A BBQ Lamb Dinner - Our 4th Dinner Invitation on a Native Reserve

After the church service, we bought lunch at the Convenient Store, one of the five gas stations /convenient stores in this remote reserve community. The convenient store offered its customers a pretty good selection of sandwiches and snacks from which to choose.

M.'s house is located on a pretty big property

Afterwards, we drove to M.’s house and spent the rest of the day there. While many of my team mates stayed indoor, S., Y.Y. and I enjoyed the mild weather outdoors.

Enjoying the mild weather and great conversations outdoors

As we were waiting for P. to bring a live lamb here for a BBQ dinner,  we helped setting up the tent and spent some time chatting with our host and learned a lot about Cree customs and cultures.

One thing I learned and admire about the Cree culture is how much they care and help each other and their family members.

We met a few local families. Almost in everyone of these families, they look after or adopt another young person into their families in the native way.

They feed this young person who often drops by or lives with the family as if he/she were a part of the family.

I was thankful that I could spend an entire afternoon getting to talk with and know some local residents.

 I met W.’s two children a couple of times and they were very polite and great to talk with.

Pk. enjoys being in the woods and displays great hunting and skinning skills of animals.

Working in Edmonton on renovation jobs, he was home for a few days while we were visiting his home town. He took our young people hunting and he was the only one who was able to hunt anything!

F. - a grade 12 student who likes photography.  I let him use my camera and he went around and got a few good shots of the BBQ lamb party.

 I also enjoyed talking to M.’s children and got to know them a little bit more.

K., is a receptionist at the H. Centre.

She is a great cook and made the most amazing desserts and macaroni salad and other delicious dishes for thirty people just like that.

Sh. – The younger sis of K., is studying in a  school in a nearby town.

We had a good chat the first time I was at her parents’s house. But this time she was not there as she went to Edmonton for a show with her aunt.

Finally, P. and J. brought in a live lamb carried on its four legs tied to a stick.

PK. and Rom. cutting the lamb for BBQ

When they began the process of slaughtering and skinning  the lamb in the yard,  K. and I fled into the kitchen trying to avoid the bloody scene.

In no time at all, the guys were able to slaughter the lamb, skin, cut it up and put the pieces on the barbecue.

M. was worried that P. might not be able to get the lamb in time to her house for the BBQ, therefore she bought and roasted a huge ham, prepared a big bowl of salad, veggies and dips for us.

A BBQ lamb feast was awaiting for the hungry crowd!

M. & family - the most kind, generous and welcoming host I have ever met!

This was the second time this week M. hosted and cooked dinner for our group - fifteen people in total!

I never knew someone who could be so kind, generous and welcoming to  a large group of complete strangers!

M.'s family was involved in feeding us and making us feel very welcome during this week.

We thanked God for the opportunity to meet,  and fellowship with the local people of this remote community. We  learned a few things about the aboriginal culture and got to know a couple of families really well!

It was the best part of our western Canadian trip and it was a real privilege indeed!

R.T.
4th Dinner Invitation
Alberta
May, 2016

Teaching Bible and Love of Jesus Through Songs in a Northern Reserve

Sunday Service

A native Christian school in Northern Alberta

Pastor E. picked us up right at 1030am for our last Sunday Service this morning. We went to  church and the worship leaders were already there along with M., Os and Ma.were practicing their songs.

We had a great time singing those hymns  when we learned them as teens. However, there was a twist to those songs we knew so well. The lyrics were very familiar to us but the melodies of these hymns were a little different.  They were sung in true Alberta country music style. I like country music but never sang hymns such as In the Garden, Fill my cup, Because He Lives in that style. I love singing hymns in whatever style they are sung. Singing them  in country style, this was my first time and loved it!

After the singing, the altar was open and the song leader asked the congregation to come up and share before the morning sermon. Three people did. I noticed that in this reserve sharing was a big part of the Sunday Service.

We taught Sunday School in this Christian school

Just before Pastor E.’s sermon, we were asked if we could look after the kids for Sunday School and we stepped up to the plate.

We had eight children in our Sunday School

There was a group of eight children of different ages, and we took them over to the Christian School for the children’s program.  We started by playing a name game designed to build up the children’s self esteem. It was well received. I remember one kid’s eyes lighted up when we called him Doctor Dennis!

Using bible songs, we played another game and share with the children that Jesus loved them and that they could pray in his name whenever they would be afraid. The children and we both had a lot of fun.  Time flew by when we were having fun! Though our time together was short, I just hope that the children would remember the bible songs we taught them and call on Jesus’ name whenever  they’d feel sad or troubled in the future.

Love our fire fighters who have been fighting the fires in Fort Mc.

