Skidegate Socialite

I've been asked by several people who are not fortunate enough to live on Haida Gwaii, haha, how they can read my new column in the Observer (qciobserver.ca). Well, they do have alot of online content, but the weekly columns are not posted. So, each week I'll post my column on here for anyone who wants to read it! 


I hadn't expected anything to come of it when I sent the rough draft in. Each week there is a column in the paper giving news and tidbits from Queen Charlotte, Port Clements, Tlell, Masset, Old Masset and Tow Hill area...but no Skidegate. Well, I'm on it! Here's hoping I can find "news" to report each week and keep this thing interesting! 


Enjoy!

(A view from the old Band Council building in Skidegate)

I have wondered many times why the Observer has lacked a weekly column representing the community of Skidegate. I was told there used to be one called the Skidegate Scuttlebutt but the author had moved. My next question was, well why doesn’t someone write one now? The response: go ahead! So, here it goes!

I’m not originally from Haida Gwaii, but moved here in March 2009 from Nova Scotia to be with my, now, fiancé. A big change but a worthwhile one. Now we have a beautiful daughter and have made our way back from Nova Scotia to Skidegate once more. And wow, it’s been busy since our return in September!

The title of this column is more a goal than a reality right now, I must say. Being a new mom and just returning to the community, I have not been doing as much as I would like. However, that is all changing. With the wrap-up of basketball season, I will have a bit more freedom! Haha, oh the sacrifices we make for our men! My fiancé and the rest of the Skidegate Saints Seniors will be making their way to the All Native Basketball Tournament to compete against seventeen teams in their division alone. They play their first game on Sunday February 6^th and hopefully will continue to the end! If you are in the area, please go and cheer our team(s) on! If not, send your support from afar. I know they plan to do some fundraising in the next few weeks, so do show your support for the boys! I will keep you posted on all of that.

Another event that took place this past week was the SHIP Seafood Lunch held on Friday January 21^st. I did not make it due to napping conflicts, but I do know they had a great turnout and raised quite a bit of money! This will surely help them on their trip to Hawaii in February where they will be representing Haida Gwaii and the Haida language! Go SHIP!

And last, but not least, the Sun Run training has begun! Sunday January 23^rd a group of us met at the Skidegate Health Centre bright and early (10 am) and eager to get moving. We filled out our medical sheets, picked up some pamphlets, split into two groups (Nordic Walk 10K and LearntoRun 10K), stretched and off we went. Well...for whatever reason, I thought we were maybe just going around the block to get a feel for what was to come. Nope! We warmed up for a few minutes and then proceeded into full-blown training! I am part of the LearntoRun group and MAN, am I out of shape! I will be able to tell you all if the program really does teach you how to run, because I can assure you I have not ran since junior high. We made it halfway between Jags Beanstalk and the Kaay, turned around and made our way back to the Health Center. I had to forgo most of the stretching because I was late to play piano at Skidegate United Church, but it was a great experience and I will be back there next Sunday morning at 9:30am will bells on! So please, come join us and do your body some good! Anyone can join us in the next two sessions, so give Robyn or Michelle a call at 559-4610, or just show up!

So, that is all for now but please help me keep this column up to date and email me your news and events (whiteravenreturns@gmail.com). It takes a village to raise a column! Have a great week, everyone!

Coming Soon...

Well, this is the second time in a row I've been awake to experience the beautiful amber sunrise over the waters of Skidegate. Don't get me wrong...it's such a beautiful sight with the calmness of the water, the burst of colour when the sun does appear (it seems to take longer here..hmmm) and the almost immediate awakening of the seagulls...but I'd rather be asleep, haha. I've heard many times that mothers should sleep when the baby sleeps...well, she's sound asleep with my fiance in the next room and I'm sitting here drinking tea!

There are bonuses to waking up before the rest of the house....fresh bread warm out of the oven, a hot cup of tea, the sunrise, time to write, oh yah...and time to be excited about the upcoming events!!!

