canadiana 101: the inuksuk

 I'd never heard of an Inuksuk until I moved to Canada.  While we don't have them in the United States, they are literally everywhere in Canada.  Originally found among many of the Arctic cultures (including the Inuit and Inupiat), the symbol has become adopted by Canadian citizens of all varieties.  It was heavily featured in the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, and is often viewed as the archetypal symbol of Canada. In fact, unlike the maple leaf (that other famous Canadian symbol), Inuksuit can be found across the country, while the maple tree only grows in the east. 


  While I won't go in to the political ramifications of adopting (or, as some would argue, co-opting) a piece of indigenous culture, I do find it interesting how beloved Inuksuit are among Canadians.  You'll find them in all kinds of places, from front yards to the most remote corners of national parks.  You'll spot them for sale in tacky souvenir shops, and being displayed in art galleries as 'high art.'


  For the uninitiated, the Inuksuk is literally a pile of rocks.  Inuksuit (plural form, not a typo) often take the shape of a human figure, with an erect back and outstretched arms.  They may be used for navigational purposes, for spiritual reasons or simply for aesthetic pleasure.  Honestly, I'm not sure what the heck they are traditionally used for, and I'm not sure many other people are, either.  Yet that doesn't stop people from loving, making and selling them.


  It should be pointed out that there is a lot of contention about the use of Inuksuit.  There is good reason for this -- the symbol has been taken completely out of its original cultural and spiritual context, and often gets co-opted in to advertising campaigns. The symbol is splashed across everything from tea towels and beer bottles.  Many Canadians don't even know what the the Inuksuit mean, and the fact that they do have spiritual value to the people of the north.  


  That said, I personally find them very beautiful and a wonderful symbol of the north.  It's always quite startling to come across an Inuksuk.  It brings to minds all kinds of questions -- who built it? When? For what purpose?


  I find it especially charming how tourists treat the inuksuit they come across while visiting national parks and other outdoorsy types of places where the Inuksuit tend to be built in larger numbers.  I have literally seen a pair of Canadian hikers build an Inuksuk, only to have it 'discovered' twenty minutes later by a pair of Europeans who loudly commented on the 'ancient Native artificat' in their midst.

In honor of the beautiful Canadian tradition of the Inuksuk, here are some photographs of various Inuksuit I have captured over the past year or so.  They're probably not ancient artifacts, but they are truly Canadian.

 

2:10am

  like most people, i never really express appreciation for the simple things that enrich my life.  they are small things, simple things, things that are rarely paid attention to.  they are things that are taken for granted and then put aside for later use.  that's the whole problem with modern life, really.  it's the same thing. many of us take the small things for granted, often to the point where it leaks over in to our relationships with people.  we assume that these people will always be there, and that they will always be around to help us through our various trials in life. our often very ridiculous, insignificant trials.

  it's been a difficult season, for many reasons. i'm not in a sour mood -- not truly -- but i cannot lie. things have been tough. i keep thinking how low i feel, and take all the positive things happening in my life for granted.  i push them aside. it'd ridiculous, really. i see it in other people too, so i know it's not just me.  it's a symptom of something larger, perhaps of modern society as a whole. who knows?

but no matter how difficult things get, there are always a number of things that make me truly happy. me, and you, and everyone else. we just need to appreciate them, instead of casting them aside until the moment we need them. as for me, it's those rare and fleeting moments of quiet peace, of a gentle and soundless kind of happiness, that enable me to keep functioning.  it's appreciation that keeps me strong.

 so, as a reminder to myself -- and maybe you too? -- here are some nice and simple things that make me smile. i hope some of these things make you smile, too. and if not, well, please take a moment to think about what small things enrich your life.  it's quite lovely to realize how lucky we all are, even down to the smallest and most seemingly insignificant of ways.

happy

candles.christmas lights. blue glass bottles. kittens. babies with big eyes. a good southern rain storm. old dogs. purple velvet. the smell of pancakes on the griddle. bird songs. freshly fallen snow. embers. your hand in mine. love. hope. confidence. acceptance. the smile of the dalali lama in his photos. having faith that it will all be okay.  hugging a friend after a long time apart. the quiet of 3 in the morning. the shadows of flickering flames on walls. monkey noises.  dolphins. the universe. prairie winds.  the winter moon. the summer sun.

as a side note: i didn't really intend to disregard upper case & lower case letters in this posting.  i actually rather loathe that sort of pretentious letter play that is so common in bad modern prose. it's definitely not my intent here.  any way, i just started writing and ended up not hiting the caps lock key once.  so, here it is.  not intentional, but it's not getting fixed, either. what the hell, i might as well break a few grammatical rules.  i already slaughter them by the bucketful as it is. 

thank you, canada

  I've been living in Canada for over a year now.  I am slowly settling in to this place.  I feel fond of my adopted home.  To be truthful, sometimes there are times that I wish I had been born Canadian; carrying around the social albatross that is an American identity can be very trying. People will often treat me differently, once they realize where I'm from. I love my country, but I'm also frightened for it, and at the directions it is going in.  If I were Canadian, I could let all of that go, and of all of the negativity I experience from non-Americans for being born in the 'Land of the Free'. 

  Canadians are honestly treated a lot better, at least from an international standpoint.

  So yes, I'm claiming Canadian identity for myself. It's not just because of the American issue.  It is also because I genuinely like the place.  It is different from any other place I've ever been, sometimes in subtle and unexpected ways.  I think that's a really beautiful thing, and something that I'm very fortunate to be able to experience.

 It may be temporary, but for the time that I live here, I would like to be able to consider myself as 'Canadian' as any other new immigrant.  I pay taxes, I abide by the laws, I've studied up on the history and social customs.  I have spent significant time here, starting as a young child.  I have family members that live in this country.  I speak the main language.  I share a common continent and cultural bond. So, why not?  

