manitoubass2

I took Harpers words exactly the same way Craig Ritchie did and never saw anything wrong with what he said.

 

He simply stated that no refugees or anyone else would receive anymore that any other Canadians do.

 

Seemed like just a normal thing to say as far as I understood.

 

 

As much as i dislike harper, i watched the video and I totally agree with you and craig

Just should have phrased it better.

Dont worry,

Dogs are all inside cozy. Dont need them out with bears lurking?

Coyotes down at the river now whining.

Chasing the geese I spose

Man fall sure is the time for wildlife!

Sounds cute lol. Like a buncha baby pups crying

Awesome pics dave!!!!

I loved seeing them outside grande prarie when I worked in remote locations.

Its a beautiful dance?

Its political jargon and who really knows what he meant???

Was he referencing aboriginals? The settlers that built this country?

Is he calling all present canadians as property of the country???

Who knows?

Here is a funny lil story.

After the oilfields i really needed a break. So I took a job on the rez as a maintenance manager. Job was cool(pay sucked lol). And I basically did like 6 jobs at once. In fact it was so bad, we had a 35 hour work week and i was constantly in trouble for working 80 or 90 hours a week lol( but i was used to that because the oilfield)

Anyhow i was just new to the rez and I was accepted right away like I mentioned.

In my downtime I would plow every driveway on the rez, bring food to elders etc, you know, just be good to people.

Ine day im plowing this elders driveway and she comes out yelling at me(shes pretty well known for being a pain lol)

She shouts"your not plowing my driveway right! You shouldnt even work here white man, taken jobs away from our people!"

I was shocked! First and only time I had been subject to racism on rrfn.

Anyhow, I jokingly said "ok kokum(grandma), grab a shovel!"

I backed out and drove off.

Next day I get called in from the chief and im thinking oh my here we go.

He tells me she complained, asked what happened so I told him.

He says well good, its all settled!

A little shocked I said um ok? Thats it?

Yeah, i just got back from town, i bought her a shovel

????

Thats awesome smitty! Miigwich!

Yeah maybe the times are a changin' lol.

I used to get alot of flack around here at times from a certain few. In fact I even left once outta frustration lol, came back and couldnt remember my password and thats why its manitoubass2 now ????

I hope moosebunk chimes in more too!

As far as laid back that pretty much nails it. Whether its on the board or in person thats just my character. It wasnt always that way though.

Again thanks for the kind words and I hope this thread keeps "morphing" too lol.

Mr Harper just committed political suicide. (And almost every aboriginal wants him out big time)

Not that he cares, now he just moves into the corperate sector with an office and zero duties, but 6 zeros behind those duties

Yup. Still is. I fully intend to as well.

 

Thanks for the relies, guys. I might just go down there anyway and if anyone raises a stink they can go rub salt. I shouldn't be worried about what other people think as long as I'm following the rules and not harming anyone.

Wow! Beautiful

Awesome shots!!!

If that happens I don't have to keep track of who I picked.

Lol

Did you ever think of putting your thoughts on paper for publication?

Your way with words and explaining a tranquil way of life have opened a lot of eyes and minds in the last little while.

My own understanding has been changed regarding the rice situation on Pigeon Lake.

 

Miigwich as well.

Never ever thought of that.

Maybe I should? Who knows?

Personally id rather see a book from solopaddler lol, or even moosebunk.

So ill take your post as an extreme compliment.

I dont think im good at writing or storytelling myself.

Who knows? Maybe one day

Your a special person Rick. One of the main reasons I enjoy these forums so much!!

 

Miigwich for being YOU!

Thats is truly appreciated?

My intentions here are just to bring a little bit of teachings and "bridge the gap" between aboriginals and all settlers.

And just keep things interesting of course.

My love for nature includes humans lol, I think its important to educate or just share some perspective so others can understand.

Like my wolves vrs husky thread lol, i got a little blasted on that but hey, thats how we live. I love my dogs just as much as anyone! I would never ever do them unjust harm, they are family.

I know my posts can be a little "alien at times" but its all good. I hope people understand or I can help them understand at least. Life here is different then the cities, and even small towns for that matter.

