Diary of Ekala (Pre-Confederation Aboriginal)

Diary #3

Dear Diary,

   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

Chinthuri's References

Book(s):

Arnorld, Phyllis, Penney Clark, Ken Westurland .Canada Revisited. Edmonton, Alberta: Arnold Publishing Ltd., 2000

Website(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9tis_people_(Canada)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel
http://www.metisnation.ca/who/index.html

Images:

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Diary #2

Dear Diary,

My Favourite Dress

   I am very worried now. The government wants us to give up our lands and sign something called treaties. I do not know what treaties are, but it does not sound so good. No one is telling me anything. All I know is from bits and pieces of conversations I overheard last night. I hope that a war does not arise because of this. I pray that nothing harsh will happen. Even with all my worries and concerns, the day had to go on.

   I woke up in my teepee and I put on a new dress before I went out. My Mother sewed the dress. It is beautiful and is delicately covered with beads. It is also one of my favourite dresses. I pulled on my old, worn out moccasins and got to work.

   Today I mended the fish nets and weaved baskets. It is not very hard for me, so it did not take too long to finish. After I finished doing my chores, I watched the children play together in the woods. They looked so happy like they had no care in the world. I wish I was like that as it would be nice not to worry once in a while. Our lives are so peaceful and I hope nobody disrupts it. Throughout the day I could not forget about what I overheard. All of the women were talking about it in low whispers so nobody would hear.

   I wanted to get my mind off the treaties, so I started to paint. I made a painting of my family. I love them very much and I do not want anything to happen to them. I wanted to show my Grandmother my painting and talk to her about the the treaties, so I walked over to her teepee. Strangely she was not in there and she was usually always there in the evening. I wonder where she went.

   I went back to my teepee and began to make dinner and forgot all about my Grandmother. For dinner we had some bread and soup. Once the whole family ate dinner the little children including me, were told to go to sleep. I knew they were going to talk about the treaties, but I knew I was not allowed to listen. I hope it is not as serious as they make it seem. I wish they would tell me what was going on. I hope tomorrow will be a better day.
   -Ekala
(By: Chinthuri Selvarajah)

Diary #1

Our Teepees

Dear Diary,

Today was a normal day. I think I like normal because nothing bad ever happens on a normal day.

So while the men including my Father went to work, the women and children stayed at home as usual. Almost all the men and women had to work to support themselves and their families. My Mother and most of the other women in the tribe made pemmican (dried meat blended with fat) for the fur trade companies. My family and I live in teepees now, but because of the coming cold winters we will move into a log cabin.

It is near summer now and the entire tribe is getting ready for the annual buffalo hunt. During the buffalo hunt, the men ride horses while the rest of the tribe travels in Red River carts. When my Father kills a buffalo, my Mother and I would cut it immediately and take the important parts of the animal for food. We got many things out of this buffalo hunt such as, the meat was eaten or made into pemmican. My Father always trades the extras. We used the fur to make clothes and blankets.

   Today I helped my Mother make pemmican out of a buffalo that my Father hunted a few months ago. My Mother is starting to teach me the responsibilities of being a women. I now have to know how to cook, sew clothes and many other things.I'm so exhausted by all of it. I wish didn't have to learn so many things. Sometimes I just want to go out and play with the kids and enjoy the weather, but I know I cannot.

   When I finished making pemmican, I went over to my Grandmother's teepee. She welcomed me in and I went and sat next to her on the ground. I told her how I feel about adulthood and growing up. She understood and said she did not like it either when she was my age, but now she is happy she learned all those things. I felt better right away knowing that it was normal to feel like this. I spent a few more minutes talking to my Grandmother and then I had to leave because it was almost dinner time.

  When I got home, my Father had already came back from the fur trade post. Once we got everything set, we all ate dinner together and talked about our day. For dinner we had fish that we hunted and potatoes and corn that we grew. The meal was delicious. I am thankful for the food, clothes and my home that we have. I am getting ready to go to bed now. I pray that tomorrow will be just like today. Goodnight Diary.

- Ekala

(By: Chinthuri Selvarajah)

The Buffalo Hunt

Introduction

The Metis Flag.

   Hello, my name is Ekala and I am one of the Metis people that live at Red River on Rupert's Land. My name means Lake and I was named Ekala because I was born near Lake Superior and I throughly enjoyed swimming in it.

   One of my biggest inspirations is my Grandmother. I go to her for answers and wise advice because she is intelligent and will always have a special place in my heart. I even started this diary because my Grandmother told me she had once had one too, when she was my age. Both my Mother and my Father are French which means I am Roman Catholic. I have an older brother, younger brother and a younger sister. My Father is a hunter and works at the fur trade post.

   During the day, I spend much of my time in our garden which is behind our teepee, where we grow fruits and vegetables. The leader of our tribe is Louis Riel and he is always telling me that I worry too much, but I think it is good to worry and think about the future, although sometimes I do get tired of being worried.

   I wish I could write in my diary everyday but I have responsibilities which prevents me from doing so but I will try my best to write in my diary as much as I can.