HOME FROM ALGONQUIN PARK POWWOW

Ah we are home.
The day was of course filled with unpacking and putting away and laundry. We spent a week so lots of laundry. But I also discovered that my sis in law corrected my internet problem and the school computer now has internet. At some point I will get my laptop repaired to.

About Our Trip.
We went up Sunday August 1st. We camp at Centernial ridges. Not at the top of the trail but at the land beyond the parking lot or the trail. The land there is some of the ceremonial land of the Algonquin People (who were booted out long ago to form the park. The local Algonquins maintain that piece of land (but not without many arguments but that would be another blog). The land includes a beach,open rough camping areas with berry patches, the powwow grounds themselves and the point which includes the Womens ceremonial area. It is absolutely beautiful.
Anyway when we arrived the ministry had locked the gates so we turned back down the highway to Uncles house (as Indians we have lots of types of Uncles but this is one of the kids favorite). We were givin a key for the morning and stayed and made supper for our family and his for the night and crashed after much talking. Auntie had lots to get done for the following powwow weekend some took some instructions on how to help and headed out. We set up camp in our usual spot and setld in for a day of swimming and relaxing. Our week continued like that as more powwow family arrived. A few trips into Uncle and Aunties to run them some errands. We also took a trip to the spruce bog walk and enjoyed the trail I remember best as a child. I wanted to take them to tea lake damn but we had much rain at first and were to busy later on in the week...next year.

The powwow was fantastic. we danced in near perfect weather on Saturday. Our family and friends were all there. My husband and his twin brother manned the kitchen feeding hundreds 3 meals a day. Those helping them in the kitchen were greatly appreciated. Sunday was open powwow as it was totally rained out so lack of tourists (fun for us, bad for powwow costs) but eventually most got themselves out in the rain and got to powwowing. There are those afraid of getting their feathers wet. ??? I know. Ok birds go out in the rain. Yes they preen their feathers after, but we can too...are these people not into the time of looking after their feathers? Or take them off and put them away. Anyway back to the great weekend. I think the rain was good for powwow t-shirt sales...I bought 2....yeah dry clothes.

I could stay for months...at some point perhaps I will. Next year we are going to have a moon lodge built. That was Grandma Claus's idea and I think it's about time.