A little bit of Solitude

Schoolhouse - Jackie's class windows

Sorry that this entry was a little late! Our internet has been out for about 6 days! :)

Coming into a small, established community like Kingcome, Jackie and I had a few fears as to where we would fit.  After our first two weeks, any fears that we had, have dissolved.  Although we are learning daily about the challenges of living remote, there is such a special energy in town that gives us confidence in the community that we are becoming more involved with every day.

Jackie planning for 4 grades! (Missing her Mommy.
Shout out to Liz)

Jackie is teaching 8 students between 
kindergarten and grade 3 and after the first week with them she is very pleased with how sweet each one of them has been. They are thirsty to learn and enthusiastic about school, but the stigma around education in the community is something that has been long in repair since the years of the horrid residential schools.
To witness first hand the dramatic effects that schooling systems put in place by Canada has had on a community, it is quite astonishing. We sat down with our neighbour and community band manager Bobbi and talked about her experiences growing up in Kingcome and being forced to leave at such a young age. Hearing about the impact that the residential schools had on aboriginal people and communities is something that cannot be ignored when dealing with these families and their children. As any teacher will tell you, the learning cannot stop in a classroom and parental involvement with education must continue at home for significant results to be seen in children. The stigma that still exists around the educational system is not one that can be easily shook. A possible solution to this is to encourage the learning of the old culture and language, something that has been lost, but not forgotten. Many of the elders understand that their culture must be re-established and it was the most talked about topic during our welcoming community dinner.

The dinner was held after the first day of school, welcoming both Jackie and myself and the new grade 4-7 teacher, Liz and her partner Ory.  Our newest friends, these two go to show how small the world is. Liz has just graduated from Lakehead University and after the few dinners we have spent chatting, we have realized the mutual friends we have from both Thunder Bay and Liz’s home in Manitoulin Island (shout out to Kait Watson, Martha Dippo, Cat and Warren, and Brittanny Slugoski!).  Ory and I are instant chumps since we have both followed our lovely ladies to Kingcome in hopes of providing some support and with thoughts of new adventure.

At the playground with the kids. Messing around with one of
Atticus' buds, Prince. Church re-construction in background.

The children. What sweet kids! They have all proven to be quite friendly and very social with us. Seldom does a day go by that I don’t hear a knock at the door and my newest buddy Will asking me to go out fishing, or to play soccer, or to go for a canoe ride. Will is K-Dog’s younger brother and is a grade 2 student in Jackie’s class. I have started to go into class to spend a bit of time reading with the kids (...and well, mostly to dominate in gym class).
A few of the new hobbies that I have taken up thus far have been fishing, gardening, baking, playing evening soccer, and weekly bingo...:)
The fishing has been quite successful thus far. I’ve caught one small rainbow and also a nice size coho. The coho was great eating and we also got given another large one by Richard after a big haul day in the nets.  My main man Les also tossed us three very nice crabs after he pulled up a full trap.  Youtube reminded me how to properly fillet, and we have enjoyed gorging on seafood. 

Three tasty crabs.

Like I mentioned above, I have also taken up a little bit of gardening. Right now, I just have a few plants growing in two tote containers. The radishes, dill, chives, lettuce, and swiss chard have all sprouted after about a week and my mescluns will be on their way soon enough.  It is an attestment to the fantastic weather that we have been getting on the west coast. The summer that we were forever waiting for in May, June and July finally found us in September.  Since arriving almost all of the days have been full of big blue clear skies and we have been spoiled with the amazing landscape and unbelievable skyline. Last week however, I felt the shake of a 6.4 earthquake! I getting lunch ready and relaxing on the couch in my living room and the entire house began to sway. At the moment, I simply thought it was Jackie running up the stairs home to join me for lunch (hahaha), but then realized what was going on. It was the first time I have felt the earth move with such force, and now realize how lucky we were that our home is well constructed. 

The fresh buzz around town is that hunting season is starting up in the next few weeks. A few of my new friends have given me word that I will be joining them. I look forward to filling you in!

Jackie and Atticus out front of the Big House!

The boys and the picnic.

Jackie's first time reading
Jonathan Livingston Seagull  :)

Picnic day up river.

Beautiful days on the river.