D D ... •ns ol Canada A. National Publication lor (:il.O _j 0 Single Copies 1 0 cents ======C()et:.:-?0...Winnipeg. band councils. Phillip Paul, chief of the Tsartlip "The Indian Act is f ull of powers Tribe at Brentwood Bay, Vancouver for the minister," he said. "It says Island, said most Canadian Indian the minister may do this and has bands want more autonomy from the power to do that, but it gives very little authority to the Indians the. ~deral government. to govern their own affairs." "The Indian Act, as it's geared He said the main problem of most now, seems to take initiative away bands is the financial situation of from the Indian," he said. "We seem the reserves, but that no solution to be. under political tyranny." can be f ound until changes to the Mr. Paul was commenting on dis Indian Act allow the bands to devel cussions of the board, which held op a broader financial base for their its third meeting in Winnipeg in reserves. December. The board, set up to advise the BISHOP VITAL JUSTIN GRANDIN, The board established a year ago, federal government in matters of born in St-Pierre-la-Cour, France, is made Up of 18 Indian leaders from national importance in the admin Feb. 8, 1829, joined the Oblates across Canada and it met twice be istration of Indian affairs, has been of Mary Immaculate in 1853 and fore in Ottawa. studying possible amendment to the was sent to northwest Canada the next year. In 1857, he was named Indian Act. auxiliary bishop o·f St. Bol'liface and George Manuel, of Duncan, B.C., in 1 8 71 transferred to the See of co-chairman of the board with R. F. St. Albert, Alberta, where he died Famous Chief Battle of Ottawa, assistant deput June 3, 1901, after earning the minister of Indian affairs, said title "Apostle to the Eskimos." The f uture meetings would be devoted to Holy See proclaimed in mid-Decem ber that Bishop Grandin led a life of Dies 1n B.C. making long-range plans and pol heroic virtue. This is among the icies for the consideration of the first important steps of the beatifi Colorful Chief Mathias Joe, al federal government. ways an outspoken champion of his cation process.. (NC ) people, died December 12 in British Columbia. The Capilano Chief, an expert totem pole carver, was buried beside his father, Chief Joe Capilano Integration Cited as and his mother, Mary. The solution to Indian problems is an agency which intends to sho More t han 500 persons attended is integration, Saskatchewan Natur Indians how to take care of them the funeral of the famous chieftain, al Resources Minister Steuart told selves. We feel the solution is inte which after Catholic services in the Saskatchewan Society for Crip gration," he said. cluded a special Indian ceremony be pled Children and Adults in Regina. The problem of Indian reserva fore the coffin was sealed in the Mr. Steuart is minister-in-charge of tions has created an "unhealthy sub crypt. the provinces Indian and Metis culture," he said. Chief Mathias Joe and his late branch. wife cast the first Indian ballot in "The problem is no longer to be "Our pioneering forefathers were· B.C. in 1949. He was an official guest hidden away on reserves. Integra embarrassed by having displaced a at the coronations of King George V tion means that the public faces this proud and self-sufficient people from and Queen Elizabeth II, and an problem. It means that public re their land. honorary citizen of Texas. sponsibility meets a severe and "To wipe out their guilt and to Though a man of great humor, dreaded crisis." put the problem out of sight they frequently quoted by newspapers Mr. Steuart said the Indian and put Indians on the dole and on re during his extensive travels, Chief - Metis branch is trying to recognize serves. Today we are paying dearly· Mathias Joe was a determined figh t individual as well as government for that. Government paternalism er for the rights of his people, never responsibility. and the welfare state has created he itating to do battle for their inter "This is not another government the greatest problem we now face e t . agency to take care of Indians. This in Canada," Mr. Steuart said. j!?applJ ctecntennial !>ear Page 2 INDIAN RECORD JANUARY 1967 INDIAN RECORD BOOK REVIEW REV. G. LAVIOLETTE, O.M.I. Editor and Manager 504 Scott Bldg., 272 Main St. An Eski,mo Ph. 943-6071 Area Code 20 4 Winnipeg 1, Mon. Subscription Ro te: $1 .00 a Year Printed by Canadia n Publishers Ltd., W innipeg, Mon. Authorized as Second Class Moil, Post Offi ce Dept., Ottawa, Canada, Fi~ rst and for payment of postage in cash. I, NULIGAK. Translated from the Eskimo by Maurice Metayer. Pub GUEST ED ITORIAL lished by Peter Martin Associates, 17 Inkerman St., Toronto 5; 208 pages; $5.00. Key To World Unity I, N uligak is the first autobio One Saturday afternoon, the father of eight children was trying graphy of an Eskimo to be published. to read the daily newspaper, while his small son was begging him to Father Maurice Metayer, OM!, a play a game. Finally, exasperated at the interruptions and hoping for French - born missionary of the a little relief, the father took a page from the back of the paper with Oblate Fathers, encouraged Nuligak a picture of the world on it, showed it to his son and then tore it to to write his story and edited and pieces: "Now son," he said, "I'll play with you after you put all those translated the resulting manuscript. pieces back together." Nuligak was born in 1895 in the . In a few minutes the boy was back with the picture of the world Mackenzie Delta, a member of the all put together. Kitigariukmiut tribe. He died in a "How did you do that so quickly?" the father asked. The boy hospital in Edmonton in 1966. He grinned and replied: "There was a family on the back and I figured was orphaned as a child and in his that if I put the family back together, the world would take care of youth was often cold and hungry. itself." He became a skilful hunter and Indeed, the world would take care of itself if all Christian fam trapper, learned to read and write ilies would work together to make it so. Each member of the family in the Eskimo language, saved has to play his or her role in order to have the family together. The enough money to buy a schooner, husband has to do his best to provide for his family and to be the and retired at last with his memories Christian leader in terms of good example to his wife, children and of many thousands of hunts for neighbours. bear, seal, and caribou. The wife has to be alert in taking care of the home and in co operation with her husband, to look after the children and to teach Within Nuligak's lifetime Eskimos them by words and example what it is to be a Christian today. passed from a Neolithic culture to Children have to co-operate in as much as possible in respecting modern society. He began his life the role of their parents so that, as children, they can do their share using tools of stone and bone vir in keeping the family together, or if the case may be, to bring it tually identical to those used by together. mankind's ancestors a thousand To achieve such unity in the family, communication and love years ago, and he ended it writing among all concerned, are must.s. This is something that only you, as his autobiography on a typewriter. a member of a family can do. How about it? Build strong families and, His story will help white men to as the little boy said, the world will take care of itself. understand the Eskimo culture and - St. John Bosco Newsletter the forces that are changing it. (lEA) Bottlenecks In (o,mmunity Development On his fall trip through the west- trative framework that leads to a discontent among the people under ern provinces Mr. E. R. ·McEwen, 1 conflict of outlook between Com- his supervision. Executive Director of the Indian- munity Development officers and The more successful the C.D. of Eskimo Association, was disturbed the civil servants responsible for ficer is in stimulating Indian ini to find that many Community De- administering the Indian Act. Com- tiative, the greater the difficulties velopment officers working in In- munity Development means change, it creates for the Superintendent. It dian communities are experiencing often rapid and substantial change, becomes increasingly hard for him great difficulty in carrying out their and it is almost an axiom that civil to operate by following department plans. So frustrated do they feel servants do not welcome change. regulations and established admin that a .number of the more. able It is the Community Development istrative procedures, and he begins C.D. officers have al~eady resigned, officer's job to encourage the In- to regret the relative peace that and others are plannmg to leave. dians to take action and to assume existed before the C.D. officer ap Mr. McEwen fears that the present control of their own community. peared. Those responsible for edu programs, both federal and provin- This usually causes them to become cation, housing, and health ser vices cial, may be doomed to failure if discontented with the existing order, are also upset by the new criticisms, some way cannot be found to re- to complain about such matters as and tend to view the C.D. officer as move the barriers now blocking education, housing, and health serv- a trouble-maker. progress. Most of those involved ices, and to press for new programs. The C.D. officers for their par t believe that the Community Devel- On the other hand, the Indian Super- find it difficult to get money to opment process is an effective means intendent, who is responsible for .carry through the Indian projects of revitalizing communities by sti- what happens on the reserves, na- they have stimulated. It is a long mulating local initiatives, and they turally fears that economic experi- unsure route to resources via the hope that the program can be sal- ments may waste band funds, or Superintendent, and an even rougher vaged by prompt remedial action. that a proposed program is not road via the Federal-Provincial Com From what he learned, Mr. Me- feasible or is geared to too rapid an mittee. The