Maeengan's Wolf Den

Where Maeengan is free to ramble on about his life in the middle of the Canadian praires.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Working on the Rez . . .

When I was a teenager, I spent my summers back on the rez in Lac Seul First Nation in Ontario. I was a summer student and I remember when us summer students were given a task to complete.

Our job was to make a trail along this beach that stretched for a couple of kilometres. Our supervisor, aged 17, just wanted to make the road as straight as possible. Doing this, meant that the trail would be really boring to walk along, I voice my objections, but being the 'city boy' I was over ruled.

We got out the chain saw, axes, shovels, and other devices needed to clear the brush and proceeded on our mission. We proceeded in a straight line, but soon met up with a challenge.

One of the students was busy chainsawing the brush when he got stung by a bee. Work quickly stopped and we had a brief meeting over cigs, discussing how were going to get rid of the bee hive.

As we were brainstorming, these other students who were working on the other side of the community decided to visit us. They called us slackers for not working.

One of our crew members, said, 'If you're soo good, why don't you chainsaw through the brush?'

So, the guy grabbed the chainsaw, and proceeded to chainsaw.

We stood 50 ft. away and waited . . . and sure enough.

The chainsaw stopped and we could hear a yell.

He came running as fast as he could, swiping away at bees.

We all started to run.

I remember one of our crew member fell down on the trail, and other crew members were jumping over them. People were getting stung, left and right.

Afterwards, we all laughed at the other students.

Talk to you later.

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Who's Wendy?

So, I'm talking to my buddy, Dale. We're chatting, sharing laughs, and he asks, "Where are you?"

Being the honest person that I am. I said, "I'm at Wendy's."

"Wendy's?"

"Yeah, Wendy's!"

"Who is Wendy?"

"It's a burger joint," was my reply.

"You're such a ****head!"

In any case, I was having lunch with my boy.

We spent the day, down at the Fort Wyte Centre. My buddy, Jeope, and AJ (my son). Just hanging out, driving on the golf cart, looking at the geese, walking down in the board walk - boardwalk (but, not at the sea).

Afterwards, we watched 'Braveheart', and we're in the process of finishing 'Lawerence of Arabia'. It's all good.

Any ways, talk to you later.

Friday, April 22, 2005

"Custer Died For Your Sins" Floyd Red Crow Westerman (1970-79)

Just discovered an oldie, but a good one, Floyd Red Crow Westerman. He's widely known today, as the Native dude that is pushing 'Lakota Pills' on informercials on cable TV. But, back in the day, he released a couple of albums in the 70's, in which one of the songs was entitled, 'Custer Died For Your Sins'. It totally ROCKS!

I first heard of him, when I was travelling with my uncle Percy, down in the states. Think we were chatting about 'Dances with Wolves', and he mentioned that the elder in that movie used to be a folk singer. I'm like, "get out of town, are you serious?" My uncle started singing a few lines . . . 'Missionaries, missionaries, go and leave us all alone. Take your white God to your white man. We've a God of our own.' Ever since then, it's been on my mind. I've been checking out the musice and, literally, old record stores. It's been a quest.

A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with a buddy of mine, Vince. Talking about folk singers, like Neil Young, John Prine, the usual suspects. I mentioned if he knew about Floyd. He was like, "I never knew you'd be into that stuff." Turns out that he's had the cd of what I've been looking for years, and I've known him for years. Funny how that goes.

In any case, what he sang about 30 years ago, still rings true today. I thought to myself, my parents would've listened to this stuff back in the day. Back when it was 'happening'. Songs of Indians struggling in the big city, post-colonialism in a contemporary world, going back 'home', reclaiming our indentity, and finding peace for our spirit.

Chante Waste' Wi (De Ni Shna Na) by Floyd Westerman

De Ni Shna Na
He ohi-ni hece tu

Let me wrap you in my blanket
Stand together on the hill
Feel the love between us
On this night so peaceful and still

Sit by me, my woman
The East is shining at our door
Come to me, my woman
A new life has begun

Get for me, my woman
The things that I must wear
Sit by me, my woman
Come and braid my hair.

Let me sing my love for you o' woman
Let me sing my need for you o' woman

De Ni Shna Na
He ohi-ni hece tu

Talk to you later.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Winding Down For The Day . . .

Pretty tired at the moment. Been pretty busy at the moment.

I was in Ottawa last week for a a couple of days, mixed in with a couple of days of travelling. I love Ottawa when there's no snow on the ground. You can go down to the market and munch on fruit, have a drink on the patio and listen to the buskers sing oldies from the sixties. I was hoping to get my son a battle map of Vimy Ridge at the National War Museum, but it doesn't open till May.

A spring election is in the air. Should be fun. You never know what's going to happen.
Working on poll analysis.

It's nice to see the grass turn green. I love walking on the grass when I'm out for a walk. It's definately more natural.

Went out for an ice cream yesterday evening with friend. Mmmmm . . . ice cream. Afterwards, spent the night watching 'Troy'. Man, that's a silly movie. Bad dialogue, bad acting, but cool battle scenes.

Well, talk to you later.

Sunday, April 10, 2005

Just another busy week.

Well, it's been another busy week. I've enjoyed the past 24 hours, as it is my son's 7th birthday.

I was asking him, 'where do you want to go out for supper?'

He thought about it, "Mmm, maybe sushi or Thai.'

'Well,' I said,' What'll it be?'

'Thai'

So we went to Magic Thailand, and he ate his favorite dishes.

He's having the BIG party next week with all his friends, but for the most part, this weekend is like the quiet birthday weekend.

Talk to you later!

Sunday, April 03, 2005

Let's see if this works . . .

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