Moosebunk

That was VERY cool!

My understanding was that this land claim (and wherever it stands now with its considerations by both the Algonquins and Parliament) has been floating about since sometime in the early 80's. That's 30 years of going nowhere if be the case. It's like somebody said though, you go into negotiations asking for the galaxy, you still might just get a planet or two. But I bet this claim is still light years away from really going anywhere. You look at a Treaty Map, you will see there is a country which was signed, sealed and delivered through our history. http://manitobawildlands.org/maps/HistTreatyMapCan_lg.jpg If you can find a decent map which shows our Countries Reservations you will see there is a National community living with us. http://www.pgic-iogc.gc.ca/DAM/DAM-INTER-IOGC/STAGING/images-images/ai_pubs_ar0809_2_1301074557452_eng.jpg It is noted that many people live, economies grow and businesses can and do thrive on lands around Reservations and upon Treatied lands. Albeit, as old and tired as the agreed upon documents of which Natives and Settlers negotiated upon to found this country and define their futures, this history does exist and there is legal right which does give ground for Natives to safeguard their treatied lands and/or seek land claims by order to do so. There is very much and always has been concern amongst Natives to protect, and see to it that the Treatied terms agreed upon are being upheld. The Non-Native populace has grown so far beyond their own today, that everyday the world can't help but encroach more and more upon what Native's feel is either theirs, theirs to protect, or that to be shared equally. There is no equal measure at 99 to 1, even though some would oppose that math over the smaller scale issues of say, fishing, hunting, or tax dollars given to this minority. They are losing the land (and what it means to them) on many fronts, but they stand up for themselves, and even try to fight however they can. I'll admit to admiring that tenacity. Native plight is understandable with regards to this issue, and many others. That said, land claims, Aboriginal funding, living conditions, hunting/fishing rights and every other consideration under the Indian Act of Canada is what the Government and Natives truly need to address. It is in truth the Indian Act itself; (and there does exist some support by Native peoples, but not Councils) which needs to be completely reviewed and modernly restored, or just abolished entirely by anything that can supercede it; such as Human Rights. The only way there is any hope in heck of any proposed change to become reality is, for those to get talking and to get working on it. Like this particular claim itself, again my bet is that will take another long while.

Well put... and once upon a time used to do the same thing with staying up all day and going fishing. Crashing out in the tent or back at home by 7-9pm and sleeping 12 hours. Didn't want to scare ya Gerritt about shift, your schedule is going to be hard man, but you will see how it works for you. Personally, I could not and would not do 5 days a week until reaching that point when shift is absolutely killing me. Plan is for about 10 years in the future, work 6-7 months full-time northern contracts then casual to not much at all May through October. Shift can be great. It's 9:10am this morning and snowing pretty good. Fire is on in the basement here, and just sitting down to a cup of coffee after seeing the little one onto the bus. All is quiet. Might just do nothing all day. Work only 3 days this week. Yesterday went to see the Hobbit with the kids on their Snow Day. Once the ice is solid, it'll be just as quiet on the lakes in my Clam playing fisheogames on the Lowrance. Not sure how old your kiddies are but mine get on the bus each morning by 8:00am and come back for supper. That gives dad 8 hours at least to go play, but because my oldest is older now, she can hold fort if I'm going to be later to dinner. Shift and their school, then gives the availability to basically fish most weeks 4-5 days midweek if wanting to. It's nice to pick and choose when, never feeling like I have to cram a day, two, three, or four into the week, but rather just fish or do as I please. This year, days fishing came in only about 20 days less than days working... And besides trips away, not much time gets missed with the girls. Shift is a great and free life nowadays. Have found that time is as important as money, but health and happiness more than both. I've turned down some great work opportunities in the past, just to balance more time on my side.

