Monday, June 11, 2007
The strategy is to begin at 3AM and cover a good distance before the day appears like an oven. From 3-5, no bugs. From 5-7, mosquitos occupy the space. From 7-9, black flies took serious bites.
Yovany joined me for the third shift. Long Lake is a native reserve community of Ojicree, population 400. Elder Gilbert relayed to me how Europeans tried to change their lifestyle but it did not help them socially. At a park-site, some more native youth came to our makeshift kitchen to learn more about us. They attempted chanting and enjoyed it. A host of more curious folks came to hear from Doug, Yovany and I. Amongst them, two local women consulted with us as to how they could quit smoking. "Give the mantra a chance. Use your right hand, which is normally used to hold the cigarette, for embracing mantra beads and use the mouth for uttering the mantra itself instead of blowing out smoke." They promised to give an honest effort.
We met Mary, a godmother of Shammy Sohal, a, youth leader in our Toronto chapter. Mary filled us in about the history of the area and the gold mines which prospered from the 30s to the 60s.
We came across a bear on the side of the highway. There have been many bear sightings in the area lately. This is their home.
A native family asked for a blessing on the side of the road, which I was happy to do for them. Trevor, who was very passionate about his logging work, stopped to talk, as did other forest industry workers.
40 kms
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