In the spring of 2011, I wrote in my morning pages...
I want to get into better shape. I should walk to school... and my walks should have a theme.
I should think about the Treaties.
All summer, I told nobody because I was afraid.
Afraid I would flake out. Afraid I was a busy body. Afraid it would complicate our family life.
Finally, I told my husband, Michael. He said, "Go for it."
And then I told Keitha and Char. They didn't think I was weird or a do-gooder. "Sure, why not?" they told me.
And then I told the rest of my family.
But I was still afraid. Afraid I'd sleep in, and that would be the end of that.
But I didn't sleep in. I woke up and off we went. My youngest girl riding along on her bike the first morning.
I kept walking to and from school every day the busses ran for 200 days, blogging and posting pictures along the way..
And the first thing that happened? I fell in love with the land.
And started watching for signs: slow down, children playing.
I started believing in impossible things.
In the second week of walking, the Treaty Four Gathering began with one tipi set up on the Treaty Four Grounds across from the Governance Centre and the All Nations Healing Hospital.
And then there were four tipis.
And then there were more.
At the Treaty 4 Gathering September 15th, 2011, on the 137th Anniversary of the 1874 signing,
I dedicated my Treaty Walks to Keitha Brass, friend and mentor, whose Great, Great Grandfather, Chief Ben Pasqua was one of the original signators to Treaty Four.
Second, I dedicated my Treaty Walks to my Outreach family.
Every day I walked, I learned.
Treaty is Health Care, All Nations Style.
Treaty is Education for All.
As teachers, my colleagues and I are honouring Treaty.
Treaty is brother to brother; and brother to sister, too.
Treaty is yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Treaty is getting along, living together on this land, making a living.
Treaty is honouring our leaders.
Treaty is not... "settling" the land.
Treaty is not... "getting tough on crime".
Treaty is not...violence against women.
Treaty is relationships.
Treaty is self-governance.
Treaty is sharing the land.
Treaty is doing things "in a good way".
Treaty invites us to look into the mirror.
Treaty is as intricate as the first frost.
Treaty casts a long shadow.
Treaty is sacred.
Treaty will survive the changing seasons.
Honouring Treaty is on the right track.
In Saskatchewan, we are all Treaty people.
In the fall, I will say, Thank you for sharing the land.
In the winter, I will say, Thank you for sharing the land.
In the spring, I will say, Thank you for sharing the land.
In the summer, I will say, Thank you for sharing the land.
What will I continue learning?
It Matters to Me (Truth and Reconciliation)
I will burn settler guilt like fuel to create light, to create heat. (Buffy Sainte Marie)
My children will be my teachers.
Not all those who wander are lost. (Tolkien)
Listen with your heart.
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace. (Hendrix)
Because Love conquers all.
When humility lifts us on wings.
As long as the grass grows, the sun shines, and the river flows.
READ AGAIN WITH LINKS to BLOG.
In the spring of 2011, I wrote in my morning pages...
I want to get into better shape. I should walk to school... and my walks should have a theme.
I should think about the Treaties.
All summer, I told nobody because I was afraid.
Afraid I would flake out. Afraid I was a busy body. Afraid it would complicate our family life. http://www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2011/08/afraid-im-going-to-flake-out.html
Finally, I told my husband, Michael. He said, "Go for it."
And then I told Keitha and Char. They didn't think I was weird or a do-gooder. "Sure, why not?" they told me.
And then I told the rest of my family.
But I was still afraid. Afraid I'd sleep in, and that would be the end of that.
But I didn't sleep in. I woke up and off we went. My youngest girl riding along on her bike the first morning. http://www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2011/08/day-one-pictures.html
I kept walking to and from school every day the busses ran for 200 days, blogging and posting pictures along the way..
And the first thing that happened? I fell in love with the land.
And started watching for signs: slow down, children playing.
I started believing in impossible things.
In the second week of walking, the Treaty Four Gathering began with one tipi set up on the Treaty Four Grounds across from the Governance Centre and the All Nations Healing Hospital.
And then there were four tipis.
And then there were more.
At the Treaty 4 Gathering September 15th, 2011, on the 137th Anniversary of the 1874 signing,
I dedicated my Treaty Walks to Keitha Brass, friend and mentor, whose Great, Great Grandfather, Chief Ben Pasqua was one of the original signators to Treaty Four. http://treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2011/09/day-eleven-dedication.html
Second, I dedicated my Treaty Walks to my Outreach family.
Every day I walked, I learned.
Treaty is Health Care, All Nations Style.
Treaty is Education for All.
As teachers, my colleagues and I are honouring Treaty.
Treaty is brother to brother; and brother to sister, too.
Treaty is yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Treaty is getting along, living together on this land, making a living.
Treaty is honouring our leaders. http://www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2012/05/day-one-hundred-seventy-two-may-23rd.html and http://www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2012/05/day-one-hundred-seventy-two-magazine.html
Treaty is not... "settling" the land. http://www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2011/09/day-nineteen-settling-land.html
Treaty is not... "getting tough on crime". http://www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2011/10/day-thirty-five-tough-on-crime.html
Treaty is not...violence against women. http://www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2011/10/day-twenty-four-waking.html
Treaty is relationships.
Treaty is self-governance. http://treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2013/01/self-governance-is-getting-closer-and.html
Treaty is sharing the land. http://treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2013/03/thank-you-for-sharing-land-this-frosty.html
Treaty is doing things "in a good way".
Treaty invites us to look into the mirror.
Treaty is as intricate as the first frost.
Treaty casts a long shadow.
Treaty is sacred.
Treaty will survive the changing seasons.
Honouring Treaty is on the right track.
In Saskatchewan, we are all Treaty people. http://treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2012/10/we-are-all-treaty-people-by-jack-lee.html
In the fall, I will say, Thank you for sharing the land. http://www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2011/09/sunday-ride-in-country.html
In the winter, I will say, Thank you for sharing the land.
In the spring, I will say, Thank you for sharing the land.
In the summer, I will say, Thank you for sharing the land.
What will I continue learning?
It Matters to Me (Truth and Reconciliation)
I will burn settler guilt like fuel to create light, to create heat. (Buffy Sainte Marie)
My children will be my teachers.
Not all those who wander are lost. (Tolkien)
Listen with your heart.
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace. (Hendrix)
Because Love conquers all.
When humility lifts us on wings.
As long as the grass grows, the sun shines, and the river flows. http://www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca/2011/09/day-nine-grass-sun-river.html
Part 2 of 4 at "Treaty Walks: My Unsettling Journey from Bully to Benevolence and White Back Again" at Provoking Curriculum, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
www.treatywalks.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter @treatywalks
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