Congrats on what "might be" a living He!! for awhile. Once worked a 2on, 2off, 3on, 3off, 2on, 2off - 14 day rotation and repeat. EASY!!... when it was either days or nights. I'd wonder why this employer of yours would put you through the kind of rotation that has you switching so suddenly and often? I'd think it will be tough, especially at first. That's my experience with quick flipping and short recovery times between D & N shift. Too bad the many of you hired couldn't collectively come up with a better plan? 2 weeks of days, then 2 weeks of nights would even be better. Less flipping' and you'd get into the rhythm of either or. Biggest troubles I face with sleep deprivation are moodiness, (quick temper) sore lower back, poor decision making and poor diet. Quality sleep is needed to rest the mind and muscles, science is not lying here. Having known this for years, I prepared during that bigger work stage of my life up north. And so, that's why I work part-time now in this southern land of hospital shift-work Bull, and now only pick up extra shifts that work for me. And rarely give availability for extra nigths. When you make it through the two year contract, you will certainly know if what you've given up, and what you're feeling was worth it. I don't envy what's coming your way Gerritt. In healthcare I could do what you're planning too back in my early 20's... not so easy now I find. If it's physical or mental labor it's still work that you need to likely be at your best for. When you come off nights, "IF" you're able to go home and sleep right away, you can only do so a few hours in the morning and then you will have to drag yourself up and around the rest of the day in order to get good rest that coming night. If you can't sleep that evening, an aid might be in order for just that one night. (sometimes it's a couple fingers of scotch and a Gravol) Next day you should be OK, then next day back to work. Fine... you made it once... or you make it everytime... but... Those switch days are tough, they can be write-offs. The lack of sleep over a long period does catch up, because sleep lost is never regained no matter how you try. Each flip day to me feels like a day lost too, and the day you have to go in for the night shift you hold back on stuff too. I can't make committments easily on the flip day because it could be one full night running in the ER and you're dead, or a quiet night with breaks that wasn't so bad. You'll maybe leave people hanging sometimes and then just learn to not bother making plans. Social life becomes more difficult too. Sometimes want to nod off in the kids Ju Jitsu class because you're tired while on a flip day and just sitting there. Missing every 2nd Christmas due to work. Having only every 2nd weekend off and missing parties, poker and being able to fish with the M-F folks. Missing family related things, period! The big plus side, more total days off, often for yourself, fewer people on the lakes and riverbanks, easier to get those chores done and more quiet time. Be warned of one thing though, jealous type people might soon hate on ya for being able to go fishing more than them, I do have experience with this too. lol. Best things I do to cope and prepare. Be as organized as you can about dates and events planned. Your new work life doesn't jive with most regular working folks, those 5 day a weekers. You also "maybe" don't want to be making big banking decisions, purchases or trip plans on the day you've slept three hours in the last 36 hours. Exercise when you can, and often if you can. I like to row. All work seems easier when you're feeling up to it. Drink extra water at work. Most of us on shift in the ER show up with litre bottles each shift and try to drink at least one, or two. On nights it sometimes seem I have to force a litre in. Your body's usual pattern is to eat and drink during the day and sleep at night. Appetite may be weird on nights, so be sure to at least stay hydrated. It'll help a little too with muscle soreness because of poorer sleep. Get used to earplugs and/or white noise when sleeping. It helps to drown out the world. Cut back on caffeine, especially any cups nearing sleep time. Smokes, booze and sugar too. This is in the handbook man! Pack healthier foods for nightshifts, not crappy snacks. The lesser sleep you do get is even more important. Fish as much as you can. Do the things that make you happy, and do them even more. If you're job has you alone, try and do more with others. If you're like me and constantly working with the public, many of them upset, ill or stressed, find times alone or with another to just chill, or pound on the fish to take your mind away from work. Leave work at work too. Good luck.

Apologies Dave. Part of this was merely venting yesterday. With 18 years directly involved in Healthcare, 13 on the frontlines in rural and remote medicine, and much time spent working with all kinds of mentally and physically ill people, I can still tend to vent insensitively at times. I apologize if the comment offended you. I also consider being possessed (as this killer was) to include more than just a definition of one taken over by the "supernatural." In other meaning, this killer was possessed. Again, it's an aweful thing, and one which is each person will think and deal with in their own manner.

While cooking supper tonight my 13 year old was glued to the news on TV. Made for interesting dinner conversation that's for sure. Extra big hugs to the kiddies at bedtime tonight. This slaughter of children is heinous. There should be a Hell in Hell for him. A person would have to be either possessed or simply not human.

