Ile-a-la-Crosse: Who we are and what we do

We spent the bulk of our first week in Ile meeting a variety of people in the community: from the mayor to elders to preschool children. Along with generic personal introductions we repeatedly had to tackle the task of explaining "making the links". Past "Linkers" had forewarned us that coming up with a definition of the program was all part of our initiation. Part of the beauty of MTL is that it follows a "create your own adventure" philosophy. Thus, in true MTL style there was no script to follow or generic blurb to spit out. The explanation we came up with went something like this:

"Hi I'm Dia, and I'm Desiree and there is another student, Dan, who will be here on thursday (sometimes we introduced Dan as our third partner in crime but we used our discression with that description, i.e. we left it out when we were talking to the RCMP)

After shaking hands and trying to remember another name to add to the growing list in our minds, we continued with: "We are first year medical students from the U of S who are going to be working in the community for the next six weeks. We are part of a program called Making the Links. What is Making the Links you ask?" Well, we usually didn't say that part because they usually didn't ask but the confused looks on their faced prompted us to explain the program. "More or less our aim is to help wherever we can and get a better understanding of how different aspects of the community affect health"

This seemed to satisfy most people. We then usually asked if there was anyway we could help or get involved with the organization. We were pleasantly surprised with the warm reception we received. Within minutes of meeting people they were signing us up to time keep at track and field trips, inviting us along on youth camping trips, and including us in on any projects they had going on.

Our description of about MTL was made up on the spot for the most part, but it didn't stop the people in Ile from welcoming our help with smiles. We still aren't quite sure if it's right or if our "choose your own adventure" is on track, but I guess that's the perk of the MTL though. It's all about the experience and trying our best (at least that's what we're hoping)

P.S. Check out the Ile-a-la-Crosse "tab" for some pictures of our latest adventures!

Slacking off, Dancing it up & Sweating it out

Since it's my turn to make a contribution to this blog, I'm going post an update of the odds and ends that didn't quite make it into the other posts.

One of the teachers in the community introduced us to her "circus bag", full of fun knick-knacks ready for creative uses. Tangled among them was a (very) long length of climbing webbing and several carabiners. Now, I won't pretend to be an expert, but I knew enough to recognize a slackline when I see one, so we snapped up the line and set out in search of trees.

It's funny how things work out sometimes; of all the things I've learned in the past year, I would not have expected that learning how to set up a slackline would come in most handy. But tons of people have stopped to slack off, and it's been a great opportunity to spend some time with community members, as well as provide a fun challenge for all ages.

In other news, as a lure to get people to show up to the bi-weekly Youth Committee meetings, we have launched Samra's Academy for Hip Hop Dance.

Learning to Dougie, shuffle, cat-daddy and do the running man were so popular, next week we plan to expand the classes to include some square dancing and jigging.

We also were lucky enough to be invited to take part in a sweat, a very important and powerful cultural experience. It was Samra's first sweat, and it certainly was a busy one, with 21 people squeezed into the relatively compact sweat tent to share in the ceremony! Though it was my third sweat here in Dillon, and second with James Sylvestre leading, it soon became clear that every sweat is a unique experience, different from all others. We also got to help James dismantle his sweat and it was fascinating to see all the layers of a sweat tent. We look forward to helping rebuild it in the upcoming weeks!

Some other odds and ends that didn't make it into the odds and ends post: Volleyball, fund-raising garbage pickup along the road, and an evening of Hair Braiding (pictures forthcoming). Up today: fundraising bake-sale and (our first) Floor Hockey Friday!

A few pictures from the first couple days in Ile!

the beautiful drive!

Dia!

Dia being creative... or bored?

Excited to be here, not so excited to unpack

Good old G-Unit was packed to the hilt!

It didn't take us long to feel at home :)

Hanging out in the elementary school

Ile-A-La-Crosse: the adventure begins!

Wow! The past two days have been a whirlwind! Dia and I left Saskatoon yesterday (Monday May 23^rd), and hit the road on what was a beautiful drive with plenty of trees, lakes, and a few potholes J. We arrived in Ile, and began the not-so-fun process of unpacking in our new home for the next six weeks (the parish rectory-great location right behind the friendship centre!). Last time we were here, it was in April, and the lake was still frozen. Now, we are able to enjoy the views and weather.

I’m reading “The Book of Awesome”, and couldn’t help but thinking of a couple super awesome things here in Ile:

Awesome: arriving in a new town and being welcomed and invited to events immediately!

We visited the Friendship Center, Preschool, Elementary School, High School, Hospital, Long Term Care Facility, Youth Center, Town Office, and RCMP, and met with some staff and elders at the high school (yes, it was one exhausting day!). Everyone was so friendly and open to having us help out in any way we can. We’re so excited for this opportunity!

Awesome: living in a beautiful town on a lake in Northern SK for the next six weeks!

Do I need to explain any further?

We were worried about how exactly we would be able to connect ourselves to the community, but thanks to such a welcoming place, we have found “making links” is easier than we thought!

