Well, I have completed most of my mid-term exams (with the exception of my East Asian Politics take-home exam that I am working on at this very moment), and despite my worst fears, I am doing fairly well, although I can't believe I got (only) a B+ on my critique of Thomas King's The Truth About Stories! ):I Perhaps my closing line, "The truth about Thomas King is he has great appeal for non-indigenous people" went too far. :Iaaniikwaa
Despite some initial anxiety about failure, I am really enjoying school. I feel like this is where I want to be at this very moment, which is rarer than you might think. In spite of many important and pressing issues at home (Ahousaht/Kitselas/Kitsumkalum), I am taking this opportunity to finish what I started 15 years ago as well as taking the time to devote a majority of my time to thinking through many of the issues related to decolonization and regeneration.
For some of you, this will seem counter-intuitive, especially those of you who have been exposed to my revolutionary rhetoric over the years. I've thought about this a great deal, and in no small measure considering my mentor-protege relationship with Old Man Rivers, and have concluded that this is indeed where I am supposed to be right now. When I am done, my priorities may change but when considering my assets, and how I may best contribute to the revitalization of my communities, indeed some thinking time is good.
I realized this morning that I have now been living on my own for the FIRST TIME EVER, for 38 days now. Again, this may be hard to believe but it is true and I think I'm learning some valuable lessons and insights from the experience. On my 101 in 1001 list I (somewhat jokingly) stated that one of my goals was to live on my own for at least 30 days. woo hoo! 3 cheers for baby steps.
I recently returned from a trip to Portland, OR where my cousin Hiish-miik had an art show opening at Quintana Galleries. When I get the chance I will post some pictures from our trip south of the 49th into occupied Chinookian territory. As I gather it did up here, it rained and rained almost the entire time we were there. The art show went well and will continue for another two months I believe...check it out (at least online) if you get the opportunity.
After a Denny's breakfast (:p) we managed to locate what I often refer to as, "a funky, hippyish but not too hippyish (meaning they have to have meat too), restaurant that caters to healthy, left-leaning intellectuals"...haha. Think The Blue Fox in Victoria or Slickety Jim's in Vancouver. Next, we went looking for guy toys (things that go "bang" all day long) much to the understandably finite patience of our female companera. And while we could not manage to locate an authentic Indigenous watering hole (jedi/pirate debate aside) I did manage to spend some time at Powell's Books. If you have any bookish inclinations whatsoever and find yourself within 100 miles of it, I highly recommend you find your way to this city-block-sized bookstore full of new and used books. I could have spent days, perhaps weeks in there. One example that illuminates the broad selection is that I found over 20 books specifically on Fidel Castro when try as I might, looking in every bookstore I can in this land now called Canada, I have never found one. I also found hundreds of books on history, Indigenous issues, Latin America, colonization, political and social issues. Check it out.
And my final thoughts for today. I recognize that I am in a special place of privilege to be in school full time, and for that I am grateful. At the same time I am adjusting to and truly appreciating the perspective that comes with the modest living of the student experience. I am especially grateful to my friends and family who have been so supportive, through encouragement as well as donations of fish and other material support. And...I hope to be picking up some Tliina later this week from a Nisga'a friend of mine. Woo hoo! :d
Oh, and last but not least, congratulations to the most recent IGOV graduate who successfully defended her MA thesis this morning! Great job Vanessa!
Viva la rebellion mi companeras y companeros!
1 comment:
"O balmy saint,
thou doth stone my heart
and maks't me do what I intend to do
a rapport between compadre's
W and OMR
two devils nit the cedar-bark of our minds"
I am in a fantastic mood and I read some poetry today, so I thought I would take a stab at it. My latest "theme" for my life, or I guess "sub-theme" is playing devil's advocate, which I believe you also play from time to time (ya know, saying an argument, or position or idea, to get a certain response and see where the healthy debate goes)
Anyways... the question of education and school is plaguing me as you know. What I havn't explicitly said is that: if you are doing what works for you, getting more of what you want in life, living your purpose in life and loving it, that is all I can wish for you. It's the best I wish for any stelmexw (human). And with that brother, ska7k, I hope your doing what works for you, and gets you more of what you want.
The way I understand our "purpose in life" is that we live our purpose every day. Every day we live our purpose, but some people cannot connect the emotional response to the intellectual words. You may not clearly understand or know your purpose, but your living it brother. Those nights when you go to sleep, feeling great about your day, and that you really loved that day, are the days we live our purpose. When the opposite happens, and we feel like crap, the day was pointless and we didn't accomplish anything, are the days we don't live our people.
The possibility that UVic is apart of your purpose doesn't shock me. LEARNING is you, just as it is me. And any higher learning is good enough for me, and for you. W, we can only do our best and let the universe/gods/creator/transformers/ancestors do the rest.
Brother, we continue to inspire, challenge and cultivate each other. Batman and Superman. Adama and Roslin. or Buggs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
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