• Home
  • Journal
  • Publications
  • Page 2
  • Blog

Greetings from Manitoba, October 2015

10/12/2015

4 Comments

 
Picture
​
































Last week I had the great fortune to meet two amazing men. LOUIS BIRD legendary and tireless collector of stories from his Cree elders, in order to preserve, document, share and celebrate them and photographing him, here in Manitoba, the fabulous, self-taught pencil artist, GERALD KUEHL.
 
Louis Bird of the Omushkegowak Cree people from the Hudson and James Bay lowlands of Northern Manitoba and Ontario is in his eighties and has been documenting stories told by his elders since 1965. This afternoon I will hear him tell some of those stories. You can hear some, in either English or Cree at: http://www.ourvoices.ca/index/ourvoices-browse-action
 
Gerald Kuehl has been creating amazing pencil portraits of indigenous elders from the North and Far North since 1997. Don’t take my word for it, here is a link to his website where you can view some of his portraits: http://www.portraitsofthenorth.com/gallery.html
 
I feel humbled by many of the people I’ve met while I have been here, their creative drive, their urge to acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, their dedication to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration and also the generosity shown by strangers - apart from those car owners who don’t appear to see cyclists even when they are on cycle paths!
 
My sadness is the loss of all the young indigenous young women who have disappeared. Known as the Red River women because so many were killed or went missing close by that river, a recent protest had people hanging red dresses from trees in rememberance.
 
The Museum of Human Rights in downtown Winnipeg is quite an achievement. A Silver Level sustainable building, there are six levels of exhibits and galleries, education projects, book launches, an oral history project and much more. Examining Human Rights abuses and also achievements worldwide, there is also a section looking at Canada’s own past record, both positive and negative.
 
A few days ago I went to Fort Whyte with fellow writer, Ranee Parker, to see part of the geese migration and we just missed the birth of a baby bison. Drinking coffee, eating cookies, standing by the lake as it slowly grew dark; watching thousands of geese flying in to land on the water and chatter non-stop with each other - while moving around and creating intricate pattern formations on the lake surface - was a great experience.
 
Shared a lovely Thanksgiving Dinner with Heather and Robb, their family and friends last night. Lovely, talented and welcoming people.
 
 
 
 
 
 

4 Comments
Tim Tribe
10/13/2015 01:46:38 pm

Fascinating blog Kitty.
I've had a listen to Louis Bird - just a short section. What a valuable record this is, and how easily it could have been lost. Indeed, we may never know what the real storytelling was because of the efforts of well meaning people to bring the aborigines into the new society which was perceived to be better than their existing one.
I've also had a look at the fine pencil drawings of Gerald Kuehl, and read Ranee Parker's blog (she seems a bit introspective?)
But the most moving aspect of your blog is the Red River Women. Time and again we come across extreme inhumanities taking place 'in this day and age' when we thought that societies had moved on to a more sensible and caring plane. I wonder where these women are going and if some quite simple civil changes could find the cause and eradicate it. Get on the case Kitty, there are wrongs to be righted!

Reply
Carol Clewlow
10/14/2015 02:02:28 am

Fabulous blog Kitty...Am about to go on to websites and check all this out. We miss you but know this is just the most wonderful opportunity. Say hello to everyone there from Cullercoats. Oh and lovely picture of you by the way. Most of all envy you seeing those geese. Lovely Canadian film about it by the way everyone. Fly Away Home.. really touch.

Reply
Avril Joy link
10/14/2015 02:07:47 am

Dear Kitty it's wonderful to share in these unique experiences - keep posting! I really enjoyed this slice of Manitoba life -
such an inspiring place for a writer to be, so many stories to uncover and in the company of generous and principled people too. Sounds like heaven.

Reply
Jon Andrews
10/19/2015 10:34:47 pm

Travel certainly does broaden our experience, and thanks for sharing yours with us all. Some fascinating things, and, in this most imperfect world, sadness too.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    As well as being an avid reader of many different genres, I'm also interested in the whole process of writing.
    How other writers set about a new piece of writing for example. I'm also intrigued to know how readers make decisions about what to read.   

    Archives

    May 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    January 2015
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly