhaps the system created is not perfect, but it was a step in the right direction.
Youth everywhere in the country are in the trenches and will most likely continue to struggle in 2024. Canada is currently facing a housing crisis marked by soaring prices, limited affordability and growing homelessness. The situation is most pronounced in major cities where many of our youth have to relocate and where housing demand has outstripped supply, creating a substantial affordability gap. Younger generations find it challenging to become homeowners due to high down payment requirements and escalating mortgage costs and interest rates.
The men all gathered in the evenings. The smoke from pipes lit after a fine supper filled the tiny room. No one had much to say. The black hard tobacco was satisfying to the palate after a lengthy meal of beow bangeek, or ptarmigan pancakes. The night before, smashed stomach and heart soup with smoked ptarmigan breasts dipped in bear grease came a close second for that belly ache, after a long day outdoors tending to the ptarmigan nets that scattered the willows surrounding Great Whale River.
Late night calls are something we expect here at the Nation, and recently, we received one about home businesses in social housing not being allowed. Besides being surprised by the news, we felt there was something wrong about this decision.
I recall being at home as a boy in our small three-bedroom house in Attawapiskat in the 1980s. We were a huge family of nine children and two parents and at one point we lived with our Mooshoom James Kataquapit.
Wow, talk about being relaxed during the holidays, even when I didn’t want to be. I felt that I was in relaxation mode in overtime at a bad, low-scoring hockey game that that cost me plenty of moolah. On a higher note, it was the holidays for remembering, reminiscing and renewing old acquaintance and making new friends.
Recently I headed north to assist in my mother’s well-being. My brother Don had to be in meetings down south and wasn’t available. He usually takes care of the family these days, so I was glad to help.
Holiday season is here, and you can see much excitement during this festive time. Different religions and cultures celebrate this period, and some don’t at all. I grew up in the remote community of Attawapiskat and through colonization and the invasion by Christian missionaries my people for many years ended up becoming swept up in either the Catholic or Protestant religions depending on who was doing the invading. We all became part of this religion and managed also to incorporate some of our own original traditions and culture. However, most of our traditions and cultural practices were banned and considered evil by these new religions.
The holidays “slid” by rapidly. Those toboggan rides with the grandchildren took some getting used to, as I am pretty sure that climbing back up the hill wasn’t in my contract. After a few runs – the going down part taking a few seconds versus the endless return trip – it made me appreciate the strength it takes to do this all day.
