Monday, August 23, 2010

Sharing Food and Memories

War iyo la cuno, baa lagu nool yahay.
Communication and food are the things that one lives by.
-Somali Proverb

Ever wonder what makes the difference between living and life.  I was just reflecting on how when it comes right down to it what I do with my life in the space between bites is what makes it really living.  Sure we need food and the basics to survive but as I always said it  is not how much is on the table as who is around the table that really sustains us in the end.

Here, living on a group of Islands you really  are forced to think about what goes in your mouth and why. Food is not scarce but it is pricy and you don't take that for granted ....you buy what you need and you eat what you buy. So you better make the right choices. It was much the same in the Arctic and for a CFA (come from away) to walk into a food store and make loud proclamations on the cost of food or anything else here is just rude.

In the North, the traditional food is referred to as country food. That is food that you or someone you know fish or hunt for on the land.  Here in Haida Gwaii there is an abundance of fish, berries, deer and most households have a garden and or a small greenhouse. For the most part folks don't take food  for granted  especially if you hunt or someone you know does this for you. Jim had the good fortune to go out fishing with Sean and one of his friends last weekend and the pictures below are of the Salmon they caught.

This one was 30 lbs
For Sean and Jody, the community here on the misty isles are what sustains life too and this past Friday there was a group of  friends who came over to feed the soul with munchies and music.


The wee ones busied themselves with pirate ships indoors and climbing trees and racing about outdoors.

and more stories
while most traded stories and ideas
"no kidding it  was this big!"

Oh yes there was also Atari
I didn't know that there was still one in existence!

Later in the evening  after the wee ones had disappeared into dreamland the instruments came out and the group traded 8's late into the night. 

Hope you make room in your life this summer for some good food and friends to share your Journey too

Love and light 
Chris

1 comment:

Kristie said...

This is such a nice post Chris! I was feeling bogged down with finding work, and silly city worries, and so it's really nice to hear about simple good things in life like food, family, friends, and summer.

You've helped me to lighten up and not take things so seriously today.

Thanks!