Far North Friday #93: No Walk Tonight:
First Nation community walks were fun, learning experiences, but sometimes, there were complications and we chose, or were told, not to walk. That happened only twice. Twice, we were told not to walk about.
I recall our first visit to Fort Severn, which is located on the south shore of Hudson Bay. It is in the homeland of Wasaho Cree First Nation. It is Ontario’s most northerly community. It was early December 8, 2004. It was snowy and cold.
The leadership of Wasaho Cree Nation met us at the airport with a big yellow school bus. We dropped off our bags at the Niska Inn hotel and headed to the band office for the business meeting (Photo 1).
Photo 1: Photo 1: Andy Fyon about to enter the band office of Wasaho Cree First Nation, Fort Severn, on the south shore of Hudson Bay. Fort Severn sits in the homeland of Wasaho Cree First Nation. It is Ontario’s most northerly community. It was very windy, there was snow on the ground, and it was a bit chilly! Photo composed by Lori Churchill, Dec. 8/04.
That evening, we enjoyed an informal dinner in the community hall (Photo 2) where we met other community members, including Benny, who was one of the youngest community members - a newborn. After the meal, we asked if it was acceptable to walk around the community. We asked because some communities had a curfew and it was just the polite thing to do. After all, we were visitors in the homeland of the First Nation.
Photo 2: “Group photo” after the informal meal in Fort Severn. From left to right are: Councillor Tommy Miles, Councillor Kathleen Thomas, OGS Andy Fyon and Lori Churchill, Councillor Dennis Bluecoat, and Deputy Chief Brian Crowe. Photo composed in the Fort Severn community center, Dec 7/04.
Normally, that question is greeted by an enthusiastic “yes”. But, this time, there was a moment of silence, followed by dialogue between the leadership in their Cree language. “No!” Not a soft, gentle “No”, but an emphatic, firm “No!”. We were a little surprised. Our disappointment must have been obvious. Too dark? Too much snow? Too cold? We might get lost? After some gentle probing, we learned why the “no” was so emphatic. A polar bear was in, and around, the community. Walking around, after dark, was dangerous. Potentially fatal. The community leadership was concerned about our safety. We were reassured. For a second, I thought “that would be cool paperwork - Government official eaten by a curious polar bear”. Not!
We did not walk that evening, but we did walk during the next day. Something caught our eye. Hanging on a clothesline was a white blanket. As we approached, we realized that was not a white blanket. It was the skin of a polar bear (Photo 3)!
Photo 3: I did not compose a photo of the Fort Severn polar bear hide. Paradoxically, I photographed this polar bear hide in the community of Peawanuck, in the homeland of Weenusk First Nation, located to the east of Fort Severn. Peawanuck is also located along the south shore of Hudson Bay and polar bears are common in that area as well. Polar bears feed primarily on seals, which they hunt on frozen Hudson Bay. In spring, when the bay ice melts, polar bears mostly fast, without much food. As freeze up approaches, the hungry bears start to move about and occasionally enter the communities of Fort Severn and Peawanuck. We learned that a polar bear may be dispatched if it poses a threat to the community, but only as a last resort. That was the fate of the Fort Severn and Peawanuck bears. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, in Peawanuck, Ontario, close to the south shore of Hudson Bay, Dec. 9/04.
Polar bears are common along the south coast of Hudson Bay. Each fall, on Facebook, I read posts of hungry polar bears that have wandered into the community. Polar bears can be dangerous. If a curious polar bear threatens the community, there is only one choice. It must be dispatched, but only as a last resort. That was the fate of the polar bear that discouraged our night walk. The people of Wasaho Cree First Nation live beside the bears. They understand and respect the bears. Of the dispatched bear, nothing was wasted. All parts of the bear were used.
It was a full first visit. We met a few community members, the leadership, and walked around during the day. Fortunately, there was no need to complete complicated Government paperwork about polar bear diets.
Community walks are always learning experiences - even when we are told “not tonight”.
Andy Fyon: Dec. 23/22; Facebook Dec. 16/22