Wednesday August 16, 2006
Location: Leaving Wrigley, En Route to Yellowknife.

I spent this past weekend in the community of Wrigley just north of Fort Simpson. When I asked how big Wrigley is, I never got a straight answer, but I did hear, “Not sure, but it’s probably one of the only places with more dogs than people.”

Before I pulled into Wrigley for the first time I stopped at a small spot in the woods outside of town to have a cat nap. I was fast asleep when all of a sudden I heard footsteps outside my van, I awoke and pulled back the front curtain slightly, to see a man walking away to a white truck. Inside the van was another woman who seemed to see me. She waved laughing and then they pulled away out of sight.

Later as I was driving through town, I was thinking, man there’s not much to see, I might as well turn around, when all of a sudden driving up the hill into sight was that white truck again. Smiling and laughing they pulled up beside me, the man leaned out, we exchanged greetings, and they told me of a better campsite just up ahead at the end of town. And then, gesturing to the back of the pickup, Darcy the driver asked, “Hey do you want some moose meat? We got four today for the spiritual gathering this weekend.” Usually I’d be like HELL YA, but to be honest I was caught a little off guard and I was like, “Ummm, wha, (looking at the pile of meat in the back of the truck) Umm, sure.” Rose, the woman sitting next to him, said, “We’ll come visit you, and bring you some later.”

I guess I’m not turning around and driving out of town. Devine, moose meat, intervention. A few trucks came by my campsite, but most people, including Darcy and Rose Moses, figured I was sleeping, or best left alone.

The next day I drove through town and all was quiet… which was ok since I had to get back to Fort Simpson for my flight with Simpson Air, as I was leaving I saw Darcy and Rose at the Band office, “Where’s my moose meat?” I demanded jokingly, they smiled and we got to chatting about the upcoming weekends Spiritual Gathering, they invited me for lunch and we chatted some more, good energy all around.

Later after visiting the site of the sweat lodge with Rose, I talked briefly with Chief Tim Lennie about the pipeline, and then Darcy and I talked for a good three hours in his office about film, fashion and art in general. Darcy Moses is a well-known fashion designer from Montreal (among other places) who is up in Wrigley reconnecting with his biological family and, I can only guess, exploring his personal process. It was really nice to talk to him.

I really wanted to stay to help setup for the Gathering, but instead headed out for my flight in Simpson. When I got off the plane to after the flight on Friday night I ran into my friend Larry, who told me he was actually praying for a way to Wrigley. Larry has been in Simpson for 6 years and never made it up to the gathering. It was time, I guess. Devine, guy with a van heading north, intervention ;-)

Larry and I drove up to Wrigley talking about Buckminster Fuller, Quantum Physics, hope and healing, and how, if as a people, we don’t our direction soon, we’ll be REALLY F#$|(ED!

We pulled into Wrigley just in time for the Dene Hand Games, which I could not even begin to explain, so I won’t. All I’ll say is it involves concealing objects from your opponents in one of your two hands using trickery, fast movements, shifty eyes, and maybe even a little magic. It was great to watch and try to understand, maybe one day.

The Gathering also included great feasts (prepared by Rose, who swore she’ll never cook again, although she’s a chef by trade, hehe :-), Pow Wow dancing, Residential School Healing Workshops, Traditional Plant Use Workshops, and Live Music with John Landry. For me it was hand games all the way, I loved it! It’s funny, although I really had no idea what was going on, the energy of the beating drums, the laughter of the players and crowd, and the magic of the movements were contagious, I couldn’t leave.

The people of Wrigley were gracious hosts. It’s a good thing I didn’t turn around that first day, like so many other visitors probably do. Sometimes you have to be a little patient, a little lucky, or simply scratch beneath the surface in order to see things for what they truly are.

In the smallest places, where nothing is happening, great things often lay in waiting.

Peace,
D