In the meantime, the young people from our team led a couple of songs after Pastor Ed’s message. It was very touching!

After the service, we mingled with the congregation and I met a firefighter who just came back from fighting the fires at Fort McMurray and learned about the tremendous challenges they were facing.!

The firefighters are my heroes!!!

R.T.
Alberta
May, 2016

Our Third Dinner Invitation on a Northern Reserve, Alberta!

We stay at this house during our visit to a reserve in Alberta

Our second Saturday in this northern reserve, we were invited by Wa. a worker at the Youth Centre to her house for dinner - this was our third dinner invitation in a week's time!

Wa. is a very warm, open and friendly lady we met in this community. Since this small Reserve has no motels or hotels, our team members have been boarding at people's homes.

My husband and I have been staying in one house while the four young people are given accommodation in W.'s house. Two other families are are at two different members' homes.

A maple leaf puzzle done by W.

Princess sits under a dog puzzle in the living room

W. and her family love animals. They have dogs, cat, and a ferret in their house. W.
loves doing puzzles. The walls on her house are decorated with puzzles she spent hours putting together.

These puzzles are beautiful pictures of animals and nature scenery.

Crisp crunch smoked whitefish caught and prepared by  R. in the traditional Native way 

We had homemade hamburgers with pickles, salad and other trimmings. We tried the wild whitefish
 which Ro. caught in December. We asked about winter fishing and he shared with us the natives' technique.

He did it by cutting a hole in the frozen lake and lower a net under the snow leaving it there overnight. The next day he found 30 fish caught in the net.

However, not everybody can winter fish as you need to know the ice condition well so that you won't fall into the icy lake water underneath.

Romeo showed shared with us the smoke whitefish

The aboriginal people's way of catching fish is not allowed by the general public. General Canadians are not allowed to fish using a net. We must purchase a fishing license and are only allowed a certain number of fish each time we go fishing.)

Native people are under different laws as the first nations signed treaties with the government of Canada and they are allowed to preserve their traditional way of life. 

Ro. smoked the whitefish he caught by leaving them in his smoke house for three nights and days. The fish was crisp as if it had been deep fried and crunchy, but not oily. Pretty good!

Some of the young people went hunting with Ro. while we stayed and talked to Wa.

We were picked up from Le.'s house every morning

It was another really enjoyable evening with the local people in this northern Albertan community!

R.T.
Alberta

Onion Lake Community Log Church – A Living Witness to God's Provision

Today was our last Saturday on this north Alberta reserve.  Since every person we met raved about this special restaurant, we voted to have our lunch there in S.P. The buffet lunch was good and it reminded us of home!

After lunch, we drove to Frog Lake to visit a family.

Onion Lake, Alberta/ Saskatchewan border

The Frog Lake reserve is a richer community than other reserves as it has oil under ground. The family we visited told us that Frog Lake just finished building fifty new houses.

However, the reserve is also affected by the sluggish oil economy, and many are unemployed. We prayed for the family and the community's needs.

We continued and drove to another reserve close by in Onion Lake. Unknown to us, we drove across the border to the province of Saskatchewan when we passed this corner!

We visited the a church Onion Lake, Community Log Church – a spectacular church built with logs from British Columbia!














We met the pastor – a native Christian whose life has been dramatically been changed by accepting the gospel.

The church is built with  logs from British Columbia

Looking at the size of the church building and how beautiful it was built, we knew that it cost a lot to have this place of worship constructed.

Interesting architectural design

They must have a very large congregation to support a church this size, I thought.

The size of these logs were huge!

No, the pastor told us that his church congregation was not  large at all.  He shared with us the vision he had to build a church and how he started raising fund for it.

The offering box at the church

It was a miracle how the spirit of God stirred and moved people's heart.
The church building fund was miraculously  provided by God through the donations of non Christians!

Staircase leading to upper level of the church

Because of the Residential School Policy, indigenous children were forcibly removed from their parents for over one hundred and fifty years and were educated so that schools could " take the Indian out of them.."

Overlooking the church from the second level of the Onion Lake Community Log Church

Since the Residential Schools were managed and run by the churches who did not do a good job, many indigenous people have a negative view towards the church.
Due to past history, being a pastor would not be easy among the native people these days.

Other consideration also makes the pastor's job difficult in the area. Because of their religion, some pastors would have nothing to do with things or ceremonies related to native spirituality such as sweat lodge, sweet grass for smudging, pipe ceremony etc. This would make the pastor harder to be accepted by the people.

We listened to the pastor's sharing and learned about the challenges of being a pastor in the reserve.

We prayed together and asked God to give him strength, stand fast and bless the ministry and the church.