Superintendent is usually Ewen concludes that the major execution. It is also natural for him reluctant to risk band funds on pr o- problem is an inadequate adminis- to react to anything that creates - Continued on Page 3 JANUARY 1967 INDIAN RECORD Page 3 IN PENTICTON Indians Join Young Indians lAB Staff A move within the Department of · Take Basic Indian Affairs to hire Indians on staff has been reflected in the addi tions to the department office in Ba ttleford, Sask. Schooling Two new employees appointed in November are full blood Indians. A basic training course for In Vince Bellegarde, of North Battle dians, 16 years of age or older, who ford, was appointed Indian affairs have had no schooling, or have not officer. He covers Red Pheasant, completed Grade 8, has been ar Mosquito, Moosomin and Saulteaux . r anged and sponsored jointly by the Indian reserves. Indian Affairs Branch, Board of Violet Baptiste, a member of the School Trustees, District 15, Pen Little Pine band, has been hired as tieton, B.C., and the Penticton Indian a stenographer. Affairs Committee. "More and more Indians are being hired by the department," said D. H. The course began in October in Anderson, acting superintendent for the Penticton High School and -is Chur·ch o·f the Sacred Heart, The Battlefords. "The preference in attended by six young men from Penticton Reserve, B.C. department hiring is going to Indian · the Penticton Reserve. Classes will people." · continue until June 30. Subjects - Photo by Eric D. Sismey covered include reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic and science. Students enrolled are: Louie Alec, Jefferey Alec, Francis Jack, Colin Child Ca_re On Reserve Jack, Joe MacGinnes and Carter A shelter for abandoned Indian church. They undertook major re Abel. children, run entirely by Indians, has pairs to make the center habitable. been opened by the parishioners of Although today the wallpaper on the Every effort has been made by St. Mary Magdelene church in Hag walls is still yellowed and peeling the teaching staff to talk to each wilget Indian Reserve, in B.C. with age, the center is a haven for s tudent before the classes begin for youngsters. . who would otherwise students must make a real effort to Alfred and Helen Joseph, an In dian couple who are house parents find themselves in the unfamiliar succeed, otherwise the student will surroundings of white foster homes. be dropped. of the home, had long been alarmed at the number of children in the The district supervisor of the On completion students will be district who were found abandoned Department of Welfare, Donald Bed given a Basic Training Grade 8 Cer by parents while they went on drink dows, pointing out the center as the tificate which will allow them to ing sprees or were serving time in first in Canada to be run entirely proceed further to vocational schools jail. Such children were often taken by Indians, had high praise for the and other trade schools. from their parents permanently by way in which the Indian community Arrangements have been made for social welfare services under the has become involved in its own wel students to live with white Pentic Child Protection Act of Canada. fare. Alfred and Helen Joseph were ton families. The Indian Affairs They would subsequently be placed · given full approval as house parents Branch will take care of the cost of in non-Indian homes where the en by all the Indian groups of the area. supplies and will pay room and vironment is foreign to them. Village leaders inspected and ap board. Students will be ,given a per The Josephs persuaded Father proved the house and its method of sonal allowance of $15.00 a month. John O'Reiley to let them move into operation. As an emergency shelter, Eric D. Sismey! an abandoned house adjacent to his the center attempts to arrange fos ter care for abandoned children with relatives, friends and neighbors on the reserve, so that they can be re turned to their parents when the Bottlenecks In Development latter mend their ways. - Continued from Page 2 strate whether or not it can re vitalize local communities. jects that he considers a gamble. In this rather black picture Mr. Vancouver The provinces control most of the McEwen did find one bright spot: r esources needed to facilitate com those facing the dilemma are not munity development, and the C.D. placing the blame on individuals Art Sale officers have to approach the var and authorities higher up in the Paintings by Indian artists, bead ious provincial departments through administration. Nor is it a conflict and leather work and other items federal-provincial committees which of personalities on the local level. were sold at the December bazaar in: are slow and indecisive. Some of the The trouble is caused by inherent Vancouver's Indian Centre. provinces have not yet signed the deficiencies in the structure, and all Opened by Kay Cronin, director of agreement with the federal govern concerned hope that some method the Catholic Study and Leadership ment, a.nd even when agreements can be found to break the bottle Club, the sale was organized-by the have been signed they do not cover necks before a promising experiment Adult Indian Council' of the centre, the full range of services needed to grinds to a halt. What seems to be assisted by members of the Youth s upport community development required is improved administrative Council. projects. Thus the movement is in machinery geared to greater local Proceeds went to provide further danger of being strangled in red initiative and to more rapid change. equipment and furnishings for t he tape before it has a chance to demon- - Catholic Indian News Centre. Page 4 INDIAN RECORD JANUARY 1967 Aid Program Forges Ahe,ad Sixty bishops in 55 dioceses and 10 000 laymen throughout Mexico hc{ve joined hands to launch the bish ops' national campaign to aid under privileged Mexican Indians. A collection was taken up in all Catholic churches on the last Sun day of Advent and the funds raised were earmarked for the Episcopal Commission for Mexican Indian Mis sions ( CENAMI). The idea of the campaign is not only to raise funds but to a waken a "Catholic conscience" on the needs of fellow Mexicans ethnically iso lated because of insufficient com munications - lack of roads, health centers, markets. The campaign has been marked by an unprecedented publicity ef fort. Millions of c i r c u 1 a r s and CENAMI bulletins have been mailed to Catholic laymen together with 30.000 letters to parish priests and other members of the clergy. Radio "spots" have been broadcast. Mexi can Catholic Action is giving the campaign full support. Bishop Francisco Ferriera Arriola of Texcoco cancelled the annual dio cesan seminary collection in favor Making friends is a starting point in the· work of CENAMI (National Center for of the CENAMI drive, Aid to Mexican Indians) in Mexico. The movement, directed by Bishop Jose de Jesus Coadjutor Archbishop M an u e 1 Sahagun o·f Tula, supports 76 medical dispensaries and 182 community development Martin del Campo of Morelia set centers, and operates 54 educational radio stations from which lessons are broadcast Feb. 5, 1967, for the CENAMI col daily to children gathered in isolated schools. Here, Vega Fahey, director of public lection because the local committee relations, CENAMI, wins the confidence of Guadalupe youngsters. wants to raise sufficient funds to build a CENAMI center in Michoa can state. CENAMI is receiving foreign as Loucheux To Represent sistance from the German Catholic aid organization, Misereor. Through financial support from Misereor con Canadian Women At Expo struction has begun on new dispen saries in Huautla de Jimenez and The. Commissioner General of The Regional Indian Advisory Council Valle Nacional, Oaxaca, and in Hue Indians of Canada Pavilion, has an for British Columbia and The Yu j utla, Hidalgo. nounced that Mrs. Clara Tizya, a kon, as well as sitting on the Na prominent Loucheux Indian, has tional Indian Advisory Board. The CENAMI campaign is de been selected by the National Indian scribed as the largest program ever Advisory .Board to represent the In She recently left the Yukon and :undertaken in Mexico by Mexicans dian women of Canada at the offi now makes her home in Vancouver, to aid underprivileged indigenous cial opening of the Indians of Can British Columbia. groups. ada Pavilion Expo '67. Mrs. Tizya was born at Rampart House, Yukon Territory, and is the mother of 12 children, and grand mother to 10 others. The task of A $456,104 contract has been walks will also be provided at the raising a large family did not pre awarded for the construction of 40 front and rear of each house. vent Mrs. Tizya from becoming an houses on the Musqueam Indian Mr. Arthur Laing, Minister of Indian leader and spokeswoman in Reserve, Vancouver, B.C. Indian Affairs, said that a firm of the Yukon Territories. The 40 units, to be built in bung consulting engineers were hired by The charming grandmother says alow style, will conform to specifica the Musqueam Band for the plan "I am deeply honoured to have the tions approved by Indian Affairs ning of services in the new develop opportunity of representing the and Central Mortgage and Housing ment. He paid high tribute to the Canadian Indian women on a coun Corporation. Each house will have band and its leaders for their ag try-wide basis. I feel that through a minimum floor space of 1,100 sq. gressiveness and skill in arranging our Indian Pavilion we will be able ft., consisting of three bedrooms, a this development, and added that the tq tell our story .to the world· as we full ·basement, and include all mod Musqueam Band was among the wc.int to tell it". - ern facilities such as plumbing, heat leaders in all of Canada in Indian Mrs. Tizya is a member of the ing and electrical services. Concrete land management. JANUARY 1967 INDIAN RECORD Page 5
Industry and effort and Gordon and Doris BeaT h,ave di'spr'oved
the lie that ski ~ n C'o,lor makes a
diffe ~ rence. Now, contented wit'h the good life t'hey have made, they are, wh·at t'hey ar'e, ...
