My name is Victoria Daniels and I was raised in Sandy Bay, SK, but I now reside in Pukatawagan, MB. I’m an adopted child of my mother’s parents, Cyril Daniels (deceased) and Emily Daniels. On both my biological parents’ side of the family I have one sister and two brothers. In my adopted family, I have six sisters and four brothers (one deceased). This totals fifteen siblings. My boyfriend, Raymond, and I have two children of our own and their names are Mikayla and Charles. I feel very fortunate and grateful to come from such a large family. I attended five different high schools before I finally graduated. My parents were so proud because I was the first one in my family to graduate. Currently, I attend a Brandon University Northern Teacher Education Program (B.U.N.T.E.P.) in Pukatawagan to attain a degree in education.Besides being a full time mother and student, I am also taking a Fitness and Nutrition course through International Correspondence School (ICS). I’ve received a certificate from ICS for the completion of half the two-year course. When I complete the other half, I will receive a diploma in Fitness and Nutrition.
Aside from volleyball and aerobics, I rarely have time for social and recreational activities because of my academic and family life. The activities I do have time for are the things I do with my children like walking, talking (endless activity for my children), reading, colouring, and watching cartoons. My daughter is especially fond of skating and my son never tires of dancing. His favourite music is from the Chipmunks. I enjoy my family and my studies very much and I’m content with my life as it stands, although I hope for just a little more in the future.
Although I’m content with my life, it doesn’t mean I’m content with myself. My positive characteristics tend to get me in trouble sometimes. People tell me I’m too nice for my own good and I agree because my positive characteristics were formed through significant people and events in my life. My late dad was the most important person to me and he taught me virtues through example. He didn’t just tell me what was right and wrong, he showed me. He was a kind, generous, patient, and thoughtful man. By being the person that he was, I learned to respect and love people and life. My sister Elise and my grade nine science teacher, Ms. Chow, also played significant roles in my life: my sister taught me to be independent, and my teacher taught me to be self-confident. There are also two events that I attribute my independence and self-confidence to: the birth of my children and my high school graduation. I learned independence from being a mother because my children relied on me, and I gained self-confidence from graduating because I was the first in my family to finish school. Although I posses positive characteristics, there are some that I lack such as boldness and aggression which, I believe, would make me a stronger person, and attaining those characteristics is something I strive for.
Staying on the subject of my personality, I’ll give an explanation on an animal that represents my personality: the fish. The fish is a symbol of my astrological sign, Pisces. The symbol for this sign is a picture of two fish that swim in opposite directions. For a Piscean person, this signifies a pull in both directions in any given situation. It’s like seeing both sides of a conflict or an idea. This relates to a characteristic of my personality: my open-mindedness. It’s a trait I both like and hate. I like it because it doesn’t lead me to be prejudice. I hate it because it often leaves me undecided. In other words, although I’m receptive, I’m also doubtful. I’m also related to the fish through water. The sight and sound of water always offers me a sense of peace and it does wonders for my mood.
Speaking of water, it has also been the source of many near-death experiences for me. When I was about twelve years old, my friend Shawna and I nearly drowned.We were inexperienced in canoeing and we tipped. It was early autumn and so the water was very cold. Fortunately, we were rescued, but we suffered from hypothermia. Another disastrous event that I experienced with water, but in this case it was slush, was almost falling through the ice. My late dad, my sister, my brother, and I got stuck in slush while travelling from Pukatawagan, MB to Sandy Bay, SK by skidoo. Fortunately, we had only hit a patch of slush, but nevertheless, it was terrible because we were stuck. It took several hours of tugging, pulling, and rocking the skidoo before it was freed from the slush. Thankfully, there was help near by. Among the help was a guy named Randy who was one of the guys who had rescued Shawna and I when we had nearly drowned. Randy made me laugh when he said, "You have to quit doing this because nobody appointed me your guardian angel." They took us in and drove us home in their bombardiers. My poor dad and sister were in agony as they began thawing out, but thank heaven there was no severe damage. I have many more near-death experiences related to water that are too numerous to mention. You would think that these experiences would make me afraid of water, but, strangely, they don’t and water remains a big comfort to me.
