Today was quite an exciting day although the extreme heat of the summer really made it hard to enjoy. The annual buffalo hunt took place today so while Father and the other men were running the buffalo Mother, I and other women and girls my age got ready to make the pemmican. As the men rode the buffalo they went plummeting off the cliff which made this year the biggest harvest we've ever had but it also meant more work for us.
This afternoon we dried the meat and then cut it up into pieces but only the extras Father would trade at the trade posts tomorrow. From the skin we made many needed clothes such as leggings, jackets, bags and headdresses as I’ve out-grown most of mine but all the surplus hide was going to be traded. What makes our people's clothing so distinctive from the other tribes is the floral beadwork, the multi-use Metis Sash and the colourful but meaningful colours. The rest of the buffalo might be used to make cutlery, cooking pans, knives and blankets and any other essentials that are needed would be traded with our buffalo.
Later today I decided to practice on my sewing skills and make a traditional quilt for my younger sister but it then led me to begin painting a portrait of our buffalo hunt. After, Grandmother came over and told us about old legends and myths like how the kangaroo got his tail and why chipmunks have stripes. As long as I've none these stories they've never changed but its the meaning that captivates my attention which is why these stories have been around for so long as well as been passed along generations.
The last thing I did before I ate dinner today was speak with the Spirits so I can hopefully live a balanced lifestyle. We Aboriginals believe that humans and animals are equal and also we perceive ourselves as “servants” of nature. I can’t wait until tomorrow, we and the other families that live in the neighbouring teepee’s are planning to have a camp fire with singing, dancing and my favourite part, stories!
-Ekala (Udari Premachandra)
Traditional Clothing
Traditional Quilt
Aboriginal Stories
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