Its really cool though when I get questions on a thread or via pm and 99 times out of a hundred we have great talks both ways.

OFC really is special too and ive never seen a community online be so awesome!

Many posters dont agree with me but thats cool too! It opens up discussion and hey, we all love nature/fishing/hunting/food etc. Its a real cool bond and I wish people outside this community have the same/similar experience.

Moosebunk is hands down one of the best posters here. And hes basically right on the same level as me(but he catches way better fish lol)

Thats kinda off topic but its just awesome to see people interested in our culture. Really makes me happy?

I'll concur with M2B2 and take Baltimore this week. I'm watching the replay of last night game. I avoided the news all day so I can see what happened. No I won't be looking here so you guys can spoiler me.

Well if we lose and the saints win thatll be the bunkest contest ever???

the story about your pup and lilly brought a tear to my eye...i hope i can pay similar respect to my buddy when his time comes

Makes me cry just to read it.

Thanks guys!

Here is a crazy story(also explains why Im in so tight with local Co's)

About 4 years ago I was bass fishing the rapids with my kids.

Two natives were attempting to spear stugeon. 2 well known drunk guys(yes the rez has its problems like bunk said)

Well they finally get one, good one too about 60lbs, perfect for smoking.

They asked if I wanted it. I said no thanks i dont have a smoker and its illegal for me to possess that fish.

Ah they said then will give it to your wife.

Thanks but no thanks, my wife is in toronto on business and i have no use for a sturgeon.

Ok well see ya later rick. Okay guys take care and off they went in a truck with the sturgeon in the bed

Me and my kids finish fishing and walk home.

That friggen sturgeon is on our front lawn!!!!

Now im freaked cause if I get caught with this im losing my license for sure, not to mention the fines and the "poacher" label.

I call three different sturgeon smokers and nobody want just one, just not worth the time, ughhh.

So I pick up the sturgeon and start the 250 yard walk back to the river. Trust me that was hard.

I get the fish back in the water and start trying to revive it. Now these are tough fish but that fish sat on my lawn mid summer for a good two hours.

So yeah im having trouble reviving it.

Guess who comes? Yep, MNR. Im thinking oh my gawd im never gonna be allowed to fish again

They pull up. Introduce themselves and ask me what the .... im doing?

So I explain and plus I got no rod or anything so they know im not lying.

They get outta the boat to help. Took an hour to revive that fish and it did swim away(i hope it lived)

The COs gave me cards and thanked me a whole bunch for doing the right thing.

Of course I lied and said I didnt know who left it on my lawn(i know i know but I still believe if was a nice gesture gone wrong).

What I do for work disturbes me however.

I do have a large family to support(including my mom, our dogs and cats)

I really struggle with it(mining)

Ive never layed soo much tobacco in my life.

I hope the earth understands our dilemma, but im a huge hypocrite along with many other band members.

Im not a fan of raping the earth(but I do realize on many levels of societal issues its a necessity. If it isnt me itll be someone else.

I try to justify it by telling myself im educating others along the way and im there to make sure earth is respected.

Our last project I had 200 guys of all races laying tobacco down every morning before shift started lol

There is 12,000 15ft holes in the ground with tobacco at the bottom of each one.

One day i arrived and a redtail hawk was next to our work trailer. It was awful sick, just sitting there with its head buried in its chest.

One guy tries to grab the bird and about 8 white guys gave him crap and said respect that bird, let it be. Its bad on you to damage an already sick piece of nature.

I almost cried lol. They had mostly all become much closer to the earth and nature on that project and that was really cool!

We had 6 guys from kenya working there too and we hit it off right away. Awesome people with massive respect for the earth. Amazing cooks too!

Anyhow look at me ramble???

Here is a lil story that kinda shows the point.

5 years ago our lovely boxer, pheonix, was poisoned to death with anit freeze. It was tragic to us and our kids.

Our kids are fluent in ojibwe and take classes at school so they have a good understanding of nature/along with our teachings of course.

They asked to lay her(not bury her) near oneof our favourite shore fishing spots where she would accompany us( yes same spot I just posted in my thread but up the hill)

We layed tobacco and thanked her for all ahe had given us and wished her a speedy recovery back into nature.