Margaret Atwood and her partner Graeme Gibson are coming to the island on February 5, 2011. Ha! Here I'm living in the middle of nowhere...literally...at the edge of Canada, and I get all of these amazing opportunities! They will be reading at the Kaay Center and I will be there! I can't say I'm a huge fan because honestly I have not read anything of hers since high school. I did happen to find her blog and I think I'll keep checking in....she has some really fascinating, although slightly morbid, poems and maybe I'll even try to finish one of her novels before she arrives.

I'm most excited because I've been looking for inspiration...I've been in a rut, I guess you could say. At 25, maybe I'm having a quarter-life crisis (as my sister put it...she's experiencing hers at 20...I guess I'm more optimistic?) I have asked for guidance from God, the Creator, the Universe...whoever is listening really...show me how to be an inspiring, strong, fierce, and independent woman. Well, the answers are slowly trickling in. First I hear of Margaret Atwood coming (she's living inspiration), I have an idea for a little project that I think will help as well, and a few books have found their way to me as well (Rebel Women of Western Canada, and Wild Women). So, ask and ye shall receive?

Well, this will be a short one today because the sleeping beauties have awoken. If anyone has any more inspiration for me, send me an email!

The Baller's Wife

Haidas spend the spring preparing and gathering. They spend the summers fishing. The fall is spent storing. The winters are spent feasting. This is pretty much how it has been for hundreds of years. However, in the last few decades the winter months have been brightened even more by another essential part of Haida life; basketball.

During the Nathan Young Memorial Tournament in Skidegate, Nov. 2009

Yes, basketball is very important to almost everyone on this island. I learned this even before I arrived on these islands in March 2009. Perhaps I am more a part of the basketball world as my fiance is one who battles it out on the court each and every tournament season. He takes basketball so seriously that even when on paternity leave in Nova Scotia, he got up on a ladder and removed our old hoop from it's place on the small shed and re-attached it to the large garage so he could practice his shots. The old hoop was more than happy to oblige after so many years of wasting away because it's owners got too tall for it's location. Upon returning to Skidegate in September, Willie resumed his training at the gym, playing with whoever showed up and drilling himself on the fundamentals of the game in his down-time. 

You may think it's alot of work to put into a game. If so, come visit during tournament season and you'll quickly change your mind. It's not simply a game. These tournaments bring together the entire island; Queen Charlotte, Skidegate, Tlell, Port Clements, and Masset. Young and old gather together on the court to punish the opposing team. The bleachers are full of spouses, cousins, aunties, chinnis, chiefs and elders. The space behind the bleachers is alive with children running around, playing their own versions of the game. The kitchen is hard at work preparing fried bread, spaghetti, fried rice, hot dogs, clam fritters, etc to feed the hungry spectators (and tired players). The atmosphere is so electric that it can wake up even the tiredest of people (I should know...). 

This past weekend marked the last of the tournaments before the All Native Basketball tournament in Prince Rupert, BC which is scheduled to take place in February. This tournament was, by far, the loudest, most action packed one I have witnessed to date. Why, you may ask? The teams were not just the regular intermediates, seniors or masters that play together on a regular basis. This tournament was for the clans. Taanu, Skedans, T'saahl, Juus, and two others I cannot remember right now. These players were representing their whole clans...and their whole clans came out to cheer them on. Talk about LOUD! Supporting their own is definitely something the Haida can do! I only made it to two games (I was preparing a turkey for the dinner on Saturday) but wow...I'm pretty sure they heard us in Alaska! 

Not everyone can stay awake to enjoy the excitement! Our daughter taking a break from cheering for Dad!

There are many events that are "must-sees" here on Haida Gwaii and I can definitely name some of my favourite ones to date, but attending a basketball tournament here in Skidegate or in Masset is at the top of my list. The atmosphere is contagious, the players fight for their titles (I wouldn't want to be a ref!) and the food is great! So next year, come join us for a game...you may leave with a new love of the game!