Finding a quiet spot by the lake and gazing up at the stars is also a comfort to me. I enjoy it most on a beautiful summer night when a soft breeze is blowing. A clear night with the stars shining brightly and the northern lights dancing wildly in the sky is truly a breathtaking sight.The only sound that can be heard is the gentle slapping of waves against the shore. Embracing me like a close friend is the air, fresh and warm. The serenity I feel from just sitting there is amazing. Another place where I find serenity is a shrine in Sandy Bay, SK. I go there whenever I’m feeling sad or when I need to talk to God. It’s a nice place to visit especially in the autumn. The brilliant colour of the red and gold dying leaves is a remarkable sight. The crackling sound of the falling leaves and the dancing treetops is harmonious. The smell of the ground and the leaves suggests an intimacy with the earth. All of this and the silence, along with my thoughts and prayers, combine to offer me a sense of peace and contentment.
This picture of my parents and I on my graduation day means a lot to me. When I look at this picture, I feel eternally grateful for having been adopted by these two wonderful people. I realize that if it weren’t for them, I probably would have grown up in foster homes. Their love, encouragement, and uderstanding helped shape the person who I have become. Without them, I wouldn’t be who or where I am today.
Pukatawagan is a remote northern reserve located 700 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. It is accessible by air or rail. There is also a winter road that is open for about three months of the year. The present population is approximately 2000 people. The major religion in Pukatawagan is Catholicism. The first missionary to arrive in Puk was a Catholic missionary by the name of Father Bonald and he arrived in 1870. He baptized the first Roman Catholic on an island and a cross was erected to commemorate the event. The cross still stands today and the island is known as Cross Island.
PUKATAWAGAN, MANITOBAOn April 1, 1926, Father Emile Desormeaux arrived in Pukatawagan with the intention of being a preacher. He didn't know that he would also become a fur trader and school principal. He took over the fur trading business in 1943 when the original fur traders moved out due to the closing of the Hudson Bay store. He and the nuns were pioneers in the education field and the first school was located in the mission's warehouse. In addition to his occupations as preacher and fur trader, Father Desormeaux was also a judge, jury, dentist, doctor, and policeman. Furthermore, he learned to speak the cree language, mush a dog team, and portage a canoe. He was highly respected by the people of Pukatawagan. In 1978, after serving the community of Pukatawagan for 42 years, Father Desormeaux retired. Sadly, he passed away in April 15, 1985 at the age of 91 years. He was buried in Pukatawagan as that was his wish. Brother Archillies Talbot worked alongside with Father Emile Desormeaux for 42 years and was equally loved and respected by the people of Pukatawagan for his devotion and hard work. Burial traditions in my community include a wake and funeral service followed by the burial, which are all are performed by a priest. When someone passes on, it is customary for a family member or friend to go door-to-door to collect donations. Things like food and money are donated to the family in their time of need. The community gathers to offer comfort, support, help, and condolence. Catholicism is the main religion in my community, but there are also traditionalist's who follow the traditional way of praying. They don't pray the same as Catholics, but they believe in one God, who they refer to as the Creator. The traditional belief is that the spirits of the Grandfathers carry prayers to the Creator by way of a pipe. When a pipe is smoked, the smoke carries the prayers up to the Creator. These beliefs can be incorporated into a Catholic burial service by lighting sweetgrass, which is sacred to the traditional way of prayer and life.
BURIAL TRADITIONSCompared to every other bird in the forest, the raven was once the most beautiful of all. Its feathers were so magnificent in their brilliant colour that they resembled a rainbow. The sounds that came out when the raven sang were magically sweet melodies. The raven was truly the most blessed animal in the kingdom of birds, until he became vain. He fell so much in love with himself that he expected all the animals of the forest to glorify him because he was so wonderfully perfect. The animals did not like this selfish attitude that the raven now had, so they asked the Creator to punish him. Upon seeing the raven's conceited ways, the Creator did indeed wish to punish the selfish raven, so He replaced his brilliant feathers with black ones and replaced his harmonious voice with a hideous sound. That is why, today, the raven is black and has an ugly voice.
LEGEND OF THE RAVENPemmican is a highly nutritious food that keeps well. Adding the berries adds to the nutrition.
HOW TO MAKE PEMMICANINGREDIENTS
-Dried meat (moose, deer, caribou, or fish)
-Melted fat
-Berries (optional)DIRECTIONS
Wrap the dried meat in a large, clean cloth.
Use a hammer, or another blunt object, to pound on the meat until it forms a powdered substance.
Transfer powdered substance to a bowl.
Add melted fat (and) berries.
Mix well.
Enjoy.STORAGE
Store in a plastic bag away from air and light.
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