The highlight of our extra long day was celebrating Aboriginal Day by eating foods that were typical of the indigenous diet on the prairies. We started with bannock over an open-pit fire, and attempted two methods of cooking in order to determine whether the stick or the little camp cooker worked best. We got rained out and had to finish frying them on the stove. The end result was so good, Levi asked if we could please have it again today. I have always loved the dense and satisfying bannock, so we might not wait a full year until we eat it again.
After the rain showers cleared, we lit the fire again and prepared bison sausages for cooking (made from a bison which grazed in the pasture directly behind us). We held the sausages over the flames, until we could smell the readiness of the lean, rustic meat.
And we took berries which had been picked from the garden next to the house last fall and turned it into a mouth-watering relish which was the perfect condiment for the meat. We imagined the satisfied bellies of the people who lived here at one time, enjoying an almost identical meal.
We're living close to Red Deer, which was the Native term for elk. It makes sense that elk used to roam wild here, however just as with the bison, elk only live in this area if they're kept in fences. As harsh as that may sound, it's the next best thing. Elk and bison provide the most natural meat for people living here. Compared to cattle which are not native to this area, elk and bison are better adapted to the elements and because they are usually pasture-fed (rather than products of feed-lots) it's just better meat all around.
To learn about how native peoples used to dress (and sometimes still do), we wrapped the boys in soft, smokey-smelling elk hides. The boys stomped their feed and ran with the hides flowing behind them, enjoying the loose folds and the cape-like effect.
For dessert, we grazed on wild rose petals. Sort of... You'll see.
(Insert here, Levi's immediate rejection of the hand-fed petal.)
Gideon... reconsidering.
Approaching Levi with a willingness to try it himself.
Following a brief instance of daring determination...
Gideon also rejected the rose-petal delicacy:
I gave it a try and liked it. It tasted just like a rose smells and felt silky and cool on my tongue. No wonder it was a rare treat for those who lived here first.
We lingered outside, enjoying the long sun and Philip's delight in playing in the dirt with bare feet.
It was a good, sweet day. But as we watched the news later last night and saw some of the marches progress on Parliament Hill announcing Sovereignty Summer, our hearts ached. We hope that our sons will grow up to love the history and the culture of the Indigenous peoples and not to become cynical about the highly politicized relationship that now exists between the Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. For the last six years, we've attended Trout Lake Aboriginal Day in Vancouver and have learned so much about how we simply can't stereotype Indigenous peoples. There are, just as with non-Indigenous peoples, so many personalities, so many gifts and of course, many reasons to grieve the consequences of human weakness. But just as with any population, there are many reasons to love.
The first step is to learn.
National Aboriginal Day -- Article from the CBC yesterday
The next step is to notice.
Our church is in such close proximity to many services which are designated for Native people. And every Sunday morning, members of the LongHouse Christian Assembly come by to drop off the bagels which are too tough for their community members to enjoy. There are so many opportunities to notice our neighbours and to make contacts.
And if you've never eaten bison or bannock, try it! Vancouver has a great destination: Salmon n' Bannock. What are you waiting for?
Finally, before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission comes to Vancouver in September, make it a priority to go out of your way. Learn, notice and love.
Lord, have mercy. Let us love our neighbours as ourselves. And let us love deeply, from the heart, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
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