Northern Exposure...Summer Beaver: Bearskin Lake a city compared to Summer Beaver

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Bearskin Lake a city compared to Summer Beaver

Well thought you might want an update on wazzup. Not a whole lot yet, took me two weeks to settle into Summer Beaver so I don't expect too much at this point. Staff here are great. This is a three nurse station, Summer Beaver was a two nurse station. The station itself is much newer than the last one and as you can see from the pics of the room I am staying..... a step up. The clinic again was slow but guess that is the way it goes up here feast or famine.

It was OK today as I am just trying to find things anyway. Took a walk into town and I can notice an immediate difference. It is certainly more updated. They have two large stores, both carry groceries and one carries many other supplies including electronics. The prices are still high but gas is only 1.49 per litre. There are many more cars and trucks on the road here. The houses are newer, still run down but really much better than

Summer Beaver. I really did not go to far tonight as I had some other things to do but have lots of time to explore a bit. Not sure I will ever find a peice of property like the one in Summer Beaver. My first patient today is a 23 year old who has an addiction to Oxycontin. He is trying to quit and was here for some additional support. The nurse in charge at the station told me that alcohol is not a problem on this reserve it is drugs. I am sure I

will learn more about the people here but I am told every reserve is different. Our station is sitting very close to the lake and there is a path to the lake so I think I will take a walk tomorrow night and scout it out. I wish Elijah was here I am sure we would test our luck with the fish.

You may be wondering why I took the pics of the food above. Just wanted you to see how exensive things are and most stuff does not look fresh as

from the rotting oranges. The grapes cost 12.61 and the corn on the cob was 1.25 per ear. But more food in this store that is for sure. Well have to scoot homework tonight and may get to bed at a decent time. Talk soon.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...: Did you know, today is Nation day of Action for Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.
Just thought you might want to know.
Josh; May 29, 2008 at 7:33 PM
Anonymous said...: Wow! That's a fancy looking apartment! Is it just for you?
The guy is addicted to Oxycontin??? He'd fit right in with 1/2 the people on King ST.!! Is there methadone up there for him or something else?

Glad you are in an updated environment! I am sure you will have many adventures there as well! Keep the blogs coming! Miss you! Love you!Stay safe!; May 29, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Anonymous said...: Wow...the things you miss if you dont check your blog every day....enjoy reading your blogs...forgot to tell you cindi...took your advice on ChampX.....its been 8 weeks so far
Stay safe
Scott; May 30, 2008 at 3:24 AM
Anonymous said...: This looks more like civilization.
Now is it "Bear" that you will be eating now
EVE; May 30, 2008 at 6:17 AM
Anonymous said...: Morning Hun

Well I guess I was not the first to post today but I think you know why.

The new place looks real nice and I am sure you will be meeting and fitting into the community in no time.

Keep the Blog coming as you seem to have a real tribe of followers checking in daily.

Miss Ya Luv Ya ..Rob; May 30, 2008 at 7:48 AM
Anonymous said...: I was checking up on Bearskin Lake and there was a site for all the education centers, turns out they are looking for teachers. Maybe I'll end up there someday myself :)

I know you are super super busy, but if you find yourself in a school again I would love to know anything you can find out!

Miss you
Heather; May 30, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Anonymous said...: Sure I am going to the school next week to do a lice check so I will look into it for you K.....miss you guys... Cyndisue; May 30, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Anonymous said...: I am so proud of you Scott, it will only get easier so keep it up. Champix has really good results so way to go! Take care and hope to see you soon. xxoxo from your crazy sis in law...; May 30, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi Cyndi, just back from some business in Toronto, stayed overnight in Yorkville at the Intercontinental, and compared the over the top environment of the bit city to your surroundings.....personally I like the quieter surroundings that you are in.....hope things going well.....love your daily updates so don't be late...love Jerry & Shriley; June 1, 2008 at 12:15 PM

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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.

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