Chiiwetau (going home) - celebrating 30 years of the occupation of the Old Post of Waswanipi.

I humbly accepted an invitation last year, to attend this celebration by alumna, Laura Ottereyes. Honestly, I had some hesitation due to the fact that I’m not exactly a camper - AT ALL - and was very nervous about being in the bush for a long period of time without my city conveniences, if you get my drift….

On the road and spotted these cumulus clouds - WOW!!

My friend and colleague, Michael Bowie, tagged along for this trip and we had an amazing adventure together. Michael has just retired from the faculty of the Photography Program and will be greatly missed by all of the faculty in our Program - he is a special human being with a huge heart and spirit that cannot be compared. I was especially grateful to Michael for coming on this adventure with me and for his excellent camping skills.

Mr. Bowie ready for work at the Old Post (like his new hat?)

We arrived, after an eight hour car ride, at Waswanipi, Quebec, to find Laura’s family home and park the car and take a taxi to the dock - the taxi was a massive Dodge Ram truck, that could travel the back roads more easily than the compact car we were driving. Once at at the dock, we loaded up enough gear and food for about a month (we were told) into a huge camouflage painted aluminum boat and headed towards the Old Post of Waswanipi (an island where this Cree Community used to reside before they were “asked” to leave).

I think Bowie and I were a little hesitant at this point - “What did we get ourselves into?” - “This place is in the middle of nowhere!” - but this quickly changed to “Wow! Look at all the beauty surrounding us right now!” and “This is unreal!”.

Leaving the dock and heading to the Old Post of Waswanipi

Once we arrived on the island, we were immediately greeted by some of the Cree Community that had already been there for a day or two and we were instantly put at ease and felt very welcome. I couldn’t help but feel that some little bird had spread the word that I was not a camper and not used to the bush, haha, and there were a lot of hands on deck to help me figure it all out.

I was very fortunate to have a cabin to sleep in, while Bowie slept in his tent. I was also extremely fortunate to have Catherine Ottereyes (Laura’s Mom) loan me a net to put over my bed for sleeping - NO BUGS FOR ME!!

Can we talk about BUGS for a minute!? I cannot express the amount of bugs I lived with that week; these bugs are hardcore - they didn’t even flinch with the application of OFF bug spray - I actually think they laughed at us for using it at all. They were so blood thirsty, they would bite your ass through the canvas chairs. I had bug bites in places... well you get the idea..

Matthew Ottereyes setting us up with a propane stove - our saviour!

Catherine, Matthew & Nylander Ottereyes attaching screening to our cabin windows - NO BUGS FOR US!

Our cabin - THANK GOD!!! no tents for this girl - extra netting supplied by Catherine Ottereyes - I love her!!

Good morning! The most important camping gear

New besties- Matthew & Michael - the stories these two could tell - hours and hours of laughing until we cried.

And now the teachings begin….Michael and I learned so much about various traditions in the Cree Culture, heard so many stories from the community - some hilarious, some tragic and horrible and a lot about love, caring and respect.

We explored the Old Post island with Laura and moved on to gutting and preparing sturgeon for the smoke house, learned about tanning moose hide, and Bowie even helped build an extension for the smoke house with Steve Matoush.

Laura Ottereyes & Michael Bowie - photo walk

Chopping logs for the smoke house with a HAND AXE!!! Two strike split - WOW!!

Learning from the best - gutting Sturgeon with Jane Gull

Nylander Ottereyes cleaning the sturgeon

Elders teaching youth the best ways - this was one of my favourite observations while at Waswanipi - youth having respect for the elders and learning from them without question. The Elders had such a gentle way with the youth - it was amazing to wat… — Elders teaching youth the best ways - this was one of my favourite observations while at Waswanipi - youth having respect for the elders and learning from them without question. The Elders had such a gentle way with the youth - it was amazing to watch.

Catherine Ottereyes teaching youth her cleaning techniques

Now it was our turn! Photo credit: Laurie Neeposh

Oh Bowie! lol Photo credit: Laurie Neeposh

Pulling the spinal cord out - so gross! Photo credit: Laurie Neeposh

Evadney Matoush checking the smoke house

Mary-Ann Otter & Sophie Gull ringing out the moose hide

The sense of community in Waswanipi is like no other. This place is magical in respect to its people; I have never been so welcomed into a group of strangers, to take part in their traditions and daily duties as I have at the Old Post, Waswanipi. It was an overwhelming sense of love, respect, humility and just a wicked good time with this community. I am so thankful to the people of Waswanipi for their generosity to Bowie & myself and for educating us in their history, customs, and spirituality.

A special thank you to Laura, Catherine & Matthew Ottereyes for hosting us - you are truly, incredible people and I will greatly miss the hours of conversations about the past and the present, and laughing so hard, my belly hurt. THANK YOU!

Catherine, Nylander, Laura and Chloe the Pug