Talking Sticks: There are no bad color, only bad color combination

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There are many shades of orange and different meanings. It all depends who is talking. These sticks talk about visual story of Metis in Canadian history. Notice that color orange is widely use in Metis art as well as crafts. “Elders remind … Continue reading →

After the war, remember them.

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Surviving the war must be harder than those who have died in combat. The heroes are mostly those that died during the war. I am saying this because of a chance encounter with someone who was willing enough to share … Continue reading →

Rose Prince of British Columbia, Canada

The annual pilgrimage to Lejac is almost here, from July 5 to 7, to honor an Aboriginal woman who has inspired many due to her simplicity of life and faith. 

Pilgrims

Rose Prince was born on Saturday, August 21, 1915, in a small house on a hill in the Carrier Nak’azdli First Nation and behind the convent near Fort James. Rose was a Dakelh woman who has inspired an ongoing Catholic pilgrimage. Prince was born in Fort St. James in 1915, the third of Jean-Marie and Agathe Prince’s nine children. Jean-Marie came from the lineage of the great chief Kwah. 

When the Lejac Residential School was built in 1922, Prince was sent to this school along with the other children. At 16, still attending school at Lejac, her mother and two youngest sisters died in an influenza outbreak. Devastated, she opted not to return home for the summers, staying on at the school instead. She was a quiet and unassuming student. She was a gifted and attentive student, a child of deep faith and outstanding love for God. 

After graduation, she remained at the school, completing chores such as mending, cleaning, embroidering, and sewing. Prince contracted tuberculosis at the age of 34. She died on 19 August 1949. 

Two years later, in 1951, several graves west of the Lejac Residential School were relocated to a larger nearby cemetery because a railway passage has to be constructed. During the transfer, Prince’s casket broke open, and workers were apparently astonished to find Prince’s body and clothing in pristine condition, despite the years that had passed since her death. Other bodies were examined, but even those who had died after Prince showed signs of decay.

Witnesses said her body was still fresh, and “as if she was sleeping,” with “just a little smile on her face.” The bouquet of flowers on her chest was withered, but some observers maintained that a fresh rose lay in her hands. Others did not see the rose, which was said that the rose may have been a spiritual vision seen only by some. Although all of them agreed that the entire body and the clothing were in a state of perfect preservation.  The story spread, especially in the Carrier Nation. 

Miraculous happenings attributed to her through visiting her grave and taking earth from her grave. 

Every year, my family joins the pilgrimage to bring roses to cover her grave and pay respect.  Every year, I missed it due to work obligation.

Rose Prince Grave

 I must say, I am proud for the Aboriginals to have an outstanding woman from their nation. 

Rose Prince

 “Heavenly Father, you shared so deeply with Rose Prince, of the Carrier Nation, your gift of serenity, and shared with her your love for your creation. 

Grant through her intercession that we may share your serenity and your peace of soul, and may we too rejoice in the beauty of creation that surrounds us on every side.” 

 

 

Related articles

• Lejac Pilgrimage
• Susan P. Hauck with Rose Prince

Prayer of the Six Directions

Prayer of the Six Directions

(Indian Prayer) 

Great Spirit of Love, come to me with the power of the North; make me courageous when the cold winds of life fall upon me.  Give us strength and endurance for everything that is harsh, everything that hurts, and everything that makes me squint.  Let me move through life ready to take what comes from the North. 

Spirit who comes out of the East, come to me with the power of the East, the light of the rising sun.  Let there be light on the path I walk.  Let me remember always that you give the gift of a new day and let me never be burdened with sorrow by not starting over. 

Great Spirit of Creation, send me warm and soothing winds from the South to comfort me and caress me when I am tired and cold.  Unfold me as your gentle breezes unfold the leaves on the trees.  And as you give to all the earth your warm moving wind, give to me warmth so that I may grow close to you. 

Great Life Giving Spirit, I face the West, the direction of sundown.  Let me remember every day that the moment will come when my sun will go down.  Never let me forget that I must fade into you.  Give me beautiful color, give me a great sky for setting so that when it is time to meet you, I come with glory.

Giver of All Life, I pray to you from the Earth.  Help me to remember as I touch the Earth that I am little and need your pity.  Help me to be thankful for the gift of the Earth and never to walk hurtfully on the world.  Bless me with the eyes to love what comes from Mother Earth and teach me how to use well your gifts. 

Great Spirit of the Heavens, lift me up to you that my heart may worship you and come to you in glory.  Hold in my memory that you are my Creator, greater than I, eager for my good life.  Let everything that is in the world lift my mind and my heart and my life to you, so that we may come to you always in truth and in heart. 

Amen. 

Today is a day for celebration and recognition of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada.  June 21 often coincides with summer solstice.  

In a retreat, I learnt this prayer and committed it to heart.  Now I offer the same prayer to the people of Canada’s First Nations

Genie in a bottle or 12 Steps program

Did you say major changes? Sure, I want to have a baby, let me go window shopping and buy one.  Sure, I will visit the a sperm bank to find good genes.  What a silly decision. 

I made a 360 degree turn yesterday and I am still thinking about the what if situation.  

Yesterday was Sunday and I left the mass early because the priest is boring.  I could have easily changed the situation but I stayed until closer to the end.  I did not wait for his blessings. 

Walking as fast as I could in a cold rainy February zigzagging around people, I made a 360 turn.  What made me do that?  My peripheral vision saw a person sitting on the cement outside the mall.  

Meet April in February 3, 2013.  

I asked are you ok?  Then she started crying.  She’s a new face in the block.  I recognize most of the street people in Metrotown Mall.  April made a wrong decision last night according to her, was accused of lying and hates being called a liar.  She left the facility where she stayed for two months to change her life, slept on the street last night and unfamiliar with the city. She came from the Island, up north of BC.  The time was about 2 pm. 

All of this happened out of a blue, don’t ask me why I paid attention to this stranger.  I don’t like WHY question.  Therefore, I did not ask April the why question. 

Did I make a conscious decision to help her?  Yes or No? No. Did I hesitate?  There was no hesitation in my part, I just acted.  She needs a place to stay for one night; she’s looking for the Aboriginal Lodge. 

I’ve asked April only one thing.  April, I want you to pray to your God to help us find you a place.  She sheepishly said yes with a worried look on her face. 

Skipping all the details, I found her a place to stay by 7:30 pm.  An emergency shelter.  We were wet, shaking like a leaf, tired, cold.  We shared a cigarette before we parted and made sure she was inside this beautiful blue looking mansion in a residential area that I’ve never thought it existed closed by where I live. 

This is in response to Daily Prompt: Changes.  Come and join us, it will change your life.