Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
[English translation] He shared the story in the 1980’s in the book of elders. Hey, it’s okay. I’ve provided copies to my colleagues and translation as I understand it is on channel three.
Joseph Sabourin was born in the autumn of 1920 around Kakisa. My father sent me to mission school for four years but I didn’t learn much. When he died my mother moved into a house in town. I left school and stayed with her. I was 12. We had no traps so we were given five. There used to be a lot of foxes where the airport is now, so my mother sent me to set the trap there, with fish heads for bait. I set the trap on the bank. When the fox was caught, it rolled down onto the ice and got away with the trap. My mother was real mad and wouldn’t give me another. Instead she made me a snare with heavy wire from the store. I tried again, but my hands were so cold I didn’t set it right. I did catch a fox and it got away, with the snare. Eventually though I did get one and it was worth $35. My mother could now buy sugar, tea, and tobacco at the store. I was hoping and hoping that she would buy me some candy but all she said was, “since this is your first animal, give some tea, sugar and tobacco to the old people. Then you will have good luck in the future.” I didn’t get a cent. I guess she was right though, because I’m still alive today. My mother died when I was 14, so I lived with other families. One man didn’t have any children of his own so he asked me to live with him and his wife and he said he would treat me as his own son. He taught me how to track a moose and we always went hunting in the summer. I have travelled all over on foot. Tathlina Lake is a big lake and I’m sure my footprints are all around it. I love living in the bush, especially at Redknife. It can be grim when it’s cold and you have caught no fish, but if you kill a moose, then you rejoice. My happiest time of my life was raising my family in the bush. We had to move into town so the children could attend school. Since that time it has become harder and harder for us to return to our way of life. Life on the land is now considered to be of little value but I would rather live in the bush than have a job. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation ends]
Masi. I’m always encouraged to hear one of the official languages in the House. Masi for that. Members’ statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
