Wednesday, November 30th

Technology is a door to a completely different world, and we get so used to it....Our internet access was down for a couple of days and it felt like we were cut off from the world, in utter isolation in spite of our big communication antenna you can see in the background. Yet, for our forefathers this was a normal daily incidence and it would not occur to them that they could instantly communicate with family hundreds of miles away or friends on other continents. Has this made us less resilient though?
Last week I was in a conference with other principals and education directors for the First Nations, and it was wonderful to sense the energy and committment towards improvement. Many of these communities are facing the same challenges, depression, sporadic attendance, suicide, I certainly feel I'm in the right place to apply the experience and know how I've accumulated. I am also honoured to have the opportunity to share and improve things with the people who have been on this continent since the beginning of time.
On a more personal note, I brought back a pair of snowshoes for Ricardo who is enjoying his walks on the lake now... They are about the size of a snowboard, and he thoroughly enjoys the exercise. Whenever the kids see him, they flock around him and are completely interested in the concept. Apparently these are quite revolutionary, as the only ones they have seen are the traditional type. We are looking forward to spending the holidays with the family in St. Catharines, Thomas who is getting so big and dad who sure needs a lot of company. He is in a nice small hospital in Niagara on the Lake, a very touristic place with lots of restaurants that we'll be sure to visit. The only restaurant over here is 'Ricardo's kitchen'...
Here is the picture of the 'healing tree' I was talking about in my previous blog, which did help as the behaviours have improved significantly. Our next project is to begin our Xmas decorating and outside lights.

Sunday, November 20th.

Although this morning the weather outside is grey and steely, the inside of the school is brighter and lighter (I don't dare say this too loud....) as days become more school-like and organized. We had a grief workshop for parents, and in puppet format for the children culminating with the dedication of a 'healing tree' where leaves with messages to the departed were put up on one of the walls in the main hall of the school. This seemed to permit the students to get on with the business of learning, although there are many cases that we are working with, to identify for the Special Education Program. This coming week I will be attending a conference in Sioux Lookout, where principals and education directors from the Native Communities in Ontario converge. It will surely give me insight into the different approaches to the issues of these communities.


Ricardo, Moopy and I have plenty to keep us warm....Here you can see the cutest sweater Gloria sent for the only member who didn't have one yet! He hasn't had the need to wear it often yet, as the house has good heating, and he is an inside-cat. He does, however sneak under the cover of my bed, during the day for his nap making the funniest bump on the bed.....
Ricardo is waiting patiently for the lake to finish freezing, so he can start ice-fishing and continue with the provision of fresh fish for the cat!

Tomorrow, our cutest (and only) grandson Thomas turns one! Wow, it seems only yesterday when we were driving Gloria to the hospital in St. Catharines. Happy Birthday Thomas!! May the rest of your years be as happy and healthy as this first one has been....

Sunday, November 13th.

I didn't think I would enjoy the routines and quiet so much....being here has reminded me of the beauty of savouring nature and the simple everyday little details. Walking down to the grocery store, and watching the children enjoy the snow. Although the development of technology, brings different results! Four wheelers pulling sleds, or as the snow gets thicker on the ground ski-doo's abound with their rear passangers.

As days go by, and normalcy returns to the school I see the children allowing themselves to be kids. The after school activities help, as there is no library other than the one we are trying to organize in the school. Game nights, computer cafe, volleyball, mural painting etc.... all become the only entertainment in town! Just the other day I had a young man in my office from grade seven, who was explaining to me that he didn't come to school in the mornings because he only went to sleep at seven am. So, what do you do all night? was my question and he mimicked the thumb actions for the XBox video games... We've since had another meeting for parents, on how to assert yourself with your kid, and other parenting techniques.

Ricardo continues to teach Karate to the adults twice a week, which becomes a good source of exercise and camaraderie (mostly teachers, both white and native). He's also starting to recruit adults to take English as a Second Language, and hopefully reach the ones that need to learn how to read and write. He's close to finishing his BA in political economy, which he's been doing online for some time now. In the afternoons, when he goes for his nature walks, he's got a companion, Nanook who shows him where not to step! Here you see him whining and barking where the ice isn't safe.

And we continue to learn about and further understand all these northern wonders....

Sunday, November 6th.

Well, it looks like the snow is here to stay! Today we went for our walk by the beach, and quite enjoyed the crisp winter air, no wind and not that cold yet.
With the change of time it gets dark at four pm, so now we have long winter nights for lots of activities. Ricardo has been giving Karate lessons twice a week, and he plans on teaching English as a Second Language to Adults as of next week.
I keep quite busy with work, and I'm also taking an online course through Brock University (where I did my masters) on Special Education. As I am responsible for the implementation of this program, I thought it very necessary.

Last week was very enjoyable, as the halloween activities took over. We had a movie and candy tosses at school, and then in the evening hosted 78 visitors in search of a trick or a treat. Some of the characters were clowns, old hags, lady bugs, ghouls, trees, monsters, wretched old men, extra-terrestrials, witches, devils, ghosts, vampires, jedi (trekkies beware), ogres, elephants, cows, pumpkins, tigers etc....

With the issue of the contaminated water found in one of the reserves up here, the news has brought more attention, and I was interviewed by a Toronto Star Reporter by phone, on Thursday. I've not checked to see if it's posted on the www.

This month is family birthdays galore, Ignacio (our nephew) turned 14 on the 4th; Dad turns 90 on Monday, Alex turns 28 on Wednesday.....Happy Birthday to all!!!