PROUD FARMERS Above: Gordon indicates one of the hazardous, badger holes which are num Story and Photos ber-one problem on the ranch. Filled with by Bi1H: McGiU loose snow, the three-to-six-foot ho,Ees A successful Hereford cattle ranch "We are very happy with Mr. Bear can result in sprained or broken legs for ing operation had a meager begin in his endeavours to develop a farm ranging cattle. Far' left: Purebred Here ning for Gordon Bear of the Little ing operation. ford cow at the Bear ranch. Red River Indian Reserve, 35 miles northwest of Prince Albert, Sas katchewan. About four years ago Gordon Bear traded his tools and safety hat as a heavy equipment operator for "boots and saddle". With the assist ance of the Indian Affairs Mr. Bear started his cattle ranch in 1963. The ranch is 300 acres of the Little Red River Reserve. The 300 acres of cleared land grows sufficient feed for the increasing herd, but he also harvests some "bottom land" hay. The hay meadow where he cuts the hay for feed is an old dried lake bottom located at the southwest corner of the 6,000 acre reserve. The boundaries of the reserve ranch are just six miles from the Prince Albert National Park, where predators are protected. It was thought by the Indian Affairs of ficers at Prince Albert, that these predators would be a problem. The result so far in the experiment has been a happy one, apart from badgers. The hungry badgers di,g in the fields for gophers leaving treacherous holes from three to six feet in depth, creating a leg break ing hazard to the winter browsing cattle. Gordon has not figured out how to combat the problem, but wolves and bears have not bothered the livestock at all. The herd of 71 Herefords now on the ranch grew from a beginning of 25 cows and one bull financed by the Indian Af fairs branch. A. H. Marcuson, assistant super intendent of the Prince Albert In dian Affairs branch, stated that Mr. Bear had done exceptionally well with his herd. Gordon and Doris Bear have a comfortable home on the Little Red River Reserve. In an interview Mr. Marcuson said Here they pose with their cattle dog, Charlie. Page 6 INDIAN RECORD JANUARY 1967
KINEBIKONS (Little Snake)
PART FIVE trapper and a daring hunter, he was prescribed some medicine one of the luckiest on the reserve. dered him to stop working. When the other Indians got six or CHAPTER 14 seven minks, he always doubled that The story thus for : The young couple returned home A poor child, Kinebikons, and her number, and yet never used any special Indian medicine to draw the nearly discouraged. They had put aged grandmother, Teweigon, were away enough money to live com token from the Reserve to live at the animals to his snares. Mission School. Although Kinebikons, fortably, but still that happy smile The pagans often went to the on Johnny's face was ,gone. He could now known as Lucy, embraced the Sorcerer to buy a special medicine Faith at on early age, it was some not remain idle, and yet he was for years before Teweigon come to under intended to attract the mink and bidden to track the moose and do stand and accept it. But accept it she fox to their traps. Johnny did not all the other things he loved so much. did and received Ba ptism before her do this any more, but once a year, On a second visit to the doctor, death. Lucy, now grown, ha s married he would bring his traps to the Johnny was told that he had tuber Johnny, who joined the Church at her Black Robe to have them blessed; culosis. Lucy was stricken with grief request. The young couple living at to this blessing Johnny attributed Johnny's home in Stondjicoming hove and wept bitterly when she learned most of his luck. This made the this. Soon the two of them lost all just celebrated the birth of their first others jealous, and they tried to son. interest in life. In a few weeks their hurt him; they would steal his furs home looked abandoned: grass and and even his traps. weeds had replaced the beautiful CHAPTER 13 One day, early in May, Johnny flowers that once were plentiful After the birth of little Paul, the went out to visit his traps. He walked around the place. Disappointed, life of the young couple was not all all day along the shores of Rainy Johnny had decided not to see the happiness. The sorcerer persecuted Lake; he found a few traps, but white doctor again. He was again them, and caused them much trou many had been stolen and with them falling into his old pagan beliefs, ble. But as time went on, everything the animals that were caught. He became quiet again. In the mean suspected foul play and immediately time, a little daughter was born to gathered the traps that were left Lucy. Johnny and Lucy were very happy but again this happiness was of short duration. By The second day after the arrival of the new born baby, the much Rev. Mathias Kalmes feared Medicine-Man again appeared OMI at J ohnny's house. "Tomorrow," he solemnly announced to the young couple, "I shall come with my neighbors to give an Indian name to him. It was already dark when he your little daughter." was coming home over the thin ice. "We are Catholic," replied Lucy, Turning the corner of the bay, he "and my daughter will never have could see the light in the window but he was careful not to let Lucy a pagan name; the Black Robe from of the house. Waiting anxiously for find out. One night he paid the Couchiching will baptize her and her husband, Lucy had placed the sorcerer a visit. This surprised the give her the name of Agnes." lamp on the window sill to ,guide Medicine-man, but nevertheless he The Sorcerer enraged by this an him. Johnny saw it and thus en was glad to see his former friend swer, m1:1ttered a few mysterious couraged, he hastened his step on return to ask for his help. phrases and left the place very dis the thin ice. During the first consultations, the gusted. Hereafter, no one came to He was only a few hundred yards sorcerer went through a series of visit the young Misiwekijik family. from shore, and could see Lucy's ceremonies, by which he was sup T he Indians looked upon them as shadow through the window, when posed to determine the cause of s trangers, with whom the pagans the ice suddenly gave way, and Johnny's sickness. This cost Johnny should have no more communica Johnny sank in the cold water. With his gun and some tobacco. He was tion. Their place was generally much difficulty, he pulled himseif to return later to get some medicine. called by the name of their religion: out and arrived at his house very That night, Johnny came home ''Pagwashinang.'' sick. He remained in his home till exhausted, but he didn't say anything Lucy did not care and prefered his conditions became so serious to Lucy about his venture. Weeks to live alone rather than be bothered that his wife had to bring him to went by and Johnny was not getting by her pagan neighbors. She seldom Fort Frances to see a doctor. The better. One night he decided to go left her home and her husband was verdict was alarming; his right lung back to the Indian doctor. When he very good to her. Being a good was seriously affected. The doctor - Continued on Page 1 0 JANUARY 1967 INDIAN RECORD Page 7
The Journey
A Short Story
by PATRICIA YOUNG, Vancouver, B.C. The windows of the bus were webbed with frost, obscuring the snowy mountains and canyons along the highway. Inside, it was warm and sweet with the smell of Christ mas oranges, cigar smoke and f reshly cut fir. George Sam smiled reassuringly across the aisle at his young wife, offering her a sandwich f rom the wax paper package. Amy, small and olive skinned, shook her A g · i~ rl sa:t h·ud·dled on the mattress, holdi:ng her nowborn chi·ld. long dark hair and fingered the Illustrated b y Rose Adele Korne collar of her shaby blue raincoat. the incident in the beer parlor and Finally, the bus driver climbed down It was almost eight hours since George told him exactly what had from his seat and walked up the they had left the Reservation a t happened - not because he was a highway. When he returned, he told F ort Saint James and her legs were police officer, but because he was them: "Sure is a snow slide. They unbearably cramped. Never having a regular guy." say it'll be an hour before the plough travelled more than fifty miles from "I wish to God I'd never gone arrives." t he Reservation, she had had no into Vancouver," George had said At the combined groan that went idea that the world was so big; that bitterly. "I went because Harry said up, George leaned across and touch the white man's ways were so he had a lead on a job for me. We ed his wife's hand. "Don't be scared, strange. As she felt the child move went into the beer parlor to talk honey." deep inside of her, she wondered about it and I just happened to see vaguely whether it would be a girl Amy searched his eyes with her this other guy stabbed. I shouldn't own. "It will be all right, won't it? or a boy and a warmth of wonder have opened my mouth." spread over her. What if he grew up I mean about the fight and that