Entertainer Wuttunee recalls first acquaintance with Chief Dan George

Page 7

NOTE: It is with respect that Windspeaker proudly announces the arrival of a new family member to the newspaper, Winston Wuttunee, entertainer and now Windspeaker Columnist.

Winston Wuttunee is a member of the Red Pheasant Reserve in Saskatchewan and as his first column indicates, he will be sharing many of his experiences with us.

Welcome aboard Winston!

In 1969 I was stationed in Camp Petawawa as a B/Sergeant in the regimental band of the Canadian Guards. Camp Petawawa is 100 miles north of Ottawa and is located in some fine fishing and hunting country. While there I spent many relaxing hours fishing on those quiet northern lakes casting for the pike and pickerel which were in great abundance. As an older man today I can look back on those carefree days as a young single man and appreciate the good luck I had to be posted there.

I can appreciate the rugged beauty and isolation of the North much more than I could in those days when all I wanted was to have a posting in the big city of Ottawa where all the action was. I know now that I was in a sportsman's paradise and luckily I realize that I benefited while there.

One day I received a call at work from Banff, Alberta. An Elsie Bourgaize was

on the phone inviting me to go and sing at a big education conference coming up in three weeks. I would be featured along with some other singers and drummers and we would provide the entertainment for the conference. I asked the boss for the whole week off and after I explained what it was for, he didn't hesitate to give me the time off. Looking back today I can easily see that many were the individuals in my life who were just as anxious as I was to see me and be proud of who I was as an Indian. I thank them for that!

Three weeks later I was in Banff. I had checked into my room, hung all my clothing up in the closet, washed and up and was ready to go out and meet the other delegates. Over coffee I was soon laughing and joking it up with some other young Indians my age. They came from all over Canada and I was quite impressed with the knowledge they had about their own band affairs and in general what was happening with Indians all over Canada. Some of those young people today are our leaders in education, politics and the Arts.

Rodney Soonias from Red Pheasant Reserve in Saskatchewan was one of the first Indians to get a Masters in Education.

Vivian Ayoungman is another name that I remember who, I see quite often, heading up special departments in universities or starting special programs in colleges.

Gordon Tootoosis we now see on the big silver screen acting in film.

I also had to notice the way things got done in a jovial way - people were always joking and I soon found out that's how things got done. Even today, when I got amongst the Native people, I always feel good with the laughter and easy atmosphere.

I was also impressed by two older men who were there, notably Chief Dan George, the famous actor who has since passed away and the equally talented artist, George Clutesi, both from Vancouver.

When I first arrived in Banff, everyone was talking about Chief Dan George but

as I was totally ignorant about many Indian happenings and people, I did not know who Chief Dan George was. It was at this conference held in the beautiful summer resort of Banff that I was to become the grandson of Chief Dan George and his most gracious wife.

The first time that I laid eyes on them, they had just motored in from Vancouver and they were very tried and without a room. I know why there were no rooms vacant because I was there to witness the arrival of many guests that morning who had not booked rooms. They have arrived that morning demanding floor time and accommodations from the conference organizers who were in a tough spot as they did not want to be labelled as unsympathetic. Red Power was the latest thing in the Indian world and I was able to sympathize with both the delegates and the organizers.

At this time I as like everyone else, unaware that the old famous chief had arrived. While on my way to the cafe I had to pass by the lobby and I noticed an old Indian couple standing in the lobby. I could tell that something was wrong. I thought perhaps they were getting a rough time from the desk clerk so I marched over to be of some assistance. Happily, they informed me they were not getting a rough time but someone definitely had their room and they wanted a room right away. They were very tired from their long trip. I remember the old lady telling me they had driven eight hours and this was why they were so tired.

I remember thinking to myself when I first entered my room that it was funny that I had two big beds in the room just for me. Now I had a chance to make use of them, I quickly told them of the two beds in my room and how they were certainly welcome to use them as long as they wanted. They were happy when I told them and graciously accepted my offer.