Hoping in a small way that my 99 Silverado gives up. It's not cool to look so uncool driving something that old ya know, but it's about the memories. Man... first 100,000km on washboard, potholed and ice roads. Stuck in 4WD pretty well all winters long, and at least a few times a year over the decade, jolted to death when strapped tight to a chain car on the Polar Bear Express. Poor truck has thrice been stopped dead when the front end went twice through the ice and once into a culvert, but she drove out in 4WD. Wifey sure beats it too, every winter on the Diamond Mine Road across the skeg to Attawapiskat, 600km's at 80-120km/hr in 4WD... Ughhh... even my rear diff puckers up with the thought! Had to Replace the shocks once, brakes once and a couple ball joints after that rough stretch offroadin'. "Like A Rock"... they sing. Second 100,000km has been easier just towing my boats, quad and skidoo all over the place. Some city miles too these days, just idling away. Four trips to ThunderBay towing everything and the kitchen sink, more than a dozen runs to Cochrane. Truck won't quit. Nowadays brakes and ball joints aren't a worry though. The kid spraying the undercoat on her this week; after he finished the B-Boy's shiney pimped out RAM remarked, "geez, they sure put alot of metal into these old trucks." He reminded me she's old. Paid it off in 2001 and it's been nickle and diming me now for 12 years. Cost me $640 in minor repairs just this year, pretty well screwing the kid's Christmas and college funds. When will she just turn over and die already?? Babied at only 210,000km really. Not likely very soon. New one's look great Lew, although all they need for me is the stamina and a comfortable drivers seat. I'm with Rich too, they're boxy again, kinda like the Ford but much sexier. Will call them the new "Fevy" then.

Solid post Eric. Certainly some great memories for you, and thanks for sharing a little with us. Some of those browns and white bass are just incredible dood.

"Usually" off midweek too Randy. Lemme know dates closer to time and may be able to swing a day down that way.

Cool pic TC!

OK. Didn't know there was a meteor shower going down. Was telling Bren while watching The Big Bang Theory, that science would certainly conclude that the very thick and bright streak of white light which landed over yonder in our backyard, could have only been caused by a UFO. She called me a white streak of light which has obviously burned out. Dang meteors.

First time... 2001. Moved to Attawapiskat. Quit booze and smokes for 6 months. Second time... 2003. Second daughter was born. Some will say the best time to quit is at the beginning of a big life change. As well as the physical, one must break the mental cycle that keeps you thinking it's time for a smoke.

Lots of goods there man! Mackerel, snook, red, bass... Solid fishing. You do stick that tongue out alot too. Every now and then you probably slip up and lick an armpit I'm betting. lol.

BFW... Echoing that on the Ab! We used to enjoy Tamar on Temagami but the fishing there can be tough. Having a sled or quad opens things up too. Renting a cabin or cottage on some good fishing lake in ON or PQ can sometimes offer up great fishing.

That is a truckload of great walleye, and, some wicked looking spots to wet a line. Great year for ya. Good luck in 2013.

Mike and Wayne, the day should come we get another onboard and make the trip.

A) Great brown Jay. Not sure when ya did head out that way, but I don't remember reports from Manitoba from you. They'll be welcome here man, those fish out there are crazy good lookin'. Small fly-roddin' reels and the like are becoming more popular I guess. Little to no line twist, as said. Will be buying one soon to try out. C) SMO5... yes Mikey. I'll go with ya if I have to. Can we do catfish too though?

Some great outings and fish in there Mike. Enjoyable 2012 season for you for sure. Question though, did you guide this year? Any pics from up on the lake?

Wicked bud! That's a great season, great mix of fish. 2013 - goals for ya, quit the smokes and catch even more. Good luck.

Rich makes a good point Rob. It's kinda too bad that's the choice time of year you have for your vacation. It can be hit and miss as to what's biting on the valley. Knowing you're mostly shorebound, I'd think the later the better (safer) for opps with trout and other species.

Not usually Bill. THe ice ducers are often flat bottomed bells. Anyways, my buddy StevieZ actually bought me an X67 as a thank you gift for taking him into Kesagami several times to ice some pike and eyes. It never came out of the box up north. Water never deep enough. Down here I would fish some things without one, but most times it's a total advantage. The X67 "for free" has served well. Right now I need a new adapter for charging the 12V. Dug out all the ice stuff a couple days ago. Bring it!!!

White, black, pink, chartreuse, orange. Pike liking the orange/white. Trout pink/white/black. Walleye chart/black/pink... that's my experience anwyays. 1/4oz most often. 3/8 in the dirty, deep and fast. 1/8 for sparse weed weedlines.

Best parkas ever... that's why everyone has one in the north. While wearing them, one can fit a candy store and a couple kids inside. While cooking turkeys under your armpits.

In what seems like a few short years Bennie, you've taken your fishing to an amazing place. That vid gets ya pumped for ice fo' sho!!! Good luck in 2013