Far North Rambles #4: Even The Ravens Will Eat
It was a beautiful April Sunday. The Sun was warm, the sky was blue, and not a cloud was to be seen. I had been in Fort Hope for technical meetings that week, within the homeland of Eabametoong First Nation, and decided to stay for the weekend. I was visiting with the Christine and Andy Yesno, and some of their family and their grandchildren, at the Yesno homestead. Andy Yesno was one of my patient Far North, First Nation mentors. That morning, Andy suggested that he, his son Brad, and I go out on the winter land where they would show me how they trapped, hunted and harvested fish. I was about to experience some aspects of First Nation traditional life.
Part of the mutual interest was to deepen my understanding of First Nation life living off the land. Part of the mutual interest was to help me compose photos to share with my colleagues, some select very senior Ontario Government officials, and some Ontario Government political staff to help broaden their awareness and understanding of life in the Far North. Part of the mutual interest was to enjoy the marvellous day in the Far North.
I am not a hunter, but I learned from Brad some of his hunting techniques (Photo 1). I am not a trapper, but I learned from Andy about the Pine Marten trap and how to quickly dispatch a Pine Marten (Photo 2). I had not harvested fish using a fish net placed under the ice, but both Brad and Andy showed me how it was done (Photo 3). Yes, it was an amazing experience, although I know I did not help as much as I should have to pull the net and remove the netted fish.
Almost all the harvested fish went into plastic buckets for the ski-doo ride back to their homestead. There was a small pile of mostly suckers (nah-may-bin or namebin, I think) off to the side. I looked at them, but said nothing, assuming there was a reason. Andy caught my look and he quietly said “even the Ravens will eat today”. Then cracked his quiet, contagious smile. No other words were exchanged. We got on the snow machines, returned to the homestead, and left that small pile of fish as an offering to the Ravens who were cheerfully vocal on that spring day.
Sharing of food with band members is an important cultural aspect of First Nation life. Sharing of food and gifts with visitors is an important aspect of First Nation life. But before that day, I had not experienced the sharing of food with the animals.
Nothing was wasted. Even the Ravens are respected and they enjoyed a fine fish meal that day.
Photo 1: Brad Yesno, son of Andy Yesno (Eabametoong First Nation), showing me his hunting techniques, which is part of the First Nation traditional use of the land. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, in the Eabamet Lake area, northwestern Ontario, April 4/04.
Photo 2: Andy Yesno (Eabametoong First Nation) teaching me about his trapping techniques - part of his traditional use of the land. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, in the Eabamet Lake area, northwestern Ontario, April 4/04.
Photo 3: Brad Yesno (left) and Andy Yesno (right), both band members of Eabametoong First Nation, harvesting fish from Eabamet Lake, northwestern Ontario. Harvesting fish is part of the First Nation traditional use of the land. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, in the Eabamet Lake area, northwestern Ontario, April 4/04.
Andy Fyon, Aug 16, 2020 (Facebook, February 14/20); Jan 2/23.