We went for a visit in the winter months and tou could see that rodents etc had fed from her.

Thats when our kids started to understand the "shes gone but shes not gone philosephy", she contributing to other life.

We visited again in spring and all our kids cried. She was surrounded by wild lilies(my wifes favorite flower) and we were also pregnat at the time.

So when our daughter was born, it was a no brainer, she was lily.

Things come full circle.

Just thought id share that with you

Miigwich(thank you)

Rick

This is a little story I shared via pm that kinda shows abit of our beliefs

Im italian/german/norwegian. Im not aboriginal at all.

My wife is 100% and is from manitou(rainy river first nations)

All my kids are status and go to ojibwe classes rather than french.

But ive always walked my path with nature.

So when we met I was accepted in the community very quickly.

I was raised in fort frances which is a pretty rascist town towards natives. But wven in high school I always got along with all the natives(there is 6 reserves in the area)

I was a skateboarder/hockey player so I got along with everyone. Which was really cool.

Haha they used to call me white nanabush teasing me.

I struggled with PTSD later in life(im not gonna get into that) but that led to alcohol use and benzos to cope( only for about a year but what a crappy year lol)

But ive always been so close with nature that I guess, like bunk, you just fit right in.

And its a really beautiful, respectful way of life. I really dont know how else to explain it???

We dont hardly watch tv(baseball football golf and hockey are the exceptions lol)

Bit a typical night here is eating well, fishing/hunting with the dogs, my wife beads and does leatherwork for tobacco carriers etc. The kids go to bed and I make harnesses while she beads/stitches/sews etc

Lotsa foraging in the bush too. Hanging herbs and making teas.

My wife is elk clan so she cant eat elk or deer/makes her sick. Big nono to eat the animal of your clan.

Thats awesome bunk!

Money here is shooneyah.

Yeah feathers, especially eagle feathers are very sacred. From traditional burials to smudging to regalia its all very important.

Also other items such as wolf teeth or bear teeth or claws, porcupine quils too!

Its a whole other way of life and I enjoy it very much! Its so much more respectful to nature and people then "most" other areas and im not saying that to disrespect anyone.

So many examples.

Where else would a bear, hit by a train, stop a work day? I noticed the bear, placed the call to an elder. Work was shut down and me and 3 other friends buried the bear with a tobacco offering of course, with almost the whole rez behind us in support. Thats a pretty common thing around here.

Also, you'll never starve or go without on the rez. If you have tough times everyone chips in to help basically. I sprained my ankle badly and had to take two weeks off work, guess who mowed my lawn? The cheif lol.

Its just an awesome way of life.

Ive never been a religous guy, but ive always been spiritual. And when I met my wife our ways of life just combined very harmoniously?

Im still sticking with the ravens

Its really that bad that an angler cant go cast an inline with a spinning outfit???

Frig Id go just in spite of them.

I would never let a few sideways looks or comments keep me from enjoying the fishery.

Thats just nonsence

My Dad always told me that I'll learn more by listening (reading here) then talking out of turn; that's why my post count after all these years is still below a 1000.

I only post when I can add something to a thread or try and help someone.

Other then that; my story telling skills are not all that good.

I'm kind of like Joe Friday (Jack Webb) from the 60's Dragnet show; "just the fact ma'am just the facts" LOL

 

Dan.

???

Ill just post about anything ???

Im no mechanic either, mind if I pm you dan with a question?

My good bud got a kingfisher last year and its an amazing boat!

No issues but its only a year old.

If I had the money id be looking very seriously at a kingfisher.

I dont own my own boat right now so i use my dads princecraft allthe time and its a real nice small water boat. Its get pretty uncomfartable in 2-3 waves but what can ya do?

On the backlakes its killer, real nice layout, perform awesome. Zero issues after 8 years.

But like bunk said its also well taken care of

Love everything about this thread bud!

Miigwich bunk!!!

Im sure you've got experience to add as well!

I know it varies from area to area but is it similar in the skat?

Even miigwich is spelled about 10 different ways lol. 45 minutes from me my spelling would be wrong lol, in big grassy its miigwetch