Kelli is one of my grade ten students. She wrote this piece for her Treaty Walks Assignment last fall.
September 15th, 1874 was a
momentous occasion, the signing of Treaty 4. Now fast forward 138 years to
September 15th, 2012, and here I stand in the same valley that very treaty was
signed. It's embedded in my heritage as an Indigenous person, but also as a
Canadian Citizen. We're all treaty people right? We must be, because the mix of
people on these grounds is astounding. I adjust as I step off the bus,
taking in the glorious smell of Bannock, as the teachers begin telling us about
our day. We're told to experience as much as we can and meet for Trivia at
10am. As they finish I head off and begin wandering the grounds. I take notice
of the many tipis and begin to wonder, "How'd it be like to sleep in
those? Maybe I should try it sometime..." I get snapped back into reality
as one of the ladies smoking meat waves to me, I politely wave back as I
continue on.
Some
time passes and Mrs. Koops began gathering us for Trivia. I am so prepared! Or
am I? I mean I like to believe I know quite a bit about my heritage, but is
that the truth? Do any of us really have the knowledge we think we do about
First Nation's heritage? I mean after Canada's many attempts at Assimilation...
But now's not time for that! We must win the Trivia! The game begins, we're in
an intense battle between ourselves, Standing Buffalo, and Pasqua. We try our
hardest but in the end we still loose. Oh well, you win some you lose some,
right? And I'm quite proud since I knew the correct answer to about 80% of the
questions.
Mrs.
Koops dismisses us to wander the grounds and try different things until it's
time to return to the school. I begin to walk when I'm assaulted by the
delicious smells wavering through the air as many begin to grab lunch. Well
11am is an okay time for lunch. I walk to my favorite stand that's often on the
Pow-wow trails and order a Taco in a Bag. Yum! I love them!
As I
finish my lunch one of the organizers for Lacrosse asks a group of kids from
the school if we'd like to play Lacrosse, we generally all agree. I watch my
classmates learn the basics of Lacrosse and realise, "This is one of the
things my ancestors did for fun! Whoa." By the time I snap back to reality
the game is well in swing. I laugh at Mrs. Koops’ completive nature as she and
Talia try with defence against some of the guys. The game continues until
another group of students come to play, and we dismantle heading off again.
I
continue my wandering; with all my wandering I'm like a chicken with its head
cut off! Oh well... I notice people gathering once again in the center and I
soon notice they're forming a Round Dance. I prompt Serina and Nathan to join
the Round Dance with me. It is a Friendship Dance after all! As we Round Dance
I begin wondering if my ancestors tried to get the settlers to join them in a
Round Dance. I think they would, it's quite an easy dance to do, and so very
symbolic.
The
dance subsides and the day is about to do the same, but not before I shoot an
arrow! I jog to the shooting area and get in-line. I get to the front of the
line and set up my arrow on the bow. I take a deep breath and aim for the fox
target. Whoosh. I missed. I joking tell Serina, "I'd go hungry if I had to
hunt like this!" She laughs as I prep my other arrow, and aim. I inhale
and shoot. Whoosh. I hit it's leg. Closer, but I'd still go hungry. I set up my
last arrow as I hear the teachers calling the students to make their ways to
the bus. I aim, close my eyes and shoot. Everything seems to go silent, and I
open my eyes and I get a good hit in the stomach. "Tonight, we eat!"
I triumphantly say as I set down my bow. Serina just face palms at my stupidity
and tells me to hurry and grab my arrows so we can get to the bus.
We walk
towards the bus and I just think about my day. On this day, 138 years ago,
Treaty 4 was signed, without it I wouldn't be here today. Not only because this
day was made to remember that treaty, but because Canada would not be here, and
my people, the Metis, would not be.
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