It's a little cold...

Today I experienced the coldest temperature so far... -50 with the wind chill.
The Sec. 4 and 5 exiting exams started today (hence a large reason why I have been a shut in). Because of the temperature, classes were delayed an hour for all students except those with exams. Today was French (am and pm) so the only class I would have had to have taught would have been Sec. 1 art, but afternoon classes were then canceled because the weather hadn't warmed up. But still the poor Secondary 4 and 5 students had to make their way back here to take their 5-7 minute French oral exam.

What this has actually meant is that I have the time I need to plan a new term of English and Economics (which includes learning economics). Things are going okay. My early worries lied with the fact the we are writing our exams a week behind the ministry. That means I have to mark 10 short answer and an essay for each history student, then record their grades on a scantron sheet with the answers to their multiple choice questions and send them in to be scanned and calculated. The English exams consist of two essays (total 1200 words) and a response, which also have to be marked by the end of the week and results sent in. There are no turn around days... so the new term starts Thursday, so classes and term plans have to me planned and ready to go.

The best news is that the temperatures are to be like this all week. I have to give the English exam tomorrow and history Wednesday (fingers crossed) I may get to finish planning.
TTFN

Christmas

The holidays are big in Kawawachikamach. In the first week of December one of the Naskapi teachers held her annual potluck dinner. The dishes that were brought periled in comparison to the dishes that were made by the host. It was a Chinese buffet of caribou meat. Caribou meat is very flexible- there were egg rolls, honey garlic ribs, spicy meat balls, and the light meat was used for "Hawaiian chicken". It was delicious! I love caribou.

The following day we had our staff x-mas party. Another potluck, the school had bought turkeys and had over 20 dishes to choose from. Needless to say it was easy to gain weight.

For the kids it was decided on the final Wednesday to have a sing along. Below are a few pictures of us at the NCC (Native Community Center), and a sample of the grade 3 singing the 12 days of Christmas in Naskapi (sorry there was very little light.

Then, on Thursday we had class parties. The kids came in at 10am for two hours. The sec 4 and 5's decided that we would play games... aka poker. The morning went well, we cleaned our rooms, moved the desks and chairs and left for the holidays (Dec. 14- Jan 7 (but we work several Saturdays and start early).

I'm HOME!!!

And so I'm going to try to take the time to write down some of my various experiences while I have access to a reliable internet connection.

First things first. From the moment I arrived I was taken aback by the many packs of dogs that wonder freely between Kawa and Schefferville.

The issues with the dogs has become bothersome, pulling on my heart strings as the temperatures drop and food becomes increasingly rare. The first photo shows Andy providing food scraps to one of the packs. One point of interest is that a husky is always the pack leader, you can tell as he pushes his way into the window after the last of the scraps.

Will I never...

Last Friday, the Newfies had arranged to play Christmas Carols (and Maritime music) at the local restaurant (Bla Bla). During the performance Gean commented that he had to hurry home soon because he had a heart in the oven... "It was from a mighty large chicken"... So I thought nothing of it, its common to hear nonsensical banter. So they finished and we returned to Gean's. And there was in fact a fine smell coming from the over, but it wasn't chicken. The smell was like that of a roast. He promptly turned down the oven and removed a roasting pan. He lifted the top, and I needed to have a seat. It was a heart, and I asked what it was from... a caribou. The round of dark crimson meat was the size of a deflated football. Gean then told the crowd that he had stuffed it will turkey stuffing, so he hoped that it tasted okay. I could not bring myself to try even a sliver, and had to take myself to the smoking room just to get distance between myself and the heart.

The temperatures are dropping fast, its -26 today with the wind-chill, and you can feel it. The cold if different though, its light and dry which in some way makes it more bearable. But I've heard that it’s more dangerous. You don't feel the cold the same way and are more likely to under dress. A few of the Newfies got frostbite last year in only a few minutes while they were shoveling while wearing only thin gloves.

Christmas is right a round the corner =)

Newfies...

When I agreed to come to this remote section of the world I knew that I would have to adjust to the culture of the Naskapi people. Lately these adaptations have included my desensitization to red snow. The caribou have arrived, and it is custom to go hunting in skidoo and throw your catch into a large sleigh that you drag behind. Of course these sleds develop holes and create smears of red bloody snow. But these quickly disappear as they are eaten local packs of dogs (no word of a lie, packs of dogs).

But little did I expect that I would also have to become accustomed to the ways of the Newfie. The Newfies make up the majority of teachers in the school, and so they have become natural allies. In fact, it has become custom to meet on Fridays for a few beverages and live East coast music (guitar and accordion). This brings me to last Friday, when I arrived at 7:00, the boisterous Newfies were already three sheets to the wind, and one of the youngens had a little to much to fast. I quickly suggested that we get him some food. Agreeing with my diagnosis, the host sprang to work frying up what smelled like dark meet chicken. And so I sat and talked with the inebriated fellow, when the plate of food was sat before him.

