To give and to receive

Page 6

OPINION

Jack and Helena Kakakaway are "modern day" missionaries. They recently spent several weeks in a reserve in northern Saskatchewan. The people they met and the poverty and disease they witnessed had a profound effect on their lives.

In this, the second of a two-part series, Helena tells how other nearby communities reacted to their visit and how she and Jack are now re-evaluating their lives and are learning a new appreciation for the many luxuries they used to take for granted.

"Scabies", is defined by the Webster dictionary as "a contagious skin disease caused by mites and characterized by intense itching and scabs," was a very common ailment amongst the children of the Black Lake reserve in Saskatchewan. Women brought their children to us covered in scabs from head to toe. When one child had it, the disease spread to the entire family.

First, we taught them the basics of hygiene. In Black lake, we found this teaching gratefully received and practised.

But when we were summoned on our seventh day, to another reserve which was an hour's flight away, we found their attitude quite different and felt we were butting into their affairs by suggesting that they were not practising proper health habits. We were summoned to this reserve for they were also in need of assistance and we were dismayed at what we saw.

The reserve was 1,700 in population but was run by a Chief and Council who seemed to have no regard for the welfare of their people. Alcoholism ran rampant and cleanliness was used only as a matter of necessity. For two reserves so close together we were shocked at the difference in the people however, they came in droves to see us as well.

Because we could only spend just one day there, they set up the town hall for our visit. The first person to see us crawled in on her hands and knees stricken with arthritis and it was obvious she hadn't bathed in a very long time. Our hearts went out to that poor woman but in our own way, we gave her peace and serenity.

By the end of the day, we had been invited to return to build another sweatlodge, and spend more time with them. By this time, the word had spread of this "duo" who had flown in from civilization who were genuinely concerned about the welfare of the people and the people started flying in from Manitoba. We must remember that apart from boat as the snow was virtually gone, the only means of travel was by air, and we were amazed at how the "moccasin telegraph" worked in the North. We were getting invitations from all over but all we could do was to assure them that we would be back.

We truly learned the meaning of gratitude. These people were poor but wanted to show us their appreciation any way they could. We came home with mukluks, moccasins, mitts, all kinds of beadwork, hides, furs and Caribou meat. And the most important in the Native culture ? tobacco.

There were times we felt so helpless, yet looking at the smiles of appreciation and the farewell committee at the airport, we realized that we had given hope and peace to so many. We hadn't even unpacked our suitcases when the phone range asking us when we would be back.

After settling back into our what used to seem humdrum existence, we took inventory of our lives and were truly humble. What right have we to feel sorry for ourselves, complain and become obsessed with our own self-pity? We had just left people who in our opinion, had nothing but yet had so much.

We had left them smiling and happy surrounded by children living on the avails of nature. Many of them had visited the large cities and had to escape from the concrete jungle to seek the peace and serenity of Mother Earth. Yes, they were suffering from disease, chemical poisoning, lack of formal education and the things we call the amenities of life, yet they were happy and grateful. Yes, Jack and I learned a very large lesson and each time we feel ourselves slipping into the oh, so, common state of self-pity, we shall quickly loo at our pictures or better yet, return to the North for a touch of humility.

We have truly been blessed ? our work has just begun.

Jack and Helen Kakakaway have now returned to their home in Calgary. They are planning another trip to northern Saskatchewan later this year.