Photo Essay: Through the Eyes of Taish

 

This is when we went to see the Robb Nash Project.

 This is a talking circle we attended in the Moose Jaw Art Gallery.

 

This is me and my classmates eating at Jade Garden, having a good time.

 

This is us doing a Kairos Blanket Exercise.

 

This is Tyrell holding hands with a lady.

 

This is our first time going to Moose Jaw and

being introduced to Atamiskakewak National Gathering.

 

This is Raimey leading a Treaty Walk for us.

 

This is Miss Koops getting mad and screaming at me for no reason.

 

 

This is me handing out food to the poor.

 

 

 

 

Ernie's Plan After High School

Ernie’s Plan After High School
By Ernest Goodwill

 

What am I doing after grad?
Hopefully move to Chilliwack BC
Go stay with my uncle and cuz
Probably stay with them for 2 months
Start working
Save up
Make a plan
Move back to the homelands
Get a car
Hopefully get a house
On the homeland
If it doesn’t work out then…
idk, live life on the grind
I guess
If not just live in Chilliwack BC
It should be a good year
Lots of fun things should happen
I get to play ball with my dad and brothers
Some more family members
BBQ all summer
Probably go to some sun-dance/powwows too
The powwows should be lit this year
Can’t wait
It’s still a long way away
If everything is to work out then
I got nothing to worry about
Life’s like a box of chocolates
You never know
What you’re going to get

A Week in the Life of Ernest

A Week in the Life of Ernest

by Ernest Goodwill

 

April 23^rd to the 28th, the week my classmates were in Moose Jaw,  I was mostly working at Standing Buffalo Crossing. The people that work there are really nice people. And I went to my grandpa’s funeral on Monday; then babysat my sister’s baby Tuesday and Friday. It wasn’t too bad. I went to the RBI on Saturday; it’s an indoor training facility for baseball. I’m going to BC in June to go play ball, so I have to practice hard if I’m going to make it to the top. I was skateboarding with my cousin Danzel, and I got to see my brother Logan wipe out on the dirt bike yesterday.

But that’s pretty much it…

Respect is Key; Love is Powerful: but Peace is Unimaginable

Respect is Key; Love is Powerful: but Peace is Unimaginable
by Michael Starr-Desnomie

Going to Moose Jaw was amazing

getting the feeling

that I never felt before

in my life

it was a big change for me

starting off fresh.

 

Going down that good road

I will always continue to walk

There might be some ups and downs

and challenges to face.

Talking to strangers who mostly

turn into family

and fans

was great

getting a lot of positive feedback

getting told by people

how they see you

what they think of you.

 

But mostly what they love about you.

 

I told my story

what I went through as a child

and growing up as a teenager

experiencing things that no kid

should go through at a young age.

 

What I saw in my life

it will mark me for life.

 

I fought my demons

to get my wings back and

flying high and feeling freedom

is an unexplainable feeling.

I was told by a lady that my kukum

has been with me this whole time.

She told me that she can see spirits.

I asked her what does she look like and

she told me that she has short, black, curly hair

but when she told me that

she has golden wings and a golden halo.

I was speechless when she said that to me

I looked over my shoulder

 I didn’t see her but

I knew that I was safe and

protected and getting looked after.

She told she might be a guarding angel.

 

My heart warmed up like it was on fire.

 

I found out when I was in Moose Jaw

I was told by a lot of people

how gifted I am

how I can use those gifts

by helping out the ten mothers

who came all the way from Vancouver and Winnipeg.

I listen to ever word they said

when they invited us to a presentation of theirs.

I got this special feeling

when Idelette Mcvicker said

Listen with your mind.

Listen with your Heart.

Then you will feel sunlight shinning

on your wings as they spread out.

I listen to every word she said

she was telling people that

she belongs to them in a special way

well, in her own very special way.

She even pointed at me as said

I belong to you Michael.

It was a very special moment for me

because what she all said

is what I happened to me

I got a sign from that presentation.

 

I was sitting in a circle that

represents us as a nation

the four directions.

I always wanted to see that

all nations sitting and talking with each other and

taking each other as one big, happy family.

 

Melaney Gleeson-Lyall and Idelette Mcvicker and

eight other mothers that were a part of that presentation.

They all came to our Blanket Exercise that we were hosting at Moose Jaw Library.

Told them and other people that were a part of the Talking Circle.

Letting out tears of the pain of what I went through as a child and as a teenager

pouring my heart out to people.

Telling people what I went through growing up and

saying even what I been through.

 

Made me the man that I am today.

I’m not going to fail my ancestors.

I rather make them proud and

bring back my people from the shadows.

What I went through I always had a saying to it.

“I fought my Demons to get my Wings back’’

now flying high in the sky

flying so high that I never did before

feeling what I never did in years

Freedom.

 

Opening up to people and meeting them

they mostly turned into family.

I accepted everybody that said things that

never were said to me before in my life.