to be North America's first f ull "Don't worry about it, George," man getting killed?" blooded Indian bishop? Wouldn't Charlie had said. "The police only "I told you I was only a witness. that be something for Sister Mary want you as a material witness." Would the police be letting me Agnes to talk about? "But supposing I don't want to travel to town on my own if I were ccTired, Amy?" George asked. go?" under arrest or anything like that?" Amy shook her head, dimples Charlie shook his head. "You have Amy sighed. "I know, George. But breaking up the broad expanse of to, George. It's the law. Anyway, I can't help feeling scared. Suppos her high cheekbones. It wasn't they'll pay your bus fare and give ing they don't believe you? Sup George's fault that he had lost his you meals and a place to stay." posing someone calls you a lying Indian?" job in the logging camp. It wasn't As the bus droned along the high his fault that they had to travel to way, two men in the back played They continued to talk, weighing Vancouver for the opening of the cards. A teen-age boy was strum up what might take place at the Polchuck murder trial on the 27th ming his guitar. Amy, a magazine trial. By ten thirty the highway of December. Now, as he lit a cigar· open on her lap, pointed to a stuffed was cleared and traffic began to ette, George's dark eyes were som turkey and grimaced. George knew move again. The passengers shud bre. "Sorry it won't be much of a that she was hungry. They hadn't dered as they moved past the skid Christmas for you, honey. Maybe spent a nickel except for coffee since with its tons of white death and you should have stayed on the re· they left the reservation. Suddenly, smashed trees. When they pulled servation with my folks." there was an ominous rumbling into the bus station at Hope, they Amy touched his hand. "Don't be ahead of them and the bus slacken began to relax again. It was not silly. Xou know I'd rather be with ed speed before coming to a halt. until the bus driver checked into you." The driver turned around in his the office and returned that those George lapsed into troubled si· seat. "Nothing to get alarmed about, passengers continuing on to Van lence, then felt in his pocket for the folks. Shifting snow, no doubt. Often couver and points along the way, official papers that Charlie, the happens at this time of year." realized that something was drastic RCMP officer, had brought him. Passengers rubbed at the windows ally wrong. "I'm sorry, folks, but we Charlie had been concerned about of the bus and tried to peer out. - Continued on Page 1 1 Page 8 INDIAN RECORD JANUARY 1967 Page 9
in Winnipeg in the hope that an goodness and greatness of a operation might restore her fail· simple, little, old Indian woman ing eyesight, and for a long time such as Granny, that they would MANITOBA the Blackstones heard nothing of cherish her as a close family be ~~ her. spoke a. mother of compassion, ~ Then, home on a visit and walk· tolerance and understanding. 'I WAS HOMELESS I ing down Main Street, "Marguer· • • • ite" a married daughter, spied a Story of Beatitudes familiar figure - there was As I thought back on my con· Granny! Delighted, Marguerite versation with Mrs. Blackstone threw her arms around her and I wondered why, when most of kissed her saying, "Oh, I do hope what I had learned about Granny you're better now, Granny". was new, why did it sound so AND YOU TO~K ME IN~ Granny had tears in her eyes as familiar? Then I realized - in she clung to Marguerite. "Oh, the story of poor, meek Granny Marguerite, they couldn't do any who had mourned, been midun· The story of "Granny" Cadotte, a modern-day saint to thing about my one eye, and they derstood, and yet showered mercy told me the other is going the and compassion on the needy, I whom the Beatitudes were a way of life. same way, too, and that I'll be was hearing echoes of the Beati· blind in two years." tudes. A summary of Granny's work, Granny who had fed the So Little From Life hungry, given drink to the thirsty, By Irene Hewitt "Poor Granny," Mrs. Blackstone visited the sick, sheltered the remarked with concern in her homeless, clothed the naked, read voice. "Poor Granny, such an un like a recital of the Corporal Our local paper announced that dian could always find refuge in story. Left alone after her hus "Some of the f·ks around here but, oh, how she missed her selfish, thoughtful person. She's Works of Mercy. the Town Council was considering her home. band's death, Granny managed to didn't understan what Granny daughter! had so little out of life, and now Humble, little Granny Cadotte! some type of recognition for Mrs. In life she may have been one of Granny Was Humble raise not only her own family, was doing, and tJ,y used to criti· "Poor Granny' Frances' death this!" "Granny" Cadotte, who, it was but several grandchildren as well. cize her so. PooGranny! It was was a terrible blow, but with all I tried to console Mrs. Black· Flin Flon's lowliest citizens, but felt, had been a great asset to the Apart from occasionally meet· And no matter how crowded really hard for 1er sometimes, in the records kept by that mas ing Granny on Main Street or the others to look after, she stone by remarking, in all sin· community. In a letter read at the Granny's little house was or how but most of the eighbours were couldn't spend time grieving. cerity that the friendship and ter bookkeeper, St. Peter, she is council meeting it was pointed after Mass, I had no contact with little she had, no homeless Indian kind to her. Sl's 'Granny' to undoubtedly one of its most illus· her until the news of the proposed They've all left her now, of affection of the Blackstones must out that many times Mrs. Cadotte was ever turned away. plenty of other hildren besides course, but she has one daughter certainly have brought Granny a trious. had boarded transient Indians, presentation was released. An In· "Where did they all sleep?" our own." dian woman being honored by in town, married to just about the measure of happiness. EPILOGUE: Featured on the often receiving no remuneration "I've often wondered myself, finest white fellow you'd ever "You know, you're ri g ht. f ront page of the Flin Flon Daily town council was a singular A Pel'f ~ t Fit - would not the official opening some would be on the floor prob· come across. They're very good to Granny really treasured her Reminder, Sept. 12th, 1966, was a of the new Indian·Metis Friend· event; there would be a story ably. People would often give Granny was avays concerned here. But where could I find out Granny, and the grandchildren friends." picture of a shyly smiling Granny ship Centre be an ideal time for Granny old clothes and coats. She when any of h• white 'grand· "The presentation, too, will Cadotte flanked by Mayor Freed· some recognition of her services? more about Granny? She would are so fond of her, too. When the would rip up the old coats and children' were il Visiting a sick town tore down Granny's old probably be a thrill for her." man and Councillors Easton and Council agreed wholeheartedly. be too shy, too humble to talk make them into bedthrows - nice Blackstone she a ::ed if she might about herself; Cammie had left house the family wanted her to "Oh, Granny will probably think Hopkinson. The paper carried an Later it was decided that the form ones, too .Sometimes, I guess, the feel his feet to ee if he had a account of the open house tea of presentation was to be a town. Mother-in-law, "Mrs. Black· come and live with them; but you that presentation the most won· Indians or the family would sleep fever. Mrs. Bl
The office lights were out now and the boys stopped to try the handles The Journey of several of the parked autos. When they came to the abandoned -Continued from Page 7 away on Christmas Eve and every unit, the sixteen-year-old boy said: can't continue on. The roads are icy newspaper in the country would be "You sure you know where you hid and there's been another slide up down on my ears for discrimination. it?" ahead. We'll have to stop off here A white man could starve on my "Hid what?" the girl wanted to overnight." At the babble of protest, doorstep and no one would turn a know. "I don't like this, Harry he held up his hand. "Now, don't get hair." Baker. You know what the judge alarmed. The company . will put you As George took his wife's arm said to you last time." up for the night and we'll be leaving and turned to go, the old man stood "Aw, can it," Harry, the older boy tomorrow morning at seven sharp. up. "Now, don't get mad, fella. I've said. "It's just another bottle we We'll get you into town in plenty of lived up North with the Indians hid before we went to the dance." time for Christmas dinner. Mean· long enough to speak my mind same "Hey, someone left a light on," while, passengers can book in at the as I'd speak it to any color. That's the younger boy said as the door Greenboro Hotel." the trouble with you people. You're swun~ open at his touch. A girl