Elder busier now than ever on Peigan reserve

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Peigan Elder Louise English is probably as busy now as she's ever been - and for a mother a 14 children, that's busy indeed.

Though her children are all grown - she has 35 grandchildren and eight-great-grandchildren - English is still involved in their lives, especially with the two daughters, three sons and their families who still live on the reserves. But sewing, cooking and housekeeping aren't the only things that occupy Louise's time.

She's highly active in her church, teaches Blackfoot, works with the Elders Society, spent a term on the tribal council, and, since her second husband Julius English died three years ago, has been running a small ranch on her own.

"I have about 20 head right now, but I'd like to have more," she said. "I do most of the work myself, though my boys help out sometimes."

"I grew up along the river, and I lived here with my first husband, Omer (Julius' brother) until his death. My grandmother lived along the river too and I used to go with her to pick plants that she used. I don't know a lot about the plants my people used, but I know mint and kinnickkinnick. There's a lot of it growing out here and my grandmother used to smoke it. I feel very close to the land, though there are hardships living out here by herself," she adds.

Mud in the spring and summer, and ice or snow on the road leading down the steep hill to her home often keep English at home for several days at a time, especially since she had to sell her late husband's four wheel pick up truck.

"The pension I get just isn't enough to live on," she says. "I have extra money coming in for groceries, but it's very hard for most of the old people to manage.

"Julius was the chairman for the Peigan Health Board and used to talk about using an old ambulance the tribe has as a Handi-bus for seniors and disabled people, or trading it for one, but he could never get anyone to do anything. You just have to depend on your family if you want to get out - and if you're in a wheelchair, it's a real problem to get into an ordinary car."

English says when Julius died she went through a period of depression, not wanting to go out at all, but eventually some of the Elders convinced her to come to their meetings. Since then she's become a board member of the sitting Behind Eagle Tailfeathers Elders Society and one of the chief organizers of their meetings and activities.

"We hold a meeting every Tuesday, from one to four, and we have people come in to talk to us about what's going on and to hear our concerns. We have it organized with an agenda now, so people know what's going on, and we just had a formal policy drawn up for the society," she says.

The Elders society also holds a Christmas dinner and gift exchange every year, hosts holy feather games and other activities and also organizes a trip every year.

"Last year we rented three vans and went to Seattle and Vancouver for about a week. We do a lot of fundraising, so the trip doesn't cost much for each person. I think it was about $50 last year," English said.

The society's fund-raising ventures include craft sales and English fills much of her spare time with sewing, a pastime she enjoys and excels at. She also spends much of her time at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where she is one of the spiritual advisers.

"My parents were very traditional - only spoke Blackfoot - but I don't really know a lot about the old ways. When I started school (Sacred Heart Boarding School) I only spoke Blackfoot but I never knew about the Indian traditional, even though my father, Charlie Crow Eagle, was a medicine man."

English says she respects the old ways of her people, but, because she doesn't know enough about them, she sticks to the Catholicism she learned as a child.

"I wouldn't want to get things mixed up and do something wrong, so I don't practice any of the old ways. I think what's important is to be proud of what you are, and not to worry about what you aren't. My children were ll baptized Catholics, but some of them don't practice their faith now. I just pray for them to go the right way and be proud of themselves."

English does help teach Blackfoot to the youngsters at the Peigan School, substituting occasionally, and now as part of the Elders-in-Residence program.

"I really enjoy the teaching. I think it's important for the children to know their language."

Several times a year English travels to Edmonton, to sit on the Alberta Indian Health Care Department Elders Advisory Board.

"We give input into their policies, and I can visit my children who live there, too," she said. Last July she also helped organize a pilgrimage to Lac Ste. Anne, for her church.

Most recently, English has also offered to be a board member for the Napi Friendship Association in Pincher Creek.

"It's a challenge. I think it's important to get involved. There are very few old people left here, especially the ones over 65. (Band records show only 52 seniors living) we so have to be communicating with the younger people. They're going to be the Elders of the future," she said.

"It's very important that we exchange ideas with the people, and with the Chief and Council, not just about our traditions and language, but about politics too," she adds. "When I was young, Indian Affairs controlled our lives completely. They treated us all like little children. Now, they can't do that anymore, so they just try to ignore us. All the politicians do, except at election time. We had an Indian candidate here in the last election, (Liberal, Roy Whitney), and we supported him. But now you don't see the Liberals or anyone come by.