Lac Seul's First Phone Call from Kejick Bay

I remember at home
in the bush
one phone
for 300 hundred people
to share including
the Chief and Council

I remember
power generators
watching the Disney hour
Sunday evening
at my cousin's
running
out of gas
halfway
sitting
in the dark

"Who's turn is it to fill it up?"

I remember
outhouses
minus 50 blowing snow
frozen shit exposing
your ass
on frozen wood
Thinking

"It's better than mosquitos in the summer"

I remember
float planes
metal otters
beavers
cessna's
gliding in from town
doing the milk run
delivering mail

Why do I remember
the first phone call
Lac Seul landlocked

But now
we have one phone
connected
to the outside world

Able to connect
to relatives
living off reserve
call in the medivac
when needed
and the Chief and Council
can arrange their meetings
collect their per diems
and all that stuff

So much important matters
related to that
one phone

But, the first call?
for a reserve with
no road access
no electricity
no plumbing

For 300 people
who came together
as a community
Chipping in
taxi cab fare and
the cost of a plane ride
from Sioux Lookout Ontario
30 minutes out

From the Mayfair Theatre
to Lac Seul First Nation
a fried chicken delivery order
for 300 people
the first phone call