sat George and Amy climbed down so blamed sensitive we whites can't huddled on the mattress beneath a from the bus and followed other pas even talk our mind to you any grey bJanket, a hand at her mouth sengers through the snow to the more." As he ambled to the door, and her eyes wide with terror. A hotel. Amy held her stomach. "Gee, he went on: "Only dry spot I know baby cried. I'm so hungry I've got cramps. I'll is the old unit we're pulling down. "My God. it's an Indian woman be just as glad to stop over for the Couple of windows are broken and and a kid," the blonde girl said. night." the door ·s falling off, but it's the Amy looked past them, then said Waiting in line at the desk, it only place I can think of." in a frightened voice. "We were soon became apparent from the Later, alone in the dusty room told we could sleep here. My hus clerk's agitation that something was with its assortment of tires, crates, band has gone out for something to wrong. Word went around that lawn mower, garden tools and shab eat." As she lay back exhausted, there was a skiing convention in by mattress, Amy sank down on the blonde girl fell to her knees. town. George, seeing Amy resting her knees. "Oh, George, it feels so "Say, you're ~ hurt or something." her head against the wall, gripped good! I could sleep for a week." "Let's get out of here," · the the bus driver's arm with sudden George, examining t h e small younger boy said. "The cops will anxiety. "Look, mister, my wife's change in his pocket, said: "Look, swear we beat her up or something." pregnant and she's been travelling honey, you must be starved. It's not "Shut up," the girl snapoed. "I all day. Is there a chance that we much past eleven and maybe I can think !-'he just had this kid." She could get fixed up with a room find a cafe that's still open." touched Amy's shoulder and the In fast?" Amy opened her mouth to protest dian girl opened her eyes. "Hey, Harassed, the driver glanced being left alone, then, realizing that kid, are you all right? You need a across at Amy. "I'm sorry, son. George must be hungry, she nodded. doctor or something?" There's been a bit of a mix-up. We As George bent his head aP:ainst Amy shook her head. "I'll be all didn't know about the convention." the sheets of snow and headed back right. I don't want to make any "But we've got to have a place." up the highway, three teenagers trouble." As the desk clerk beckoned to the turned a corner, stopping occasion Before long George appeared, driver, the latter drew George aside. ally to indulge in a snowball fi~ht. carrying two steaming cartons of "Look, fella, all I can suggest is One boy carried a case of oranges, coffee and a brown paper bag. When that you try the Totem Motel a the other a brown paper-wrapped he saw the teenagers, he stopped quarter mile down the highway. box. The girl hugged a toy panda short, then. as the baby cried, push Friend of mine runs it. Tell him bear and was angry at the boys for ed past them. "Amy, Amy honey. ·Henry Carmichael sent you." not having put chains on the car. My God. Amy, I didn't know." Outside the hotel the snow was vVhen George asked them for di She smiled at him wanly. "It's all drifting down like myriads of goose rections to a cafe, the youngest boy right, George. It all happened so feathers and the division between pointed along the road, then, as suddenly. I just felt tired and hun road and sidewalk was all but George continued on, threw a snow gry and thought that the cramps obliterated. Church bells sounded ball at his head. The blonde girl were from sitting so long." sharp and sweet in the frosty night turned on her companion fiercely. MovinR' towards the door, the air. "What's the matter with you, any blonde girl said: "We'd better get They found the Totem Motel and way? Couldn't you figure that help or something. The baby has no entered the office. An old man, clad maybe he wanted a dime or some clothes. Sheepishly, the younger boy in grey knitted sweater, sat smoking thing?" stood hjs case of oranges on end. a pipe and reading the newspaper, "Sure he did," the boy said, "Here, mi"' ter, maybe you could sit his steel-rimmed glasses perched at scooping up more snow. "You ever on this." Then: "Gee, mister, I'm the end of a sharp nose. know an Indian who didn't?" . sorry I threw that snowball." As George explained about the "Boy, you've sure got the Christ Tears snringing to her eyes, the snow slide and the bus holdup, the mas spirit," the girl said bitterly. blonde girl grabbed the arm of the old man took his pipe from his "Every drop of it out of a bottle." older boy. "O.K., so what are you mouth. "You don't say? Henry's bus "So, who gave you the panda staring at? The trouble with you caught in it?" bear I won at the dance raffle? O.K. characters is you don't know about "He said you would put us up for So, Merry Christmas and all that Christmas or nothin'. You're both the night," George pressed. "My jazz. a couple of no-good perks." As she wife's pregnant and is just about At the driveway of the Totem turned and fled, the boys followed dead on her feet." Motel, the two boys turned in and her. GeorP:e took the too off a car The old man shook his grizzled the girl hesitated. "I want to go ton of coffee and handed it to Amy. hep.d. "Sorry, son. All my cabins home." "Here, honey, try and drink a little taken because of the convention." "O.K. O.K. So it's a shortcut. We of this." George's eyes burned. "But you've have to pick up something we hid Amy leaned on one elbow, her face got to find us a place." here." radiant. "It was so easy, George. I The old man sucked on his pipe. "A shortcut to hell," the girl was frightened at first and I cried "Sure, sure. I've got to. I've got t o retorted, accompanying them. "I out but no-one heard. I even man- because you're Indian. Turn you should have gone home with Peggy." - Continued on Page 14 Page ll. INDIAN RECORD JANUARY 1967
~1111111111111111111111111111111111111111 111 111 1111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1111 111111 111111111 1111 111111 1111 11111 11111 11 111 11 111111 11111 1111 111 U 11 111 1111 111 1111111 111 I 11111 11111 JITith T h e Good H eart
By ROBERT CHRISTIE on their best ponies. Shrieking, they ing had occurred to interrupt it. In Extension Magazine swept down at a gallop. They seem What kind of a man, armed with ed scarcely to notice the priest's nothing more than a crudely stitched HE small party, mounted on party as they hurtled by without banner he had sewn himself, could T shaggy ponies and accompanied checking their pace or changing the successfully intervene in a savage by a couple of squealing Red River course of their run. Strange. Strange, conflict between two tribes whose carts carrying baggage, plodded indeed. enmity was nearly as old as time southwest alpng the course of the It was Father Lacombe who first itself? Who was this 38- year - old Battle River - a stream which falls saw the cause of the Blackfoot fury. priest whose 16 years in the Cana across the plains like a twisted blue A few hundred yards down the river dian Northwest had already won cord from its junction with the flats an equally strong Cree war him a reputation for constancy, en waters of the mighty North party, screaming defiance at their durance and heroism? Saskatchewan. A French - Canadian hereditary enemies and letting off Serve God by Serving His Children priest, sinewy and tanned as the the first shots, was grouped to meet Metis with him, fought the drowsi Albert Lacombe was born at St. the Blackfoot charge. The mission Boniface, a village across the Red ness which repeatedly caused him ary knew that unless something to doze in his saddle. River from the present city of Win could quickly be done the slaughter nipeg, in 1827. His devout and God That July afternoon of 1865 was on both sides would be awful. fierce with heat, the country a fearing parents were of French ·waste of grass quivering with mir These two tribes - the Blackfoot Canadian habitant stock in which ages. The vast, lonely land - not of the south and the Crees of the there was a trace of Indian blood. to be called Alberta and become a north - were both his charges. He As a boy, he attended St. Boniface's Canadian province for yet another loved them too much to stand aside old stone cathedral and early in life 40 years - mocked their progress idly and watch while they murdered felt that his vocation must be in the and young Father Albert Lacom be, each other. Dropping from his sad Church where, as he recalled year s O.M.I., found it hard to stay awake. dle, he hurried to one of the Red later, "I could serve God by serving River carts, taking from it a banner his neglected children." Bishop Nothing suggested that he and his which went wherever he went - a Tache, the head of a diocese whose companions were poking- toward white flag on whose field was blaz boundaries reached a thousand miles danger. For all that could be seen oned a cross in red. It whipped out west to the