Northern Exposure...Summer Beaver: Another Rainy Day

Friday, May 16, 2008

Another Rainy Day

This picture is for Rob, this is a picture of the police station/jail. We have one native police man who is 23. He is out of town right now so we have no one watching over us this weekend but hopefully all will be well.

Today was a very busy day at the clinic. I have realized that providing routine care for this population is far more difficult due to many reasons. The culture is very quiet and offer very little information. Even when you ask a questions the answer is always brief or unknown. So taking a history is lets say the biggest challenge far more than the physical assessment. Many patients are on medications but do not know what they take and is not found in the record. They do not speak until spoken to and often look away. Many people speak some english few speak very little english and we use an interpretor for them.

The women are very good to their children, very loving. I was told they do not believe in providing limits and rules for a child they believe they have to raise themself from life experience. Conducting clinics for the past three days I have noticed and interesting finding. Every patient serviced has one of about 5 last names for example you are either a Beaver, Wabasse, Yellowstone etc. I started seeing so many patient with the same last name and could not really understand but the whole community has one of about 5 of these last names. That is about 400 people. As far as the clinic goes it is like I have gone into a time warp back 20 years. Wow are we spoiled today. The nurse here does it all, client care, lab (draw and spin), pharmacy (she is the pharmacist). I can tell you one thing Sherri I love electronic charting.....this is for the birds cant find a darn thing. My sad case of the day was a 17 y.o who attempted suicide a week ago by slashing her wrists so I had to remove the sutures today. Nice kid has a 2 month old baby but hard life.

Well I will leave you with that and will try to update on weekend. I am hoping to get out but the rain has been a really downer so if I do I will take my camera.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...: Hey Does he need a side kick to run that Jail. Just Starting my first shift at the Brockville Jail 50 inmates and 8 coming in today should hit the seventies before Monday with weekend Bails. I bet there are alot less in that Jail especcially if the Jailer is out of town for the weekend...talk to you later have a safe weekend...Luv Rob; May 17, 2008 at 3:39 AM
Anonymous said...: Hey did you notice that there is a brand new 09 Pontiac Montana in this picture....I wonder how they got the money for that?; May 17, 2008 at 5:47 AM
Anonymous said...: I want to come spend a week sounds like you are learning a lot, oh and that last comment was me to hahaha Josh; May 17, 2008 at 5:48 AM
Anonymous said...: I would assume that the Vehicles are property of the Canadian Government....not sure maybe our inside source will let us know..Rob; May 17, 2008 at 6:25 AM
Anonymous said...: That's what I thought too, but I am surprised the government sends brand new vehicles I always suspected them of sending hand me downs from other government agencies. Josh; May 17, 2008 at 6:48 AM
CA said...: havent seen any peoples up there yet whats up with that. want pic of u with peoples k. luv u ca; May 17, 2008 at 4:52 PM
CA said...: oh ya i forgot bought something 4 the kiddies, u will love this. did they enjoy ur gifts. gone to any pow wows yet or is it to early.byyyyyye again; May 17, 2008 at 4:59 PM

Post a Comment

Pemmican, one of the ladies had made this for the feast.......

Pemmican was a staple of the Plains people’s diet with the name originating from the Cree word, “pimikan”, or ‘manufactured grease’. Pemmican was made from buffalo meat, although antelope, deer, elk and moose were also used. It was a mixture of dried meat pounded to a powder, a quantity of rendered fat, Saskatoon berries or choke cherries, and sometimes peppermint leaves. The whole mixture was stored in parfleches, or skin bags, where it could be stored indefinitely. Pemmican was portable and highly nutritious with 1 kilogram equaling 5 kilograms of fresh meat. It was one of the most important contributions native people made to the survival of the Europeans through the harsh Canadian winters.

How to Make Pemmican
To make pemmican the Indians began by cutting meat into thin slices or strips and drying it either in the sun or over a fire. After the meat was dried, it was spread out on a stone-headed mauls and then pounded. This pounded meat was called "beat meat" by the natives. "Beat meat" was then mixed with melted fat and marrow. One early European observer noted that 40 pounds (18kg) of fat were added to 50 pounds (22.6kg) of beat meat. Sometimes a paste made of fruits or berries were added to this mixture.
Pemmican was stored in folded rawhide containers called parfleches. They were flat which made them easy to store and transport. Parfleches were greased along their seams to keep out air and moisture. Pemmican could therefore be kept fresh for years. Three-quarters of a pound (.34kg) of pemmican a day was a sufficient ration of food, although a hard-working traveler might eat between 1 and 2 pounds a day.
"... to make this essential food, the women would cut buffalo meat into very thin strips and hang them on hooks or a rack over a slow, smoky fire. The fire was used mainly to keep flies off the fresh meat. After a day or two the fire was discontinued and the meat was allowed to dry in the sun and wind. Three or four times a day the women would crack the meat open to allow the outsides of the strips to dry. After the drying process, which took about a week, the meat was broken into small pieces and put inside a flour sack. The women then pounded the meat into powder. This powder was mixed with dried berries, and melted buffalo fat was used to bind the substance together into balls. The pemmican balls were then placed into bags made of green (untanned) buffalo hid, and sewn up tightly. A bag of pemmican, made properly, could be cached in the ground for several years and still remain usable.
Rubaboo is the name for a stew made of pemmican and any wild vegetables at hand. Boiled in a pot of water, the chunks of pemmican would fall apart. Additions - the likes of onion, turnip, asparagus, parsley, sage, bullrush root, cattail heads, dandelion root, wild parsnip, wild carrot, mushrooms, pine nuts, daylily roots, or wild rice, would turn it into an appetizing stew.

Community Services and Facilities Bearskin Lake