R.T.
At the Border of Alberta / Saskatchewan
May 14, 2016

The Best Time We Had on a Canadian Native Reserve

Visiting another family in this northern reserve

The Last Friday on this northern reserve was a really busy day for us. After our visit to S.P., a small city nearby we went back to the Youth Centre by late afternoon.

 I was surprised that the Centre was quite quiet because the high school kids would be here playing sports after school.

P. sharing with the family

But I was told that the reserve usually would be quiet on the weekend. The Centre aslo closed at 7pm and few kids come as they know the early closing hours.











As we were invited to another home for dinner,  we  did some cooking at the Centre, and took it to J.'s house.

We had a marvelous time meeting J. and his family, Br. and To., An. and the granddaughter.

It was kinda like a potluck as everybody brought something.

There were excellent food - the BBQ pork ribs were fantastic!

Yummy Bannocks served at a lot of aboriginal  dinner gathering

Off course you have to have freshly home made bannock
( a must at a native gathering), Indian taco and various kinds of  decadent desserts.

The food was great, but the fellowship following our dinner was even better!









We sat around, talked and shared, then prayed for the family and the community.

Our young people led us in a couple of songs. We were clapping, singing and having a great time. 











L., one of our team members, encouraged Au. who was standing in the living room, to join us. He did immediately.

I think he also enjoyed the singing. I saw his expression of surprise when he saw us having such a great time just singing and sharing together.

Yes, Christian fellowship is a lot of fun! We can always have a great time without any alcohol, drugs or other illegal activities. Just good clean fun with each other in the Lord!



After dinner, singing and praying together, we went outside and To. showed us how to post in front of the tepee like a real western cowboy!

He also told us that every tepee has thirteen poles. I learned something new today. I loved it!









To. saw us around and introduced us to the horses.
We saw the little pony! This was my  first time I saw a pony. How tiny was it!

This was the best time we had in this northern remote community!  We always treasure the opportunity to interact and get to know the local people !



R.T
A Northern Reserve
Alberta

Eagle's Nest Healing Lodge, Alberta

A Healing Lodge, Alberta

During our trip to this northern reserve, we have met a number of the aboriginal people from the community who as young students personally experienced a lot of hurt by the government of Canada under the Residential School Policy.

The government entrusted the education of the native children to the church which ran and managed the Residential Schools across Canada - Roman Catholic (60%), Anglican (30%) and United (10%) churches. 

During this dark era, aboriginal  children were forcibly removed from their parents, punished for speaking their language and were isolated from their communities.  As a result of the ill treatment, out of a total of 150,000 children that went through the residential school system, 6,000 died.  A number of them were subjected to torture and abuses.

The Canadian government has literally caused a cultural genocide of the aboriginal people many of whom have lost their culture, language and identity.  

The Residential Schools existed over a hundred years, however, the victims would need a lot of support and assistance and a long time to recover from the damages. 

The Eagle's Nest Healing Lodge is a place where native people with problems can self refer or be referred by agencies to get help.

Our group visited this facility in  Alberta,

   


 We also learned about their programs, culture and customs such as the use of the sweat lodge by the aboriginal people.

Native artwork decorated the place

We found the Healing Lodge a comfortable and welcoming place decorated with artwork of aboriginal themes.

The big room where meetings and workshops are held

A Sewing Room at the Lodge

The Lodge offers a number of programs to participants such as workshops, counselling, suicide prevention program, relaxation techniques and various other programs.

We started our tour at the big meeting room where workshop meetings are held.






We had a good tour of the facility escorted by the director of the Healing Lodge.

We saw a number of counselling rooms where individual counselling would take place for their clients.

There was a sewing room too!

The Daycare Room for little ones while their parents attending the programs

For women coming to the Healing Lodge with children, they can leave the kids in the daycare room where they will be looked after.

A spacious dining room with a spectacular view of the lake

What we really liked was the beautiful spacious dining room with a spectacular view of the lake!

The Eagle's Nest Healing Lodge is a beautiful lakeside retreat 

An indoor sweat lodge at the Eagles' Healing Lodge for  the cleansing ceremony

There was even an indoor sweat lodge right on the premise of the Eagle's Nest Healing Lodge for those who wish to participate in the cleansing ceremony while they are here.

Chopped firewood ready to be used for the Sweat Lodge 

The firewood were piled right outside the Sweat Lodge and ready to be used for the ceremony.

Our team and the Director of the Healing Lodge

After the tour, a staff sang a native song for us in the big meeting room and he even taught us a simple dance!


We learned a lot about the Eagle's Nest Healing Lodge and gained a better understanding of the challenges facing the native people.

R.T.
Eagle's Nest Healing Lodge
Alberta