Rockies, encouraged the they were alone under a brassy hat as Father Lacombe, deaf to the youngster's growing sense of dedi of sky. They had not even the com Metis shouted warnings, ran to put cation. pany of a breeze. It was like riding himself between the fighting In Another influence, as strong in its across an immense, empty frying dians. pan. own way as the Bishop's, was also at work deciding the future. St. Bon As the cavalcade straggled down Paying no more attention to the arrows and bullets whistling around iface was then a frontier commu a hillside to a river bottom whose nity, a door on the Red River to the cottonwoods might offer some shade, him than to a prairie shower, he called out loudly in both the Cree immense and still greater West be a sudden weird outcry startled the yond. Every year its fur brigades six men. They abruptly pulled rein. and Blackfoot tongues. "My chil dren - my children! Stop! Stop!" and buffalo hunters left the tiny None needed to be told what they settlement for the hunting grounds had blundered into. A shot struck him in one leg. He continued to wave the banner by of the Northwest. They returned Indian yells, shrill and sharp, rip which he was known throughout the not only with hides and pelts - and ped the plains' silence to shreds. thousands of square miles of his often with fresh scars - but with Though not an Indian was yet to be wild and trackless parish. "Stop!" exciting stories of a life as free as seen, the uproar told Lacombe and that of the Indians they met. those with him that the Indian war As the Metis watched, their fear party was a large one out for no and horror followed by disbelief, the The boy listened as these adven good. The five men, dread tightening Indian firing slackened and then turers talked over their pipes, his each face, looked at the missionary slowly fell silent. Not even the mind resolutely making itself up. and then at each other. Blackfoot'? Blackfoot, those plains tigers, wish He, Albert Lacombe, would not only The Metis, hastily crossing them ed to harm the priest they called be a missionary, his mission would selves as they reached for their "the man with the good heart." And be in that West of lordly distances rifles, waited to see what Pere La the Crees, among whom he had and a variety of perils. Thus was a combe might do. spent years and to whom he was star among the men of his time born, one who today is still reckoned They knew that though he gave known as "the noble soul," wanted still less to see Father Lacombe hurt a truly great Canadian both for his heart to all, the slight priest what he was and did. · never lost his head. Perhaps even by their hands. The battle was over now their Blackrobe could turn before it fairly began. Both tribes Men were clawing each other to mauvais chance - bad luck - to ceased firing. death for California gold that early good. Still, the logical blood of their summer of 1849 when the 22-year-old As he attended his wound with the Father Lacombe, as yet only a sec French fathers whispered, this am rude means at hand, the missionary bush smelled of calamity. ular priest, left St. Boniface and talked calmly and soothingly to both turned his face westward. There was What they saw next convinced sides until their lust for one an no one that day to tell him, nor did them that disaster had them by the other's blood was stilled. They he himself know, that he was to hair. agreed finally to settle their dif give more than 60 years of love The heights above the river sud ferences in another way. Father La and devotion, of service and sacri- denly swarmed with Blackfoot war combe, satisfied they would, con riors, heavily armed and mounted tinued his journey as though noth- - Continued Next Page
Father Lacombe lov·ed Blackfoot ~nd Cree . JANUARY L967 INDIAN RECORD Page 13
111 U IIHIIIIIIIIIIH1tllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll1111111111111111111111111 8' ~
- Continued from Page 12 =~ fices, to Indians and Metis the better Father Lacombe wondered if per He gradually won over the Black par·t of a continent away. haps he could not bring them a bet foot as had no man before or since. He arrived weeks later at Fort ter image of his own race. He knew A New Image of the White Man · Edmonton, the Hudson's Bay Com the risk he was about to take. That He did, indeed, bring them - in pany's chief trading post in the Sas knowledge did not stop him. his own person - a new image of katchewan country. The youthful His first venture south from the the white man. He nursed them priest, though grateful for the hos tiny mision at Lac Ste. Anne came through smallpox epidemics, took pitality and amenities offered by close to also being his last. His Cree their part against traders who would . this wilderness outpost after his guides and companions, then deep in have ruined them further and, most long, slow journey across the plains, enemy country, could not resist important of all, taught them slow lost little time in beginning the work stealing some Blackfoot horses. ly there were whites they need not. of his life. Blackfoot wrath was immediate and fear and hate. the Crees, too few to stand and He spoke their own tongue with Establishing himself at Lac Ste. fight, wisely whipped north to Anne, a remote spot roughly 40 eloquence and fluency so that in safety, their beloved Blackrobe time they talked to him as one of miles beyond Fort Edmonton, his pounding along with them. first task was to learn the Cree their own. Few ever knew the Indian language. He accomplished this in Their tiring ponies could not out heart so intimately or had such a way characteristic of him. He distance the howling Blackfoot pur sympathy with its hopes and aspira roamed with Indian bands wherever suit which finally overtook them tions. they went, shared their hardships, just after sundown. Choosing a hill Canadians can be grateful that and lived as one of them. It was top position, they readied them such a man was there to help history frequently a trying life. selves to die fighting an enemy ten when history most needed help. The times their number. They proudly pages of Canada's story would be: Though he was not the first Ro refused Father Lacombe's sugges red with the chronicle of western man Catholic missionary on the tion that they parley. bloodshed had it not been for the Saskatchewan - the it i nera n t As night came, the Crees set up a little priest from St. Boniface. Fa French-born Fathers Demers, Blan great uproar laughing, whooping ther Lacombe, it is not too much to cet and Thibault, had wandered and taunting their foes. "Ha! How say, saved thousands of lives. through this same country a few they carried on!" Lacombe exclaim Two examples of his good offices years earlier - Albert Lacombe was ed afterwards. "They made more are particularly noteworthy. the first to know it in all its breadth, noise, those Crees of mine, than a Uneasiness rippled through Black variety and danger in all seasons. hundred men!" The Blackfoot, who foot camps in 1874 as rumors reach He became a hardy, expert and re always avoided fighting at night if ed Indian ears that troops were on sourceful traveler. they could, drew off in the face of their way west. Were these horse .. There were occasions when, in his the strength which seemed to con soldiers sent to fight them? The zeal to extend his ministry, F ather front them. When morning came, Blackfoot, aware of what was then Lacombe ventured beyond the limits they were nowhere to be seen. The going on south of the international of prudence. Though traders and Crees, their ruse successful, wisely line, sat late over their lodge fires trappers, wishing to warn him, told hurried homeward. and their ·drums muttered of war. him tales of their experience with Though he never forgot this intro The moment was a critical one. It Blackfoot savagery, the Blackrobe duction to Blackfoot terriper, it did was Lacombe who calmed them, say was anxious to meet this tribe whose not discourage Father Lacombe in ing that, far from coming to dis home territory then ranged south his determination to make these possess them, the Northwest Mount from where Calgary stands today dangerous, powerful and truculent ed Police were the Queen's servants to the American border and beyond. people his friends so that he could who would ride among them as He was brutally told that he was bring them the message of the friends. putting himself in line to become Cross. Crowfoot, the Ogima to whom the the deadest missionary ever to wear What every seasoned Northwest entire Blackfoot Confederacy listen a soutane. His friends pointed out erner said could not be done, the ed, said, "If the Man With The Good that even the powerful Hudson's persistent priest with his gentle Heart says the redcoats mean us no Bay· Company couldn't do a skin's smile and absolute lack of fear did. -Continued on Page 1 5 worth of business in Blackfoot country. The tough Missouri traders who dared north from Fort Benton, Montana Territory, were