The Most Vital Day

The day started very well with Hector Pacheco teaching us his cultural games. Learning how to properly strike an opponent and block their strikes were very important. The game implemented these actions along with the rule of having each opponents toes touching while turning in a circle. The objective of the game was to touch the others head and that would be a point. The first one to three points won that leg, but there are two. Later on in the day, we carved soap stones of different animals, with Elder Julia,  to create necklaces. I carved my soap stone of a bear.  It was a really relaxing atmosphere and I enjoyed spending time on this activity.

Towards the evening, we did the blanket exercise with Elder Garry and Elder Silvia that was based on the taking of land from tribes in Canada.  It was a saddening and heartbreaking experience to be involved in this activity. Their was so death and misery that was mentioned. I could only imagine what the native peoples of Canada had to through. Once we finished, we had a talking circle about what our thoughts, connected experiences or opinions about the activity. What was shared in the circle was so powerful but very emotional and numbing. At that moment, I felt so close and trusted by my peers which made me very happy. TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY.