I could see the Invisible string of design...

I remember this day well it was May 25 1988 the time was 3:30 in the afternoon it was a pleasant warm day and I was helping my grandmother down a few stairs just five steps to go in to my basement suite, “Grandson what till you’re my age to feel what it is like to be my age”

I sat in the living room thinking of what she had just said; the five steps that changed my life; what I started to realize what she was teaching. Everything she said was laced in traditional knowledge, what she was saying had a secret teaching woven deep in the words an invisible thread that held everything together.

It was like how she beaded a glass ball, you could see the design but it was the strings that keep the bead in place so you could see the design. She came and sat on my couch and began to tell a story; when I was just a little girl my grandparents would tell stories every night by the wood stove some stories made me laugh some were scary but we always had stories.

 A longtime ago people in our village were hunting and gathering fishing and whaling we worked together everyone had a roll and a place in our community, even the old like me she said with a smile and a chuckle then she interrupted her story “Grandson I can’t wait to go home” again I could see the strings of her design; let me get back to my story she said.

The children played and the young ones played older kid games; it was a nice pleasant day much like today; then it was said a man came out of the woods he had a big belly that moved when he walked, “People I was in the woods and the land spoke to me gather your food gather what you can and go to the mountain” the children still played some stopped what they were doing and started to listen, some thought he was a not right in the head and continued to do what they were doing.

This man with the big belly spoke again; “Please hear me get ready for it will rain and rain the waters will raise and the village will be under water” He pleaded but he only got laughter from the people and some kids started to through rocks and stones at him; “We don’t believe you; you are a crazy old man with a big belly”.

A few of the elders got together and gave it more thought, “ He must be a seer” the elders said we better get ready; some of the elders got together  with the adults that also took the  man with the big belly words to heart, and they  got ready.

They gathered food things to make shelter, and extra clothes they were ready for anything; they were about to embark up the mountain; one to the elders said let’s try to convince the others to come with us; “People come lets go to the mountain before the village is covered in water, no one listened they continued to play games, and not prepare.

The ones that were prepared went to the Mountain and camped then it happened as the man with the big belly said it started to rain but this was normal and no one paid any attention to such things of Nature; and the ones in the village still went about their business. Then it started to rain more and more the rivers started to overflow the banks the water levels started to rise.

People who were not prepared panicked the water was rising so fast all some could do was climb trees but that was of no good as the water soon covered the tops of trees.

The only thing that did not have water covering it was the mountain; they’re the ones who had listened to the man with the big belly were safe with their supplies, the rain slowed and the water levels dropped and the ones that listened to the warring came down from the mountain….

Granny gave a little smile and a chuckle, got up and made her way outside I could see the stings that held the design together.

Social Media and Literacy

Social media such as blogs, podcasts, videos, photographs and networking sites aid in enhancing the diverse array of communication methods to connect citizens, organizations and communities to one another in an interactive format. Since its inception, the Aboriginal Literacy and Essential Skills Project (ALESP) has utilized social media as a resource tool by heightening awareness and understanding of literacy and essential skills for Aboriginal people and their families and communities on southern Vancouver Island.

The July 11, 2012 Canadian Press story outlined below highlights findings about Aboriginal people and their connection to social media from Anne Taylor’s 2011 report entitled “Social media as a tool for inclusion” prepared for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

Study showed aboriginal peoples embrace social media

By The Canadian PressJuly 11, 2012

OTTAWA - Research by Ottawa-based consultant Anne Taylor suggests that aboriginal peoples are embracing social media in surprising numbers. Her 2011 report for Human Resources Canada found:

— The tendency for aboriginal peoples to use social media was at least as high as for the general population.

— Exact numbers are hard to come by, but networks set up to serve local communities are quickly flooded by users of all kinds, especially youth.

— They use social media to keep in touch with remote friends and family, fight addictions, sustain endangered languages and practices, promote environmental stewardship, engage in politics and promote culture.