Having that empty space filled up with

lots of love was the best feeling ever.

 

I always held my heart because

what people say to me

gives me the strength

to love myself

even more than I did before.

 

Had so much Hope, Beliefs, Faith, Love, and Respect in me

that I’m going to continue what I do and

shine bright for people and change their lives.

 

But there’s one moment that will stay with me for a very long time.

When I was attending the Blanket Exercise with the girls

Because, well, we had two groups so

the boys took half and the girls took the other half.

I told people about my story and

when I was shaking their hands

a lady told me that I was very gifted and

that she can see me glowing.

She told that my kukum has been with me

this whole time she saw her beside me

when I was talking

putting her hand on my shoulder.

I looked over my shoulder but

I couldn’t see her

I asked her what she looks like

she told me she has short, curly, black hair.

I tried thinking, who is she.

When she told me that she had

golden wings and a gold halo

I was speechless.

She said it could be a guarding angel or my kukum.

I felt safe because I knew I was getting looked after

that I was getting taken care of, me.

That’s who is guiding me down the good road.

At least I was told because I didn’t know and

that means so much to me

that some lady who was gifted

told me what I didn’t know.

 

I talked with a lot people who mostly turn into family

feeling what I never felt in years

it was a heart touching moment and

it brought a tear to my eye.

Being honored to walk in the grand entry

was a blessing to me

because I never walked in one before.

 

When I was in the talking circle I always said.

I was that cub that was lost in the woods

trying to look for his family.

My mom never gave up on me

she found me, picked me up and

brought me back to my brothers and sisters.

 

I always give thanks to my ancestors each day I wake up.

Love knowing that they run through my veins.

Feeling protected because

I know that they are watching over me.

 

When I’m needing help

I know who to turn to and

ask for the strength

to help what I’m facing.

 

It was the best week that I ever had in my life

a lot of special moments

I will not forget.

Where I am now is much greater

than where I was before.

 

Doesn’t matter what color you are.
What tradition you live by.
We are all made by the same God.
We all feel the same on the inside.
We bleed the same color.
We should be respecting and loving one another.
Because Respect is key.
Love is powerful.
But peace is unimaginable.
Let’s all move forward together.
Let’s all come together as one nation.
As one big, happy family.

Courage

Courage by Raven Cook

During a talking circle after the Blanket Exercise at River View Collegiate, this one person acknowledged how the blankets were folding up which is representing something such as how the land was stolen, the Indian act, residential schools etc. but he pointed out how they were slowly unfolding, I never really payed attention to that. When he pointed it all out he says, he was focusing on the positive, so what he had said made so much sense. It kept me thinking about everything.

We had our last Blanket Exercise at the Moose Jaw library Lacey and I facilitated. Michael came to support us, which meant a lot. The exercise went good. During the talking circle everyone had some nice heartfelt words to say; some said how they were feeling bad and guilty. I told them “we don’t do this to make anyone feel bad, that’s never our intention, it’s okay, I forgive you.” Maybe that’s something they needed to hear.

During the talking circle I shared how I wanted to help unfold the blankets, representing to help our people. I talked about not knowing where to start but it’s something I want to do. It was a good Blanket Exercise.  After the talking circle was over we did our reciprocity hand shake. A lady named Amanda came up to talk to me; she wanted to give me this necklace, the word “courage” was on the key, courage to use my voice. I’ll wear it all the time to remind myself when I do need some courage. If I find someone who needs courage I will pass it on and hope it means something to him or her, just like how much it means to me.

I'm Glad I Went to Moose Jaw

By Tyrell Tudor

I had a good time in Moose Jaw. I think it was fun. I bonded with people and I talked to some of the local folks, and they were nice to me.

I helped with the Treaty Walk and I had a great time. We were doing this one Treaty Walk and they said, "Let's hold hands and walk down this path in the park." So, I grabbed this lady's hand and walked down the path.

The last day in Moose Jaw we took a picture by the Moose. We made a song and it was good.

I'm glad I went to Moose Jaw.

Wearing Shades

Wearing Shades

by Kaheau Ironeagle

When we walked into the banquet room I saw lots of people sitting at tables, enjoying themselves. I recognized some people from earlier in the week. The pot roast was pretty good. I liked the way that they made their cakes, like the chocolate kind and the carrot cake.

When Chris and Kallie got up to the microphone, they were thanking all the people who sponsored Atamiskākēwak and volunteered throughout the week. They congratulated us on being there, overcoming obstacles to help others. They invited people to go up and say some good words about how good it was to work with everyone throughout the week.

The guys were going up and I didn’t want to be the only person not going up. So I just went up there. It was damn nerve wracking. I was going to say lots, but I started shaking. I remember that I did say that everybody should be happy. I was thanking everybody.

It was a special moment to look back on. It was a fun week. In that moment it was exciting to talk to lots of people. It was fun. In some ways it was easy because I didn’t know the audience. I could see myself doing this again. Wearing a pair of shades, it’s easy.