Page 59 - 1st Anthology 2011
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signed the treaty Sarcee, so I don’t really know the background history. I wasn’t born
here. I don’t know enough.
So, also what I was saying they wanted to move away from the Blackfoots. The Blackfoots
for one thing were greater numbers, you know the bigger tribe. The men were fierce they
said. That was the interpreted word, fierce. They use to take their horses away from them.
I didn’t tell you yesterday but that was part of the story she told me. They use to take
their horses away. They were sort of mean to them. That’s why they didn’t want to stay
there.
They told Bullhead they want to move away. So Bullhead came this way and looking
around. He cut some logs. Your uncle’s place, that stone monument. He put rocks there
and he chose this land. He went back and told the people I chose a spot where I could
take you. He was the Chief. Then he negotiated with Indian Affairs to bring the tribe back
over here. He must be a good negotiator because he convinced them. We moved here. I
say we because I’m a member of the tribe now, but that’s what happened. So that’s how
they settled here Tsuut’ina Reserve, Sarcee Reserve.
I don’t forget she told me a lot of things about this reserve I don’t forget. The stories
about how the Tsuut’ina migrated from Blackfoot Crossing. We could have been over
there if it wasn’t for Bullhead listening to his people. The people didn’t want to be there
the Blackfoot were kind of aggressive and mean too. It’s true, I didn’t make that up, and
it’s a story from long ago. It is one of the things I know. The reason Bullhead moved the
Tsuut’ina over here to where we are today.
Families are breaking up. We see a lot of fractured relationships, fractured families. We
know that they will have peace and all get along.
So that’s the most important thing, the language, you must retain the language you must
learn it. I speak my own language but it’s not good here.
Who’s all home with me, well Nathan moved out, Samantha use to stay with me. Then
she moved out. Just Adam and his wife, they have two kids. They don’t have a place to
stay. So they are staying up there. I offered them my old house. I don’t think they like it
because it’s too old. I’m going to put my maiden name.
People are more diet conscious. Canada’s talking to start to look at the national child
nutrition policy. They are concerned about the children being overweight. Especially
among Indians there’s a high rate of diabetes. So I think they’re looking at how to help
people to stay healthy. For that reason I don’t think it’s a good idea to give bologna. They
should give dried meat. They do that in Paul Band, they give dry meat. They still do it, in
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