Sto:lo field trip

We had another wonderful field trip on Friday.  We had a visit to the Sto:lo here in Chilliwack. 

 

This was such a wonderful field trip.  It started with an introduction which included a welcome drumming.  They also filled our bellies with bannock, so yummy.

 

We had about 45 mintues of questions and answers, about all kinds of culture traditons, and language.  We followed this by going on a guided tour of the interpretive centre.  Here we got to see how they fished both previously and how they fish now.  We say a 100 year old canoe.  We also sow more modern canoes. 

fish drying rack

 

Our guide showed us how to make a cedar bark bracelet, so we could understand and see how they made rope.

Nathan and his cedar bracelet, beside a modern made bullnose canoe

Genevieves finished bracelet

Tyler, Cody, Nathan, and Genevieve standing by the 100 year old canoe, and showing their finished bracelets!

We went inside the longhouse, next, and got to ask so many questions about what it was used for now and in the past.  How building of the longhouses has changed from previous generations.  We really enjoyed being able to ask so many questions.  They had two gas fires in the centre of the longhouse, we stood around and warmed up after, and it was wonderful as we had the guide to ourself during this time and were able to ask even more questions, and the kids don't seem to be as shy when asking questions in a small group.

 

Next we got to go on a nature walk with another guide.  She showed us how they respect plants, they ask permission before the use, and they have guidelines for using the plants, so they will not overharvest.  We found the best leaves to use in an emergency toilet paper need.  You can also use them to wrap up berries and crush them up and burry them. 

We then headed back into the main building for our goodbyes.  Annother drumming, and a gift is always given, we received a bookmark.   Simmone and I stayed and ate our lunch, we then showed the kids the display that showed the residential schools and explained about them.  The kids could not imagine a life where they were taken away from their parents. 

 

we wondered around by ourselves into the archives room.  Nathan and genevieve saw a picture explaining the ancestor rock, and said that it was the same rock in the front hall, I didn't believe them of course.  But the kids were right it was the rock, I thought it was a replica, and I did ask if it was okay the kids touch the rock.

 

I think both Genevieve and Nathan found this to be a really fantastic cultural experience, they were really quite into this.  They were very respectful about their beliefs and culture.  When I think about learning about cultures I rarely thing about learning about our own first Nations culture I mostly think it must be something far away to be interesting.  This tour has definitely sparked my interest and I am looking forward to learning more with the children as time goes on, I think a trip this summer up to Haida territory is definitely in order!  I think another important thing that was taught at this event was that all the different First Nations, are very distinct and had their own culture and languages.

 

 

 

Nathan trying out the drum, It was hand painted by the owner

Gigi drumming.  I tried it out as well, if felt really cool, I was not expecting the skin to be so hard.

this is the rock they believe to be their ancestor, they just got it back!

Nathan trying to pose like the picture above him

On another note, Nathan is not quite himself yet...  He did have another strange episode on Halloween, where the pathway to a house was lit up in front of him, and it was all white.  He says he did not feel in control of his body, and it felt like he was forced to spin around in a circle, when he was back looking at the house it was all normal.  He says he felt weird and confusion again.  He says he waited at the house a few minutes as he thought maybe it was some kind of Halloween trick but the hosue was not decorated, and the strange light tricks did not reappear:)   Nathan has his own Halloween magic tricks going on in his brain.  He also reports just feeling off since the episode 10 days ago, he just doesn't feel right, he thinks it has affected his memory as he says he has trouble recalling things, such as if he fed ginger or not.  He is also really tired, he seems fine and then all of a sudden hits a wall and is tired.  He seems to be doing fine emotionally with these latest episodes.  He even reports that he went headache free for 4 days after the initial hallucination day.  He was surprised by this as he says he gets a headache at some point everyday.  They just are not always that severe, or last that long.  He only ever reports the headaches that are quite severe, or the ones that he feels like he would prefer a head amputation with :)