no better off. Father Lacombe listened and smiled. Though he would not hurt these good souls by arguing with them, he was already determined to do what he could to change the Blackfoot by offering them some thing they had never known before. He thought he knew why they were so intractable, so bitterly hos tile and unchanging in their enmity to whites. They had been plundered and despoiled, ruined by traders' liquor, seen their men killed and their WOlllen debauched. If this was civilization, the Blackfoot wanted none of it The best defense against it was to massacre its carriers. . . . but they were deadly enemies Page 14 INDIAN RECORD JANUARY 1967 Proud Farmer - Ciordon Bear -Continued from Page 5 cattle is broom grass or lake bottom Stroking the head of his friendly hay. A lake here on the reserve collie cattle dog, he looked thought he was given by the department of dried up and produced wonderful ful saying "It is a good life for the Indian Affairs has resulted in the feed for the cattle. We have about wife and I. Our hope now is that _establishment of a future Indian forty tons or so of hay for winter maybe others will follow the exam farmer. He has all but paid back feed and this with what the cattle ple for our people that we have tried the money loaned on the cattle. If pick in the fields before the deep to set. Too many people are always he progresses this year as in the snow comes will be plenty. It is saying that the Indian cannot do past four years he will have the debt surprising how much they do get things like others. How different are completely cleared off by mid-sum to eat by browsing. The only thing we? Colour of skin makes little dif mer. He is a very industrious man. is the badger holes when they wan ference. My wife and I are what we We also extended him credit for a der around the fields in winter." are and proud of it ... fa,rmers!" tractor and this is already paid off. He appears to operate his farming operation with zeal and good sound business sense. We understand that he has leased other private land to KINEBIKONS expand his operation off the reserve. - Continued from Page 1 0 stops the dancing and shouts, The Indian Affairs department sin bons are generally hanging on "Friends make merry and have lots cerely hope that others will follow sticks fastened in the ground in of fun," and then the dancing goes the example set by Mr. Bear. He is front of the grave. Near relatives on again. After a while another stop honest and is really forging ahead. brought a birch bark basket in occurs, the Medicine-Man says to the Others can do the same if they put which they laid a pipe, tobacco, crowd, "I will go around and collect their minds to it. We are willing to moose meat, and matches; all the the tobacco to be burnt in honor help, but the people that we loan things were to be put around John of our Manitou who procures us this money to get started in any venture ny's grave. great fun, and this will last for four must understand that it has to be The Medicine-Man had a fit of days." repaid. This area has a great deal of rage when he found Johnny's body None of these ceremonies took future in ranching and farming for gone. He put all the blame on Lucy. place in Lucy's house because she the Indian people." . With the "jinawisiteigan" in his was still in Co4chiching with some Gordon Bear and his wife Doris hands, he furiously looked toward of her friends. Neither did she want have a comfortable home. Mrs. Bear Couchiching and shouted: "This to go back to Standjicanning. The knits sweaters from raw wool in Pakwaish, this Catholic woman has old Medicine-Man would seek re her spare time. The Bears are mem played this trick; she will pay for venge, she knew. She knew of all bers of the Montreal Lake Indian it." And from that day the Medicine the tricks this servant of the devil Band. Gordon was a heavy equip Man conceived in his mind the pro wanted to play against her. She was ment operator before he decided to ject of slaying Lucy. afraid to meet him again. go into the cattle and farming busi CHAPTER 17 (To Be Concluded ) ness. He said that he had little "yen The fourth day after a death for trapping or hunting as his fore pagan Indians make a big "pow lathers did. When the Indian Affairs wow." The Medicine Man comes to established their program of assist the family which was bereft of one The Journey ance for farming Mr. Bear decided of its members and declares: "The - Concluded from Page 11 to try it. In an interview he said: time of mourning is over, let us now aged to remember what my Grand "Insecurity is one of the things rejoice and make merry." The house ma did about the cord." She drew that always bothered Doris and I. is then cleaned and the Medicine the blanket back from the infant's Living from day to day on a pay Man walks in, puts a blanket on the red wrinkled face and smiled at her cheque or depending on a trapline f loor and on it a bowl full of sweet husband. There was a sound in the never did appeal to either one of stuff, rice, etc. The relatives of the doorway then and the motel pro us. It was too uncertain. Four years deceased one then come in and sit prietor ambled in wearihg a blue ago we talked· it over and decided in the middle of the place. This is woollen dressing g owh over his that the land here was ,good. I went the place of honor. Later come pyjamas. "Couple of kids came to the department of Indian Affairs friends carrying presents, food and banging at my door and told me to and they said that they would help clothing. get over. They wanted to use my me with a tractor and some cattle. They all keep a profound silence. phone to get a doctor." He placed It sounded good. We bought the The Medicine-Man stands up and the hot water bottle at the girl's tractor and started to clear away says, "Friends, the time of mourn feet and set t he Panda bear down the pollards. In the last four years ing is over, eat now." on the mattress. "The girl said to we cleared about 300 acres and Immediately the members of the give you this. And the boy said you grow mostly oats for sale and feed. family wash their faces and in turn could probably use what's in the Some of the oats of course is cut present themselves to the Medicine box." He shook his head as he for green feed. Our hay for the Man to be painted red and green. moved to the broken window, ad The mother has· her hair combed, justing the sacking which covered all old clothing is thrown away and the broken glass. "Bad lot, those new ones, · given by the neighbors, Baker brothers. Two of them up for are donned. car theft last month. Never seen The great "Pow-wow" slowly be them so meek as when they banged gins, six men are elected to sit in at my door." ·the centre and beat the drums while Outside, church bells were ringing the Medicine-Man keeps time with and Amy smiled across at her hus his drum. All the people stand up, band. "It's Christmas Day, isn•t it?" exchange their belongings, then George nodded and Am took his dance around the place. hand. "Wouldn't it be lovely if he At one point the Medicine-Man grew up to be a bisho!'> ?" JANUARY 1967 INDIAN RECORD Page 15
- Continued from Page 12 rails to touch the reservation had Mary's parish. "I must have a suc been torn up by his warriors, the cessor," he explained, smiling. There harm, I believe him. We will wait. CPR labor gangs threatened and was laughter all around and for a.n See that we do nothing to offend our bullied at rifle-point. hour President Albert Lacombe new friends who are the Grand Father Lacombe, taking with him headed a great corporation. mother's sons." as much tea and tobacco as he could To Father Remas, his novice mas It is impossible not to wonder how carry, hurried east from Calgary the ter, Father Lacombe made his re long less than 300 Mounted Police 60 miles to Crowfoot's lodge. The ligious profession as an Oblate in would have lasted had Blackfoot ensuing council, called at his re 1856. No member has added m ore fury, instead of friendship, been the quest, was heated and warlike. Why, luster than he to this great congre little force's lot that autumn of defiant Indian spokesmen wanted to gation of missionaries, founded at 1874. Father Lacombe's tact and know, had the whites broken a Marseilles in 1815. diplomacy, his eagerness to see treaty that provided Indian lands As the West changed under the goodwill on both sides, could not should be inviolate? Guttural voices impact of settlement, so did Father have come at a more appropriate wrathfully rose and fell. Even Crow Lacombe's work. The old, reckless time. He had taken events by the foot, accustomed to obedience, was days were over, the physical dangers ears and led them straight. powerless. The hotheads were in past. He continued nonetheless to By now he seemed to belong to the control. devote himself to Indian welfare, West, and it to him, as did the buf It was Lacombe who carried the often saddened by civilization's ef falo. Indeed, he was rapidly becom day at