1603_0045 Plains Bison
A mature bull bison is such a powerful and majestic creature that it's no wonder it became one of the true icons of the Old West. Prior to that, of course, it was revered by the First Nations, especially the Plains Indians who relied on it as their primary life sustainer. It provided them with food, shelter, clothing, utensils, and other commonplace items in their daily lives.
Sitting Bull's name derived from this animal. Although refined ladies and gentlemen in eastern parlours would amuse themselves by translating his name as "posterior-recumbent gentleman cow", the verb "sit" had more than one implication in Lakota. It also meant to come among the people and take an honoured place. Therefore Sitting Bull was a wise and spiritual being who had come to lead his people.
This week we have lost another wise and spiritual being here in Canada: Ojibway author Richard Wagamese died at age 61. One of my favourite writers. For what my opinion is worth, in the realm of CanLit First Nations writing, Thomas King is the intellectual and the trickster; Joseph Boyden is the creator of epic tales; and Richard Wagamese was the heart and soul. How can we ever replace him? We can't. We can only be grateful that he was with us for a brief time, and that he spoke.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2016 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
1603_0045 Plains Bison
A mature bull bison is such a powerful and majestic creature that it's no wonder it became one of the true icons of the Old West. Prior to that, of course, it was revered by the First Nations, especially the Plains Indians who relied on it as their primary life sustainer. It provided them with food, shelter, clothing, utensils, and other commonplace items in their daily lives.
Sitting Bull's name derived from this animal. Although refined ladies and gentlemen in eastern parlours would amuse themselves by translating his name as "posterior-recumbent gentleman cow", the verb "sit" had more than one implication in Lakota. It also meant to come among the people and take an honoured place. Therefore Sitting Bull was a wise and spiritual being who had come to lead his people.
This week we have lost another wise and spiritual being here in Canada: Ojibway author Richard Wagamese died at age 61. One of my favourite writers. For what my opinion is worth, in the realm of CanLit First Nations writing, Thomas King is the intellectual and the trickster; Joseph Boyden is the creator of epic tales; and Richard Wagamese was the heart and soul. How can we ever replace him? We can't. We can only be grateful that he was with us for a brief time, and that he spoke.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2016 James R. Page - all rights reserved.