Smelling delicious, I took a gander at the plate to see what looked like oval meatballs in gravy on a slice of home made bread. My gut wrenched when one of the pieces rolled from atop the pile towards me and I noticed a ventricle. Closing my eyes, I quickly asked the Chief what he had prepared. His response was "Chicken Hearts!", and I broke into uncontrollable hysterics of laughter as I leapt to my feet and turned my back to the plate.

I sat, claming my laughter and apologizing to the unphased crowd. The thought then stuck me, if I can bring myself to eat Caribou... why not? Before loosing my cool I asked "Can I try one?". Offering me a place, I had to reaffirm the ONE! But it was too late, the laughter and anxiousness had returned. I sat curled in a chair, and finally went for it. I popped the small, warm piece of meat into my mouth. It was firm and slightly fibrous. I concentrated on two things, chewing and not gagging. And it was down. It tasted like chicken, but the idea was haunting. Still, writing about it nearly a week later has caused my to loose my appetite.

But it is strange how new experiences are all around us. The most recent is the insane obsession to cut my hair. It has been 9 weeks since my last haircut, and each day drives me a little closer to madness as the ends curl and shift independently. There had been a plan for a group of us to have our hair trimmed last week, but the
woman was a no show. Tomorrow brings yet another opportunity, that if unsuccessful, will drive me to the brink and cause me to take drastic action. The local store does not sell trimmers, so I fear that I will be forced to take scissors to my own head-- ever cautious of my inherited big ears.

Arrggg... Why me...

Hello everyone,

I know that it has been a long time, and I assure you that there is a reason. In the third week of October there was a major storm which blew the antennia that controlled the internet away (like it went missing in the snow). Anyway, the guy that controlled the thing found the antennia and put it back on the roof in the hope that all would be fixed… but it wasen’t. He then went on a trip to Sept-Iles (I guess as a vacation for having put the antennia back up), and was informed that the net was still not working. So he came back this week to find out that it is a problem with the server (I think that’s what I heard). Anyway, he isn’t sure if he can fix it, and the buisness doen’t do well, so I don’t think he is motivated enough to fix it.

The luck thing (if you could say it), is that the net was a pay as you go system, and I needed to buy more hours before this started. But there are talks that he may be reimbursing some of the money (which means he has given up…).

Unfortunitly, the only working connections are here at the school and they are super strick on usage (15 minutes each day plus lunch). I have wanted to update the blog on the snow, Halloween and my recent snowmobile trip, but have been unable to. I’m looking of a solution to my problem, but so far the best is to buy a 300$ satillite and pay 50$ a month… not something that I want to do if I only stay a year… That reminds me to mention that the place is growing on me. Now that the snow is falling, and I can’t see the garbage everywhere, the place looks nicer. The kids are a little better now that the really bad ones are kicked out, and some have been sent to jail or juvie.

So, I figure that either the internet is fixed by Friday, or I start using a lunch hour a week to updat those that care… Fingers crossed that I can do this from home,
JW

Frustration

That is the word that I would use to describe my experience thus far. I have been unable to accomplish my academic goals. My efforts to facilitate learning have flopped; my application of best practices are ineffective. And I have had to ask myself why.

Through conversation with fellow teachers with far greater experience, I have been told repeatedly that the students “don’t care”. Being an eternal optimist in the potential of students, I felt that perhaps I could motivate my students. Many refuse to talk; literally looking in a different direction and ignoring the fact that I call their names. I have to contort my body to find their eyes, which then roll as I’m asked “what”. I am used to the idea of difficult students. But my frustration is compounded by the fact that the difficult students represent a majority. I feel as though I live in the “Bizzaro world” described on an episode of Seinfeld. Last year I would have 1-3 students out of 25 fail my tests. I now have 1-3 pass. And the results are drastically different. 10-20% of the class get less than 30%. I have been told to be happy with these results (which I find appalling and depressing). Last year only 15% of students passed history. Many of those that failed are now in my class.

I continue to be optimistic, believing that as long as I follow what I know, I will see some results. Lisa Delpit in “teaching other peoples children” describes the need in First Nations Communities to connect to culture and ancestry. My students don’t respect their culture or ancestors and don’t know their history. Trying to teach them their history and culture (outside of the curriculum requirements) was met by the same response as all classes. Lecture is like talking to a wall. Questions are not answered, and asking specific students results in shrugs or being ignored. Students don’t read or talk for jigsaws, they don’t speak to one another in group discussions. They won’t create non-linguistic representations… the only thing they will do is take endless notes. But this is an ineffective means of learning, and I continue to try what I know will work through the hostility.

I had my art classes create personal representations and the results, although creative, are disturbing as they were created by 11 and 12 year olds.