Miigwetch, Manoomin-Couch Potato

Yesterday was the first 5K Couch Potato on the rez.  The family showed up with running shoes on.  The sun was shining in a bright blue sky.  Picked up our shirts, tags and water.  Sat around waiting for the start.  My nephew and I walked to the starting line.  I finished one hour 6 minutes and 44 seconds later.  My nephew got a blister and went home. Mom and Dad were right there in their wheel chairs.  Babies in strollers were being pushed by runners.  All ages participated and it was fun.  Saw another wheel chair participant.

Turnaround confusion

There were family groups going by me.  The younger ones were a tad bit held up trying to wait for the family.  They exercised a good deal of patience for a bit.  Then were encouraged to "Go, Run."  And they did.  Was fun greeting the youngsters as they went by.  Many of them gave us encouragement and instructions about the course.  Some of them followed the orange cones and ended up running further than necessary.

The course referees explained that we were supposed to follow the neon pink arrows.  Naturally, we only saw the ones at the first turn.  There was someone standing at the top of the hill to point us in the right direction.  At the turnaround, they handed us water.  I heard the runners saying to turn there and called out to Sis and her daughter to turn around.  Teased Mom and Sister about heading out for the casino.  Ate a bunch of grapes while waiting for Sister #2 to come in.  She was one of the last ones in.  She jogged the last few feet.  I couldn't.  Walked as fast as I could though.  Next year, I might jog a little further than I did this year.

Went down to the pow wow after Grand Entry and picked up some Fry Bread Taco.  It was very tasty after all the exercise in the morning. Waited 3 hours for it cause they were just starting to set up when I first checked. After a few hours recuperating, Sis, Brother and I headed out to watch the dancers for a bit.  Checked out the food stands and bought wild rice soup and fry bread.  It got a tad bit cold when the sun went down.  Checked out the crafts, bought some beaded key chains, mostly to see how they had been made.  Not that I'm going to be making any of them.  "Jus checkin'" as working with beads is something I enjoyed.  Considered dancing.  Not sure if I could make it around.  Was very happy when sibs suggested coming home.

Looking forward to the day's activities and especially, the fry bread and rice.  Mmm.  Breakfast is being served pretty soon.  Wondering what to cook for the evening meal.  Hmm, think I'll go get something to eat.

Celebrate

I've been looking at various posts from other bloggers where they have a giveaway to celebrate different achievements: number of followers, a new book, etc. I've been thinking about when I could have my own giveaway and what it should celebrate. These thoughts have been percolating through my "little bird brain" and I've been setting different achievements of my own with which to celebrate to decide which was best.

Then, just a few short minutes ago, inspiration struck. My tribe has giveaways all the time. I've talked about pow-wows, different aspects of cultural life, describing a little of what goes on and maybe even the whys, wherefores and whatnots. The main ones are the seasonal ceremonies-Spring, summer, fall and winter. Why the very next celebration is the Mii-gwetch Manoomin happening this very weekend. [Miigwetch Manoomin=Thanks for the Wild Rice]

I am Anishinabeikwe [Chippewa woman], a jingle dress dancer, a newly arrived Elder [though I still feel like a kid], a student of the old ways, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt. I have learned how to do our traditional artwork, crafts and can do work good enough to sell for whatever I want. I have learned how to cook many traditional dishes using traditional foods. I have done my share of passing on the old ways to the next generation.

The inspiration which struck me on the head is: my own giveaway to celebrate Fall. I will giveaway four items to give thanks for the fall harvest and the knowledge I have learned from others who are passing on their knowledge. I will be gathering these items as I travel about. When I return I will post what the prizes will be and how to go about doing the giveaway. It won't give people much time since I expect to giveaway these items on 31 October 2011 about 4:30 p.m CST. Stay tuned for further details.

Drums in my heart

I hear drums in my heart.  I feel the damp settle into my skin.  My toes are curling as the cold starts seeping in my wet moccasins.  My jingles are clinking with an added tone from the raindrops.  Spirits are dancing with us in the rain.  People are drawing together to get some warmth, or heading for shelter under the awnings around the vendor stands.  Now there is more room for the dancers but none display their best.  Ahh.  A chill breeze swoops through the arena.  Heads turn in all directions finally settling with faces pointed at the sky.  Trying to judge if the rain will keep on, is that a break in the clouds?  Should we go inside?  No, the sweet smell of sage, cedar, tobacco reminds us we must finish where we started.  

Vendors are making coffee, hot tea and the aroma entices people to get some.  The brief heat encourages a dance or two.  Moccasins are wetter, should have changed to tennis shoes.  Slowly change to street clothes.  Looking around and see most have jackets, sweaters and hoods are up.  

Powow season is fully under way now.  There is one every weekend from Memorial Day til Labor Day.  Three days, four on holidays, means a lot of traveling.  Most travels occur within five hundred miles of home in all directions.  Many have a set itinerary the whole season long.  Others decide as the weekend approaches.  Some like contest powwows, other are strictly traditional.  I prefer traditional powwows, less competition, more relaxing.  

The dance is winding down, people are packing their belongings, getting the kids gathered.  Some few are getting one last look at the vendors, trying to decide if one more item is worth the few dollars that they've earned through dancing.  Furtive looks as they check for parental locations, bouncing up and down as the pro and cons of the purchase are weighed, fidgeting as the traveling song is announced.  Too late, they have to hurry before the hand of doom drags them away from goodie land and into the day to day world of "no, you can't...." and smiles turn to frowns as the inevitable trip home is suddenly here.  Dancing eyes as the hand of doom turns to the hand of generosity; carefully, their dollars are tucked back into pockets.

Relaxation sure helps knock stress levels down.

Today is a new day.  It's been raining, sprinkling off and on.  It's a great help for keeping the area wet.  I looked at a news article about the wildfire in Arizona threatening some ancient sites.  I'm not following the news all that consistently.  Checking out headlines can get me off on a tangent that keeps me from doing what I need to do.  

I chillaxed yesterday afternoon.  Watched TV, cooked a fast supper, made some inroads on a project I need to have finished by tomorrow.  Tried to get the portions on my plate to easily finished sizes.  Trouble is sometimes the number of dishes presented for consumption make it hard to decide what to take and what to leave.  


Well, relaxed too much, methinks.  Here it is the 18th already.  Started my blog, then had to work on the beading project that landed in my lap.  Got one feather done.  Started on the other one.  Now I need to finish that one before 1100 because the powwow grand entry is around 1300.  That gives just enough time to get there from here.


Turned muggy for a couple hours today.  Hope it stays nice this weekend.  Dancing in wet moccasins: not my idea of fun.  On the other hand, dancing when it's muggy isn't fun either.  The only fun thing when that happens is getting to visit with family and friends.  Eating fry bread and wild rice.  Watching the dancers, specially when they dance for fun, for the sheer joy of dancing.  Then it's fun to watch, then checking to see who misses the last beat.  Hah.


It's great when the singers try to outfox the dancers.  There are quite a few dancers who miss.  I rarely miss.  Then made the mistake of telling one singer that it's something in their voices that signals the end.  Missed a couple more times.  Now I look for the signal they use.  Ahhh.  Fantastic sights and sounds, groans from those who miss, smirks from those who don't, congratulatory smiles and heads nodding.  Yes.


Sitting around the table when we eat is an occasion for teasing, laughter and more visiting.  Sometimes, a new relative is discovered.  New relative...long lost isn't quite it either because they've always known where they're at.  Can't think of the word.


Ahh.  Coming home from powwows was relaxing, even with a long drive.  The sound of the drum stayed with for most of the trip home, or until I fell asleep.  Carry those memories with me to this day.