Week 1: Survived

Posted by S. , Sunday, September 5, 2010 6:59 PM

I left home last Sunday, Aug 29th, at 3:30. I have, therefore, survived my first week away. It feels a little surreal thinking Carrie and I were switching from metro to bus in Montreal a week ago now, that it was hot and sunny. The weather up here in James Bay has turned from 40 degrees C and sunny to November. Grey, rainy, cold, bleak, foggy.

I'm getting used to not understanding a word spoken around me 3/4 of the time. I can say "hello" in Cree. No idea how to spell it, syllabics or Cringlish. Was in grocery store on another reserve, Nemaska, where the friendly smiling Cree women all were looking at me, talking in rapid-fire Cree. All I understood was "curly hair". I forgot how not only does my white skin make me conspicuous, but so does my curly hair!

I saw the Rupert River falls off the James Bay Road.... or what remains of them, post Hydro diversion. The Rupert was the last of the "great" rivers of Quebec's North... it's headwaters were diverted into the La Grande complex in December 2009. It is still amazing and powerful... but as a geographer I can see where the river bed was before, and the whole thing makes me sad. I've had several local Natives tell me about the huge changes seen already in a short time: the water intake for Waskaganish had to be moved as the newer one recently built no longer worked post-diversion as the water is now too muddy. The fish aren't there. The natural power and beauty is diminised. There is graffiti on bridges crossing the Rupert, from pre-diversion days, pleading to "save me". Traditionally the Rupert was not just a source of food and a highway for transport for the Cree, but is believed to have special healing powers, to give life to the land and the people.
And, as per the James Bay agreement signed so long ago, now injured. This stuff bothers me. They couldn't just let ONE RIVER go? Did they really need that little bit of extra electricity for export? It seems that because it was included in the original plans and agreement, they felt a need to utilize it.

On another note, it seems weird to realize a week has already flown by. Time to really get down to work with student council this week, and getting the paperwork and legwork for sports council and intramurals and to start some subbing during free periods this week. My mantra/motto for so long was "4 months" (approx). it seems weird, being down to 15 weeks. It's looking like there's a 30% chance I'll head home for T-Giving Break, as well (helloooo Owl's Head hiking and Knowlton pumpkin fudge, and Lake Memphremagog).

I get odd cravings for things unavailable here, like Thai Express. Which is funny, because i went about 3 months this summer without eating Thai.... so why the sudden craving? Adjusting to Northern life in a way, I guess.

On a final note, this weekend back home in the South is Brome Fair. i'm 26 and missed it for the first time ever this weekend. It seems weird knowing it is going on, and seeing everyone's pics and status updates on fb and not being there... and yet, being so far away here in Waskaganish, I have a hard time believing and picturing that it is really taking place. Huh.

Sam, off to eat spaghetti.