Dying Man’s Daily Journal – Norway House pt1

I must have gone through a little touch of something. I really haven’t been feeling good. I seem to be getting over it as I am feeling better and better. I know your many prayers have helped with this I thank all.

I had started to reminisce about my time in Norway House. Though out my banking career, I was transfered to many different locations my last posting was in Norway House, it was from there that I “retired”.

Norway House is the home of the Norway House Cree Nation. It is an Indian Reserve. Now, many that don’t know me may take offense when I use the term Indian as it is not the politically correct term or name these days. I believe the correct term is First Nations. Those that know me will know I mean no offense or disrespect. My own dear Vi is of First Nations decent and her and family simply refer to themselves as Indians so I will take the liberty of respectfully doing the same.

Usually, with bank transfers you get at least 4 or 5 weeks notice, in this case I can’t remember exactly but I got 4 or 5 days notice. I have been transfered many times and once I got past the first 2 or 3 I was never nervous instead more excited at the thought, a new adventure. Now understand to that point I had never even been on an Indian Reserve. All the knowledge I had was based on some TV documentaries which were usually designed to illustrate the hardships of life on the reserve. Now to say I was nervous would be overstating it, perhaps apprehensive or uncertain of what to expect. But on the appointed day off I went, this was the end of June, 2000, Vi didn’t join me there until November. It gave me a bit of a lonely feeling, being alone and driving into a town in which I knew no one.

The first trip in was an adventure in itself. I had been forward that the last 160 odd Kms (100 miles) of the road was gravel and not always in that good condition. The road had been freshly graveled and there were loose stones all over it. I wasn’t used to driving on roads like that and that leg of the trip seemed to take FOREVER. At one point just before Norway House I had to take a ferry to cross the Nelsen River now that was cool.

Finally, I reach Norway House and with that came my first surprise. The streets were paved and in better condition that in most towns in which I have lived.

I was booked into the York Boat Inn. Was I ever wrong about this place, as it was ultimately proved, I was wrong in all my preconceived ideas or thoughts. My thoughts were along the lines of what type of hotel am I likely to find on an “Indian Reserve”. A really nice one is what I found. One that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone.

Next morning off I go to the bank to meet my new staff. The bank there is located in a small mall. Now this is where I was going to run into one of my biggest misconceptions. I met the staff and while they seemed very nice and polite not at all friendly or welcoming. I spent some time that day wandering around the mall, checking it out and trying to chat with various people. No one seemed friendly, to the point of seemingly trying to avoid me.

For the first time in my life I found myself as part of a visible minority. Norway House has about 7,000 people of which I would guess maybe 75 or 80 are white. All of my life I have been I suppose I am what you would call color blind when it comes to people, I just see a person and the skin color never enters my head. I did then for the first time. I suddenly realized I was the only “white” face in a huge crowd of faces and seemingly not very friendly faces I might add. Gulp.

I remember sitting in my hotel room that night and questioning what is wrong with these people can’t they see I am a nice guy. Just because my skin color is different doesn’t make me a bad guy. Some where through that evening I came to an important realization for me. This must be the same feeling felt by so many immigrants to Canada or even to our own native Canadians when living in other towns or cities. To be the only face of a different color in a sea of seemingly unfriendly or uncaring faces really makes you feel isolated. This was a very important lesson for me to learn. Do I care about skin color definitely not, I treat everyone the same. Experiencing this I realized is the same good enough. Admittedly my feelings of isolation were very short term, but I am thankful now, long enough to give me an idea of the feelings. The feelings I am sure are experienced by many in minority groups around the world. How much effort would it take me to offer a few extra words of welcome of encouragement to help alleviate that feeling of isolation.

I hope I am finding the words here to express what I am trying to say and that none of the fine people in Norway House take this as me being critical. If anything my feelings would be the exact opposite to that. I very quickly came to realize many of those fine people are just shy. It was me that was in error being to quick to judge and I learned from this I thank you all. People of Norway House proved to be very friendly, very kind and generous to a fault. I am so proud to consider many of you as friends. Reflecting back I am sure it would be safe to say some my have help back, as here I was a stranger, an outsider from a different culture. Maybe with the idea, we better check this guy out a little before we let our guard down. Don’t we all do that when we see some one we perceive as being different than ourselves. People are people culture, color nothing makes a difference.

I have often written I feel about 90% of the people in the world are just regular nice people just trying to do the best they can with what they have, to raise their children and have a happy life. About 5% fall into the group I often refer to as earth Angel just so exceptionally nice. Then no matter where you go you will find that final 5% that are just jerks. Norway House further confirmed my belief in those numbers. I am positive these numbers apply around the world irregardless of race, nationality, color, religion or anything else.

We made many great friends in Norway House, some of whom still visit us today. I feel blessed and honored to know you all.

In the next few days I will write more about my time on the “Indian Reserve”. By far the majority of which was a wonderful experience but as with anywhere there were times, I will try to share all.