Minwaashin Lodge

We went to the Minwaashin Lodge for their family time last night.  It was good and strange and uncomfortable.  This quilt was on the wall.  There was no information about the maker.  What a lovely piece and great use of texture.

Everything is better with bear in it.

Been working on some Cree vocabulary and trying out drawings with the words to help me remember them.  It seems to help.

Been enjoying Cris Derksen "Orchestral Powwow"

Glad to see this dialogue about the hijab

Wanting changeable electronic shoes.

Took Sophie to the psychologist.  It is great to be working with someone we know and trust.  Just wishing we didn't have to be there. 

Day Three of Solstice Count Down

Link

We had a quiet evening in terms of Solstice as Runa and I went to a women's drumming circle.  Runa loved the singing and "dancing" (very gentle swaying) and spent most of the evening spinning on her office chair and hiding under the table.  It was very good to spend time with other women and I enjoyed the drumming and learning new songs.  It is strange how this safe place made my own internal judging seem so very clearer in contrast.  I appreciated being in a space that was accommodating to Runa even thought it was an adult space.  It was good for her to have that experience of being in a space but not part of it and could try new things.  She is very keep to go again.

This weekend will be a busy one as we prepare for St Nicholas to fill our shoes and the start of Hanukah.  It is a good busy with lots of things to work on but no set deadlines or commitments.  Since it is warm I would also like to try some of the outdoor activities I had hoped to do like a scavenger or treasure hunt.  Given how this week started I am very glad to have some quiet cozy time.

Day Two of Solstice Count Down

A wood option via Popsugar

Since we had such a great first night I was cautious about last night.  We started the evening with some screaming about how the dog ate Runa's apples (which she threw on the floor) and it was all hopeless.  I figured we were done for the day, but Runa regained her equilibrium and asked to get out the clay to make a menorah.  She had taken our glittery dinosaur menorah to school for a presentation, so she was convinced that we needed to make one.  We got those sculpted and then she made some toys for her stuffed dogs before turning her hand to making a dreidle.  I don't know how it will balance, but she was very pleased with it.  We will be able to paint these over the weekend just in time to start Hanukkah.

We had a chance to sing together a bit and then we read an Ojibwa story about a duck (Shingebiss) and North Wind.  This was a good complement to the Daphnie Odjig story we read last weekend about Nanabush and the North Wind.  I have also bought some other winter stories from Strong Nations that I hope we can get to as well.  One caution, "Christmas La Pouchinn" is to be avoided.  It was not the lyrical journey that it was talked up to be.  I would try this one from the library first before buying it. 

Authentic voices

I am trying to read something indigenous/metis every day.  Today I finished "Metis Wisdom: Learning and Teaching Across the Cultures" by Carole Leclair.  In this short article she speaks about finding her voice in academia as an indigenous person and that while often silence is easier and more comfortable that our genuine voices, that authentic communication is not possible without pushing through those feelings of discomfort.  She includes as part of this push the need to balance the further pressures for "acedemeese" with authentic indigenous voice, that is rooted firmly in story and ancestors.  This piece reminded me of my experiences this summer using an Okanagan story to facilitate the strategic planning session with our senior management.  Have you found this balance?  This seems like the work of many days and years.

Day one of Soltice and Advent Count down

I always try to plan for perfection and expect little.  You just never know with kids if they will want to participate in an activity or be too tired or weird to do things, but once in a while you get the perfection.  Last night was one of those nights.  Since Sophie had stayed home she was relaxed and Runa was not too tired, so we did everything I had planned.  We made tea and decorated oranges with cloves.  Even Joel had enough energy to do one.  It was a great sensory activity and everyone enjoyed it.  When we were done, Runa made up a song and tried to make us all sing it with her.  We finished by reading a story from the Solstice book.  They choose "Raven Steals the Sun" and this version really lends itself to reading out loud with lots of juicy words and naught characters. What is your favorite story for this time of year?

Week One - anticipating the winter solstice

Balancing Land Art by Michael Grab

This week I have added a new element to our winter celebrations.  Beyond the count down to Christmas and tricks by the dollies, I have created a count down to solstice calendar where little animals can be placed each day walking towards the solstice.  For each week there is a theme.  For the first week we are focusing on water (nipiy) and rocks (asiniy).  Sophie is going to work on a ceremony for the family to do each night in this period as she feels very close to the water elements.  We will welcome these relations into this time of celebration and consider the lessons they can teach us. 

In addition, for each evening over this month I try to get everyone together around the trees/hearth to read a story/poem and sing.  This is not always successful, or conducted right side up, but I so enjoy it when it happens.  It really makes this period a special time where we come together out of the dark and play together.  Last night we did some decorating and Sophie played Minecraft parody Christmas songs.  Her participation was brief, but it was wonderful to have her with us.  We did a special smudge, which was administered to an upside down Runa.  At least her behind has been purified.  What are you doing this week to recognize the season?