Top 10 oh no moments for the week (in no particular order)

1. the moment when my childhood derived mantra of 'righty tighty lefty loosey' failed me in the shower. starting my morning off just right; damn that was cold.
2. losing 3 of doris's fishing hooks because my fingers were frozen and I couldn't reel in fast enough so I snagged my line.
2. a. forgetting to take gloves so my fingers froze.
2. b. fishing with homemade fishing poles out of sticks when its friggen freezing outside!
3. getting excited when I caught a huge log... (sam and jordan both caught fish :( )
3. a. realizing just how screwed I would be if I my meals relied upon my catching them first.
4. learning how to make bannock. and realizing just how absolutely delicious (and super easy) it is to make fried bannock.. uh oh.
5. jordan 'seeking and destroying' his own partner!!! in doshka. thanks bud. thanks a lot
6. going canoeing on the lake with the boys (which was lovely - I was an excellent supervisor while Will and Jordan slaved away) only to return to no-one home and Will having left the keys in his other pair of shorts. doris returns but guess what, she lent her keys to her son who had yet to return them (and was naturally MIA!).
6. a. getting hair stuck on window latch as I climb through window to break into the house we locked ourselves out of.
7. volunteering to help with a school gym sleepover for forty 8-13 yr olds
7. a. not napping after said sleepover and before 3 hrs of hair braiding.
7. b. admitting to girls that I could braid.
8. hair braiding for 3 hrs! poor poor Sam; our resident expert who valiantly continued braiding when the rest of us shamelessly hid.
9. learning to play gin only to find out I suck at gin. I quickly suggested alternative new games that I subsequently lost once Sylvia caught on to the rules.
10. not bringing winter clothes to dillon (geez was it cold today!)

*Spoof* KRISPY RICE TREATS

Shout out to Dillon! You've been punked, True just like Spandau Ballet.



In other news, the weather was terrible today but we played Sandman, Grounders, and Tag for two hours.

Happy Long Weekend!

Sarah, Devin, Jess, and Kiel

A Week of Firsts in Pinehouse

Tân'si? That is how are you in Cree! So far, Jess, Devin, Kiel and I have been able to learn a couple of Cree phrases. I couldn't begin to tell you how they are spelt since I only know how to vaguely pronounce them. However, not bad for a couple of days! We all look forward to learning more.
Since arriving Monday, we have been busy! We've met tons of people, had a variety of meetings (with teachers, health professionals, community members), canoed, walked around the community, gardened, fished, prepared presentations, etc.


It's been great! Everyone here has been so kind and very generous. To say that we are looking forward to the next 5 weeks is an understatement. We are all very impressed with the enthusiasm for organizing different initiatives in the community.


Here is a list of our "firsts" since arriving Monday in Pinehouse. You can guess who did what and some apply to multiple people.

• Catching a fish.
• Building a garden plot.
  
• Using a wheelchair as a wheelbarrow. (In MTL, we improvise).
  
• Eating rabbit.
  
• Seeing an eagle.
  
• Singing the Sound of Music soundtrack in a canoe.
  
• Driving a giant truck with a pile of dirt in the back.
  
• Canoeing in Pinehouse lake.
  
• Frying fish.
  
• Eating Pickerel.
• Eating fried bannock.
• Using a circular saw.
• Canoeing to an abandoned island...full of ants. (We now know why it's abandoned).
  
• Picking up a sweet pair of sunglasses from an island.
  
• Hunting mosquitoes with a sword.
• Learning Cree.
  
• Potentially meeting Pedro the skunk under the clinic shed
  
• Playing Bananagrams.
• Living with a Native family.
• Getting the nicknames D-Money and K-Town.
• Being called Sarah Jessica Parker.
• Seeing beaver paws in a freezer.
  
• Eating a bacon butty sandwich.

Hope this finds you well wherever you are!

- Sarah

P.S. If Kiel had Facebook his status would be "Sarah didn't bring a bathing suit but she did bring a bread maker". Me: I thought it was a brilliant idea... Who will be laughing when I'm eating delicious fresh bread?

PIES

Chillin' in Dillon

     Really the title of this entry is a misnomer. We’re chillin', but we’re busy. In two days, we have been lucky enough to experience (in no particular order): a track meet, visiting Band Council, meeting the staff at the Clinic, going to the Pilgrimage (where the above photo was taken), learning about setting piggyback precedence (just don’t do it), playing volleyball (best away from a body of water), watching Arrested Development, dirtying our feet, watching presentations, meeting teachers and students at school, setting up a slack line, riding the school bus, crying over spilled milk, moose liver, baseball, walking, walking, and more walking, cooking with Shirley, and PIE.

*Pictured above: The moment William realized what he signed up for....

Granville Island Sweet Potato Salad Recipe

Sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" long pieces.

Olive oil (or oil from tomatoes)

Spinach, ripped

Sundried tomatoes, chopped

Green onions, chopped

Garlic (1 head or less)

Feta cheese (shredded or cubed very small)

S&P (to season)

Toss sweet potatoes in olive oil and put on cookie sheet. Place in oven (uncovered) on top rack at 350 for 30 mins or until tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Turn oven up to 375 and bake another 10 mins to brown.

Optional: place whole garlic head, very top removed and oil added on pan as well. Remove clove and chop once cool.

While potatoes are baking: Chop sun dried tomatoes, feta, spinach and scallions/green onions. If not baking garlic, chop half of a head and cook with oil in a skilled and set aside.

Once potatoes are finished remove from pan into serving bowl. Add the other ingredients and stir to coat. Season with S&P to taste.

Serve hot or cold.