Fireweed

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Survival or "Indian Time"

Awhile ago, sitting in my truck on a cold winter evening listening to a radio program on CFNR called "Journeys", an indigenous-run show out of Terrace B.C., the guest talked about "Indian time". What Indian time was.
When salmon are running it is time to fish. If you don't you'll starve over the winter. When salal berries are ripe it's time to pick or they're gone for the season. A simple idea. Do or don't, live or die.

Frozen trees

Indian time is about survival. Indian time is about life whether it's about food, finances, relationships or keeping control of your car in a tight situation.

Kitchen Window frost

Understanding critical times. Times that can determine our survival.

Our son played tournament chess, at 13 he was challenging the best players in the country. The game is about critical thinking, recognizing critical times and situations. A tool for children to learn about consequences. Indian time.

I just fell hard, cracked ribs, that night the temperature went down to -45C. Pipes froze, nothing would start.. no ambulance service. We kept the fires burning. Indian time dictated that we hunker down, stay warm and didn't move.

Wilderness survival

It seems to us that everyone should pay heed to Indian time as the climate changes, populations increase and the planets resources are being depleted.

Regards,
Aki and Scott

www.caribooblades.com

Friday, December 13, 2019

Encountering a Wolf Pack

uprooted

I'd just rounded a fallen spruce tree that was blocking the old logging road about a kilometre from our house when I found myself in the midst of a pack of about a dozen wolves. They'd been chasing our two dogs (who had been running ahead of me) and had arrived at the spruce tree at the same time as myself. Utterly surprising to both parties, and there were minutes spent just milling about, uncertain as to what came next. Our two dogs, courage boosted by this pause, decided to turn and give chase themselves. The wolves turned, ran for a bit, then turned back to resume their pursuit. This happened three times, with the wolves stopping just before they reached me, unafraid but wary. I had picked up a stick and was waving it and yelling at our dogs to quit their foolish behaviour. I finally had to give the dogs a whack to make them listen, and turned towards home. The wolves followed for a spell - I could hear them in the bush, but then it was quiet. The grey one whom I took to be the leader had stopped and was looking at me, from a distance of about 5 metres. Quiet and calm. The wolf turned and loped away. Then I remembered the camera. Aki.