— Some elders and leaders are concerned that intense use of social media will erode aboriginal culture and language.

— Many remote communities still lack broadband access, inhibiting their use of social media.

Link: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Opposition+parties+vowing+hundreds+procedural+hurdles+block/6600444/story.html

I remember this day...

I remember this day like it was yesterday 1986 August 3rd a Sunday afternoon; this one was special day; truly any time I had with Granny was special. Granny loved it when anyone came over to visit but this time I was busting in the door, needing her advice as I was pain the burning kind the kind that even cold ice can’t give relief.

On this particular day I was out in the woods along the river during this time of year in that part of the world Eagles will molt feathers little ones big ones and even the Eagle down but you have to look hard in the trees for those as they tend to get caught in the branches.

I always took my dog Eddie he was big sheepdog and loved to be at my side all the time; and I felt good to have him along if any bears or cougars came along. Eddie and I were making our way through the woods along the river; we had good day of hunting feathers and down we had a full bag of feathers today.

It was a hot day you could smell the cedar and the fir trees in the air it was as if the sap was running free like the  rivers, the earth and nature were in its glory;  the ground crackled as all the moisture was gone and you could hear your every step.

We came across an area we had not been in found many feathers; I stopped on mound to get a better look of the land; I look down and Eddie is snapping at the air; “Eddie what’s the matter?” Then I realized the dire straits we were in; the mound I was standing on was a wasp’s nest; “Run Eddie! Run!” before I could even step one foot off the mound I was stung 3 times on my right calf; I could hear the buzzing  around my head we ran and ran through thick bush over and under trees; ran till my lungs were burning as  much as my leg was.

We got ourselves to the road and when; I stopped the pain ran up the leg as if a knife was making its way up deep in the muscle.

We got in my truck and we drove to Granny’s to find out if this was bad omen or not; we burst in to Granny’s.  “Granny something terrible happened!” “What is it my child? She said, and then I went into great detail of what happened. A few moments passed after I finished telling my story; then she laughed out loud!

I was confused by her response to my pain; Granny considered everyone a relative she would explain the ties that bind each and every one of us Nuu-chah-nulth how we are related including the animals and nature we are one she would say.

In pain she told me the story of my ordeal, she said, “when was the last time you were in the woods?" I said, “well it’s been a sometime; but I prayed before I went in and I did all the things you told me to do.”

Let me tell you why this happened to you; the woods are connected to the wasps; the woods are connected to the Eagles the eagles had a conversation with the woods. The Eagles noticed you had not been there to visit for such a long time; so the Eagles had a conversation with the woods, and the woods had a conversation with the wasps, and what the wasps are telling what the Eagles want. The Eagle wants you to go to the woods more often! Then Granny let out a big laugh the one where her whole body jiggled, then we both were full laughter and the pain in my leg was gone but the teaching stayed forever.   

A holistic approach to Aboriginal economic development

Through the participatory-based work to date with the Aboriginal Literacy and Essential Skills Program (ALESP), it is quite apparent that fostering Aboriginal-driven economic development includes career, training and skills development (e.g., literacy and essential skills development) within an Aboriginal cultural framework – often referred to as a “holistic approach” to economic development. A holistic approach to economic development focuses on the integration of social, cultural, spiritual, ecological and financial interests as collective indicators and drivers for healthy communities and ultimately, healthy Aboriginal people.

In late June 2012, the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board (NAEDB) released “The National Economic Benchmarking Report.” Specifically, the report established a suite of benchmarks to measure socio-economic well-being for Aboriginal people (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) in Canada. Some of the indicators of particular note include, but are not limited to, employment, well-being, education, and business development.

For more information about the NAEDB report, click on the following links…

Press Release: http://www.naedb-cndea.com/index.php/news/press-release/

The National Economic Benchmarking Report: http://www.naedb-cndea.com/wp-content/uploads/TheAboriginalEconomicBenchmarkingReport2.pdf