Canada's most important tea fect on the tribes. It was he who ing an institution in his own time, party. Boldly speaking for the gov established the first school in the a man every white, Indian and Metis ernment, he promised the Indians Saskatchewan country, built the first proudly claimed as a friend. This they would be generously paid for bridge west of Winnipeg, compiled was inescapable, for the priest loved the trifling amount of land used for the first Cree dictionary and gram them all, always able to find in the the right-of-way. He spoke as calmly mar. r oughest enough virtue to outweigh as though to children about to be He was active wherever he went shortcomings. He was an enthusiast confirmed. His good sense and cool in promoting tolerance and under to whom every man represented ness had the effect he sought. Indian standing. No man, whatever his something of value. He was too tempers subsided. The steel drove on, color or religious persuasion, was humble to consider himself as im its builders' backs wearing no Black outside Father Lacombe's flock. His portant as did those who knew him. foot arrows. work was for all. "God has been good to me," he When the tracks reached Calgary Active into his 80's, finally enjoy would say shyly when flattered or a few weeks later, Father Lacombe, ing well - earned retirement in his admired. clad in his least shabby soutane, was "hermitage" at Pincher Creek, Al When it was first proposed that a guest of honor at a luncheon in the berta, he loved to recall the men he the transcontinental line of the private car of the CPR's president, had known. One of his favorites was Canadian Pacific Railway be built, George Stephen, later to be Lord the Hudson's Bay Company's John the venture was hooted down as Mount Stephen. The priest, in grati Rowand, the founder of Fort Ed wildly impossible. The country was tude for the part he had played, was monton, and the man who welcomed of itself sufficiently forbidding said given a lifetime pass over the road. the young French - Canadian from the scheme's critics, but the Black Then, after a speech in the Black· St. Boniface when he first arrived in foot were even more so. They would robe's honor, Stephen r esigned as 1849. "Ah," Father Lacombe would never agree to letting rails be laid president. Father Lacombe was un say of Rowand, his face lighting in across their tribal lands. Sobering animously elected to take his place. memory, "he was a grand, a grand reports from the West stated the Not to be outdone in bestowing little man!" Indians would fight the iron horse honors, and with a twinkle for which None who knew him could say as the only means of saving the he was famous, Father Lacombe said less of the beloved Blackrobe. For buffalo upon whom they depended. that Stephen must then be nomin he, too, was a grand little man. Van Horne, the railroad's stalwart ated by him as the incumbent of St. The End general manager, countered by de claring that, given the influence of Father Lacombe and the Northwest Mounted Police, the iron would go through. Sir John A. MacDonald, New Life For Mistaseni Canada's prime minister, put the The controversial problem of what reconstruct the r ock within the problem himself to the missionary, to do about Mistaseni Rock, Sas limits of the available funds. They asking him to play the role of medi katchewan's famous old Cree shrine, decided, instead to incorporate por ator with the tribes. Crowfoot, his has been solved, it was r eported tions of the famous rock into a trust in the little Father complete, following a joint meeting of offi monument, consisting of a cairn pledged his people's co - operation. cials representing the Big Rock mounted on a base equal in area And, as he gave his word to the tact Committee, P.F.R.A. and the De to the rock and faced with material ful and persuasive Blackrobe, the partment of Natural R esources, in from it, and a plaque on which will chief kept it. the fall. be placed a replica of the r ock to Then something happened which scale. threatened to bring down in a storm At that time, federal and pro of blood all Lacombe had prayed and vincial authorities stated that it was The monument will be established worked for . impractical to move and properly at Elbow Historic Park. Indians Prepare for War A summer day of 1883 was dark ened for him by the news that, the Indians not having been told the rails were to cross the r eserve given them in the solemn treaty of 1877, were preparing for war . Crowfoot's au Correspondents, please note that the February issue thority was being defied. The first deadline is Monday, January 30. Ed. Page_16 . INDIAN RECORD Two Side·s to the Story as ... Mexican Indians Help Selves
By Elsbeth Campbell (NCWC News Service)
Ln the international uproar and national disputes caused by a Jesuit missionary's report on the miserable living conditions among the Tarahu mara Indians, a few weeks ago, very little has been said about the things the Mexican authorities have been doing for those Indians.
The refusal of Mexican authorities Sword dance in elaborate costumes is performed in the plaza in Mexico City before to permit a "Mercy Train" carrying the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast is observed on Dec. 12. $300,000 worth of r e l i e f goods donated by Lafayette, La. citizens for these Indians in the state of principle, the governor cited work 54.57 babies out of every 1,000. The Chihuahua has caused considerable done under the program. Including national average was 11.5 of every niisunderstanding. the SAVE phase, he said health cen 1,000 adults and 74.2 out of every The government's stated reason ters have been set up in 19 Tarahu 1,000 infants. for stopping the 10-car train was mara towns and villages, benefitting "At the beginning of this year," that a permit to bring the goods some 100,427 inhabitants at a cost the governor said, "foreseeing that across the border duty-free had not of $320,000. there would be hunger among 'the been requested in advance of the In addition, with the work done Tarahuam:aras, particularly from train's arrival. by the members of each Tarahumara January to June, 1966, due to the But there have been hurt feelings community, up to last September, successive failure of several years' on both sides - that of the people 41 public work projects had been crops, because of prolonged drought, of Louisiana who responded to the completed and 22 more were in the the president of the republic gave appeal of Father Luis Verplacken, process of construction, while 157,- me orders to make a special study SJ, and a Lafayette television com 800 food rations had been distrib of the problems in that region." mentator, and that of the Mexican uted, benefitting 81,462 persons of As one result of those studies, the authorities. The Americans must whom only 2,395 were actual work governor continued the needs of the feel their gifts are unwanted and the ers on these projects. farmers for new seed to plant this Mexican officials regard the furor year's corn were listed. "We took and "Mercy Train" project as un A breakdown of the projects in them that seed in time for them to warranted criticism of their own cludes seven dams; 28 roads; 11 plant it: we took it by railroad, responsibility to the Tarahumaras schools; four sportsgrounds; six pickups and small airplanes," he and other rural residents. waterworks; three public offices; a said. social center; an air strip; an addi In an exclusive intervie'w with tional health center and another The Tarahumara farmers could Chihuahua's governor, Praxedes unspecified project. not pay for these seeds in cash but Giner Duran, the NCWC News Serv signed individual notes. Somewhere ice was t old that the state govern Meanwhile, the governor disclosed, between 2,000 to 3,000 of these notes ment has done much for the Tara the ministry of health's mobile unit are today in the hands of the state humara Indians, originally through made tuberculosis tests in more government, because the state has the U.S. government's "Food for than a dozen Tarahumara commu guaranteed payment. Peace" program called SAVE, now nities, examining 26,000 persons. The index of tuberculosis was found to The governor pointed out that the discontinued, and later through a communities' needs are endless. · rural community development pro be 1.3%, which is no higher than in other parts of Mexico. "We feel - and very strongly - gram conducted in Mexico as a co that the way to help them is to help ordinated effort of the ministry of A 1963 survey showed that the them help themselves," he said. "We public health and various local state mortality rate was lower in the Ta must build more roads, schools; as and municipal authorities. rahumara region than the national sist people in far-flung regions, like Stressing that much of this activ average. The Tarahumara rate stood this one, to become integrated in the Hy has been based on a self-help at 7.62 out of every 1,000 adults, and national economy."