Stories about and congratulations for some very special people

People and places

Oki.

I was reading this interesting story about Art Piche; I thought I would share this with you. There are times when the mean streets of the big city take people on a rough ride. Sometimes, people don't make it back. This is what happened to Art. He was lost on the streets for the longest time. Either he was in jail or back out on those mean streets. He had to make a choice between his kids or the bottle. Six years ago, he chose to gave up everything that contaminated his body, mind and spirit. The government of Alberta had a project for inner city families. The project was to get the people off the streets and the booze, drugs that go with it. Art was a part of this project. He would befriend families until they trusted him. He counseled and gave them an insight into life that they'd forgotten. Some took the good way and others didn't. But, if you have one success out of the whole bunch you did make a difference. As all good things come to an end, the project did. If there were other projects like that, gee, the streets would get softer, Native people would live in harmony with themselves. Wow, what a beautiful picture that would be!

Speaking of addictions. The Poundmaker Lodge will opening a treatment program for gambling. I know it can be hard to get rid of an addiction, especially gambling. At one time, the VLTs kept calling my name and boy, oh, boy, did I ever respond. Well, I never won big but I kept plugging in the loonies. I sat down with myself and gave myself a real good talking to. No more for me! This was five months ago and I have been spending my money on better things. Gambling can become bigger than yourself, a big problem. If you can't talk yourself out of gambling, then go see someone who can help you.

You can have a chance working with the old people. The Native Senior's Centre here in Edmonton needs volunteers. The positions are clerical, kitchen maintenance, crafts, entertainment and a driver. I had a chance to work in the Elders' lodge back home. It was great but I had a hard time with some of the Elders because I couldn't speak Blackfoot and they couldn't speak English. Our communication was not that great. Sometimes, I would be cleaning some of their rooms; they would start telling stories in Blackfoot. Of course, I don't know what they're saying I just nod, and if they started to laugh I would laugh too. One of the Elders used to always give me candy, which I had no problem with. I always wonder why do old people give candy to us young people? Gee, maybe, if you volunteer your reward will be candy galore!

It seems to me that this issue is about the old people. I had to sniff around for these two stories. One is the 50th anniversary of John and Barbara Nanemahoo of Desmarais. Can you believe it? FIFTY YEARS of forever love! John, 68, and Barbara, 67, were married on January 29, 1947, at an Anglican church in Wabasca. Brenda, their youngest daughter, was telling me that her mother was taken to the church by a three-dog team about 13 miles from their home. I wonder if they attached the old tin cans and just married sign to the back of the toboggan after they were married (just kidding)! As Brenda was saying, they have 11 children: Judy, Virginia, Joan, Robert, Willy, Jean, Cecile, Elmer, Dorothy, Brenda and Cameron. They also have 21 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. They haven't celebrated their anniversary because John had a mild heart attack just before their actual anniversary. To John and Barbara Nanemahoo, congratulations and sometime give me a call and tell me what your secret is!

A big happy birthday to Rapheal Cree of Fort McMurray First Nation. He turned 104 years on January 10, 1997.