  This doesn't negate my own American identity, or the fact that I also identify with the nation of my father's origin.  When asked, I feel hard pressed to be able to list myself as belonging to any one country.  I have too many connections to too many places.  Is it a sign of modernity when people become multinational entities?


  In the understanding that this does not negate my 'American-ness' or 'European-ness' in any way, I would like to say a big thank you to the nation of Canada for hosting me for the past year.  You've been pretty friendly, and over all, a really positive experience.  I've met some truly kind people here, and learned a lot of important things.  My life has been richer since moving here. I've also learned that I can cope with really damn cold winters.  I think your weather kind of sucks, but then again, everything looks more beautiful in the snow.  So, yeah. Thank you. It's pretty good here.

  Thank you, Canada.

canadian finals rodeo

  The Canadian Finals Rodeo, held in November, is a massive international gathering of cowboys and cowgirls from across North America.  Held over four days, the CFR is one of those classically western events that you can only find in very specific parts of the world.  

  I had a chance to attend both the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the smaller Farmfair that proceeded the main event.  A friend invited me to the fair. She summed it up as "a bunch of cows and the guys who ride 'em."  I've had limited experience with rodeos, but never with one as large, famous or international as the Canadian Finals.  So, I figured, why not? I'm living in Canada, and I might as well soak up the local culture.  Plus, the opportunity to mingle with real cowboys was just to good to pass up. 

  We started off at the Farmfair.  It was a massive event in its own right, with different halls dedicated to everything and anything related to livestock.  Stalls and pens were ordered in precise, tidy rows, with their somewhat messier occupants held within.  There were all kinds of cows (so many breeds!), from fluffy white calves to massive black bulls.  I witnessed the age old ritual of the Cow Shit, which involves a cow uncomfortably shifting around, followed by a lifting of then tail, and then the almost immediate projective and spraying brown liquid.  I saw cute goats with their kids, quite a few beautiful horses, some ducks, chickens (which were absolutely ridiculous in the way that they pranced around their pen),  and even a little clique of pigs.  (Pig herd? Litter? Social unit of swine? Whatever works.  All that matters is how cute the sight of a bunch of pigs is!)


  We also strolled around and checked out the wide assortment of incredibly tacky wares for sale by an eclectic group of vendors.  I saw a lot of really bad art, mostly involving cowboys, mustangs and cow skulls.  You know, the usual kitschy fare that you find on the walls of seedy motels in Arizona.  There were a few questionable objects for sale, such as 'authentic dream catchers' and 'aboriginal style jewelry.'  There were quite a few food vendors, and I came very close to purchasing some Saskatoon berry syrup. To be honest, I kind of wish I had, in hindsight. 

  There was even a guy who was cooking a demo meal for a live audience.  I can't remember what he was selling, but I did sample the salad he created on the spot.  It was quite tasty, although I wasn't sure what the big deal was.  Salad is, after all, not especially difficult to throw together.


  The highlight of my evening was getting an autograph with Terry Grant, 'the Real Mantracker.'  A friend once described him to me as a 'Canadian Sean Connery,' which strangely fits, somehow.  He was formerly affiliated with a popular show here in Canada, Mantracker.  I won't waste time here writing about the show, but click on the link if you want to know more about it.  It's quite entertaining.

  Terry was friendly, charming and very attractive in person.  I think I ended up confessing my undying love for the Mantracker to all my friends for the rest of the night.  It certainly became a popular joke for the evening.


  After the Mantracker/cows/goats/tacky stuff for sale adventure at Farmfair, we headed over to the insanely crowded Canadian Finals Rodeo.  The crowd was massive, energetic and definitely fans of all things Western.  I felt distinctly out of place without a cowboy hat or boots.  Even a plaid shirt would have helped me feel more at home.


  For the rest of the evening, I sipped beers and watched the amazing spectacle that is the great North American rodeo.  Barrel racing (fast!), bronco riding (amazing!), bareback (bold), team and steer roping (skillful!) and bull riding (anticlimactic, since almost no one was able to hang on long enough for a decent ride.)  I loved every second of it.  There was such a charge of energy in the stadium, the lights were bright, the air smelled faintly of sweat and horse flesh, and people were rowdy but respectful.  

  It was especially fun to watch all the different personalities of the animals.  The calves and steer were especially funny; they had very distinct personas.  Some were quite prissy, and would prance about with the conceited grace of an especially leggy catwalk model.  Others were simply dignified, or bored.  A few were mischievous, and seemed to relish in making humans run around after them. 


  As with any new cultural experiences, there were a few unexpected moments during the rodeo.  I generally roll with the punches pretty well, but did find myself taken aback during the opening ceremony for the event.  A rather jarring scene unfolded, in which giant one crosses slowly descended from the rafters during the patriotic strains of 'O, Canada.' While the overhead lights dimmed in the auditorium, the crosses were lit up with the furious white glow of spotlights.  I felt like I was staring at the westernized version of a Liberace set.  For a moment I thought I had accidentally fallen into some parallel universe featuring an Evangelical mega church. It took me quite a while to realize that this rousing display was, in fact, in honor of a very important holiday in Canada.  Remembrance Day is a sacred tradition here, and treated with the utmost respect.  In the context of the holiday, the crosses were symbolic of the grave markers over the bodies of buried veterans.  A lovely gesture, but rather jarring when it has to be explained to you. 

 


  For anyone interested in going, you can sometimes get discount tickets.  I'd definitely suggest the Farmfair, as well.  Who can resist the sight of fluffy cows and little lambs with big brown eyes?  You might even get to pet some, if you're lucky.