Nimosōm and New Year at the Trapline

Happy New Year to all my readers out there, here’s hoping for a great year in stories and Cree blogs. After Christmas, it was back to the old grind for the family in the trapline. We needed to check out traps, nets and snares for food and the weather did not always cooperate with us. … Continue reading Nimosōm and New Year at the Trapline

Nimosōm and Christmas at the Trapline

As a boy, I remember only one Christmas that we spend in the trapline. Other Christmases we would spend on reserve, whether at my parent’s house in Hall Lake or my maternal grandparents house in town at 101 Reserve. The Christmas in trapline was very different. On the days leading up to Christmas, my paternal … Continue reading Nimosōm and Christmas at the Trapline

Nimosōm Goes to another Trapline

Many years ago, my grandfather was packing his supplies to get ready. He had his gun, food and other camping gear laid out and was talking to nōhkom and to himself in Cree while he packed. Being 5-6 years old that time, I was curious as to where he was going. Nimosōm, tānitī ōma īwī … Continue reading Nimosōm Goes to another Trapline

Nimosōm in Memoriam – December 6, 2017

It has been one year since my grandfather passed away. He was born September 12, 1925 and lived a long life until December 6, 2017. My best memories are from when I was a boy in the trapline. Listening to his stories and imagining all the details of his fascinating tales. They were great times … Continue reading Nimosōm in Memoriam – December 6, 2017

Nimosōm and my Uncle track the wihtikō

As a boy, one of the many stories my late grandfather told me was when he thought he might have tracked the wihtikō. One day, in the winter, he was out with my late uncle (nohkomis) on the frozen lake, way before I was born. I listened attentively as he told his story about a … Continue reading Nimosōm and my Uncle track the wihtikō

Nimosōm – wīsahkīcāhk and the Foreign Object in my Eye

When I was a boy, I used to love hearing about wīsahkīcāhk, the trickster, and all the shenanigans he got himself into. I remember a story about when the trickster met with wihtikow (wendigo in other areas). Wīsahkīcāhk had been walking around the forest, as usual, when he met with the cannibalistic entity. In the … Continue reading Nimosōm – wīsahkīcāhk and the Foreign Object in my Eye

Nimosōm Storytelling in the Trapline

As a little boy in the trapline, my late grandfather used to tell me many stories after a day of checking snares and traps. I wish I could remember them in detail but they are pretty much a blur at this point in my life. I also remember when i turned 8 years old and … Continue reading Nimosōm Storytelling in the Trapline

Cree Hunters Battle the Wihtikō

Long ago, in a remote Cree community deep in the Canadian wilderness, the winter had been particularly harsh. The hunters had returned from their expeditions empty-handed, and the food supplies were running low. The elders gathered to discuss the situation and decided to hold a sacred ceremony to ask for guidance and protection from the … Continue reading Cree Hunters Battle the Wihtikō

Smoking on the Rez, and other Places

I remember I was about 10 years old that I was curious about smoking a cigarette. Many of my family had been smoking for as long as I could remember. My parents did not smoke cigarettes. My father did chew snuff, but I never saw him smoke. Both nimosōmak smoked cigarettes and nōhkomak chewed snuff, … Continue reading Smoking on the Rez, and other Places

Cold in the Cabin

It is a cold day today and I am glad I was provided with a teacherage to bring my family together. The girls have their rooms, and my wife does not have to deal young people coming in and out of our oldest daughters house. It is 15 ᴼC, 23 with the windchill. My daughter … Continue reading Cold in the Cabin