Youth are part of a revolution

Page 5

Yesterday I was in North Battleford at my son's soccer game. Blake is nine and he plays for North Battleford Tribal Council. They played an exhibition game against Red Pheasant First Nation. These boys are getting ready to go to the Indian Summer Games in August at the Little Pine First Nation.

Long before Blake played sports, he was powwow dancing. I took many photographs of him. His photographs have been everywhere. There's a funny thing about this boy, everybody really loves him. For as far back as I can remember, people have been attracted to this little guy.

Blake stood out on the soccer field. He's about two or three inches taller than everyone else on his team. As a dad, I realized that little guy that I took pictures of is turning very quickly into a young man.

He's a boy that tries really hard. It doesn't matter if it's hockey, soccer or powwow dancing. He always tries really hard. He's fortunate because he always does really well. And even when he's hurt, he still tries hard.

Like yesterday, his knee was scratched up pretty bad from a bike accident on the gravel road and his toe is wounded from a trampoline accident at his cousin's. Blake was still out there hustling.

But it's more than just being his dad and being proud of your child. That boy stands in himself. He has a strength of spirit and character. I think it's why his photographs were so popular.

After soccer we took the kids to McDonald's for dinner. It's a must when you have the little ones with you and you are in the city. There's more evidence that Blake is growing into a young man. He would rather go to Kentucky Fried Chicken than McDonald's these days. But we had three little ones with us, so McDonald's it was.

And on the way home, something truly incredible happened. From the highway, when you looked east, it was all dark clouds and rain. To the west, however, the sun shone brightly. As we drove down into a valley, we saw the most beautiful rainbow ever. It was all contained in the valley and we could see the entire arch of the rainbow. It was brightly colored and took our breath away. Both my wife and I agreed we have never seen anything so spectacular. And as we stood in that cool rain, magically, above the first rainbow, a second one appeared.

My wife remembers hearing about this double rainbow. If she remembers right, it's part of a prophecy about the coming generations and the strength coming back to Indian nations. I think this rainbow was for my son. For his strength, courage and commitment to be all that he can be. I am humbled. Because my son lives in a world where people believe in him.

This is a world that I did not have as a young boy or even as a young man.

When I look at my son, I truly believe we are part of a revolution in Indian country. When we believe in each other, care about each other and help each other, it's true, we can really change the world.

All day yesterday, I just kept thinking about the kids. And all day yesterday, it just kept coming back to the same thing. I didn't really want to go to town, but I figured I had to support my son in his efforts at soccer. If we just care about the kids and make sure that they are living in good and safe spaces, then we don't really have to worry much about things like politics or self government. Being responsible to your kids is self government. I really learned something yesterday and I could feel it in my gut. Those two rainbows just seemed to be the most beautiful exclamation mark I have ever seen!