Once in my room the old chief wasted no time in going to sleep. I could see he was not kidding when he said he was tired. I suddenly thought of my own father and how after a long trip the first thing he wanted to do was lie down and get some rest. I found myself thinking about Dad and for a few moments, acute loneliness filled my soul. I was soon brought back to reality as the chief's wife sought to make herself comfortable in the armchair. I told her where I was from and what I was doing for a living. She found it quite interesting that I was making my living in the Canadian army as a musician.

Before I had gone out of my room I had taken my guitar out of its case and left it standing behind the armchair I was now sitting in. I noticed her looking at it and a smile creeped up on her face. She asked me, "Is that your guitar?" I told her it was and asked

if I would be so kind as to play a song or two for her. Of course, I said that I would be happy to and began to give Mrs. Dan George her own private little concert tere in my room while her husband slept blissfully on.

Every once in a while I would be aware of his soft snores and I would attempt to play quieter. She soon noticed that I was uncomfortable singing as I thought that I would wake the old man. She said, "Don't worry about singing too loud as we have lots of grandchildren and we are used to lots of noise."

I sang a few more songs. This time I was much more vocal. I began to wonder why the old lady wasn't tired like her husband. She said she had been able to get some sleep on the road as her husband had done all the driving.

When the old chief woke up, we had a good time laughing and joking. I remembered him saying before he went to sleep that he was hungry, so I asked him if he would like to go down to the restaurant to eat. This idea was met with a hearty approval and so the three of us made our way to the restaurant.

By this time I began to wonder who the lucky people were that this very special old couple had come to see.

As I listened to the old man speak, as they talked among themselves I realized he was someone special. I could see this by the way he talked and the proud way he carried himself. By now I was a little curious. The thought still had not entered my mind that he might be someone famous. I think if I had known I probably would have been shy and not so comfortable with them. As it was, we were completely enjoying each others company.

When we were first leaving the room, the old lady turned to face me taking both my hands in hers and said "It is a very good thing to respect your Elders and to be kind to them. For your kindness you have shown to us when we were in need, the day will come to you when you too will have long white hair like this old man, and you too will be called an Elder. Now I want you to call me grandmother and this old man I want you to call him grandfather. Thus did I gain a grandmother and grandfather.

At that moment I was aware of a certain kind of love and awe, slowly begining to seep through my heart and soul. Little did I dream that one day I would sit and watch my adopted grandfather on the big silver screen, known the world over as the very famous Chief Dan George. Nor was I to know at that time how one man could bring so much pride to the Indian people at a time in our history when we needed a hero so badly and some kind of figure to give us all something in common. Chief Dan George filled the bill and was to later bring joy and happiness and laughter whenever he played in a movie.

I followed his progress proudly over the next 13 years and in 1975 I was to meet two of his sons at the Mariposa Festival held in Toronto. I was to call them uncle and at that time I explained to them why I called them so. It was a good time for the three of us as we had a common ground to stand on. Their father was my grandfather and there was no question in our hearts as to our relationship.

I regret I never was to see my grandmother again and I only saw grandfather one more time before he passed away.

Just before he died, my wife and I and our son Wasaskum and our daughter Rachel were in Vancouver and knowing that he was sick, we went to Mission with my sister Amy to visit him. By this time he was too weak to visit long but as it was a beautiful day I asked him if he would like to go outside and enjoy the fresh mountain air. He said he would, so I put him in his wheelchair and wheeled him outside. We sat and talked and I told him what I had been doing and how I too was making a niche in life as a singer/entertainer. At that time I took a picture of him with my son Wasaskum. I still have that picture and when my son is a man I shall give it to him and tell him all about the old chief and how he made a whole nation and generation of Indians proud.

Whenever I go to Vancouver, I phone my uncles on my adopted grandfather's side and if busy schedules permit. we visit. We enjoy a unique relationship and we are proud of each other. Especially my uncle