Fire Brigade on parade
Story told by Carolyn Deer
I used to be president of the women's auxiliary at the at the Moose Lodge.
During those years, we used to have the Fire Brigade parade, with contests and everything, on the powwow island. We had it all the time, and it was a big competition at the time. All the fire brigades from close by the other side of the border would come, and there would be competition amongst the brigade themselves.
This one year, the Moose was invited, like all the other clubs. So, I said, “Well, let’s do everything, everything that we’re supposed to do.”
We had all the Moose members dressed up in what they’re supposed to wear when they go to meetings, we had a band, and we had made a big, gigantic float; a moose.
My brother, Georgie, and husband, Lionel, made a moose head to fit on a truck. Then we fitted it with a large trailer, decorated all of its sides, and had a big, big, big red moose heart on top of it. We made it all out of flowers made of tissue paper. We, the women there, were at the Moose every day and every night for a month; everybody was making flowers, carnations and these huge red roses.
The day of the parade, we had all the kids get dressed in regalia to stand on the trailer with the heart. The moose heart is meant to take care of children who don’t have anybody, like orphaned children.
Long story short, we won the whole thing. Everything! They gave us a trophy for the best float, the best marching band, and the best club. It was beautiful.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
↓
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Ron'swáhtha' Raotitióhkwa' Tehonte'khaháhkhwa'
Another view of the float shows the heart on full display, behind the moose-dressed pickup truck. (Courtesy: Dawn Hollender)
Carolyn Deer IAKOKÁ:RATON
Kitiohkwakwe'ní:io shos ne tekontirihwásnie' ne Ska'niónhsa Otióhkwa'.
Shiiohseré:son's thí:ken, Ron'swáhtha' Raotitióhkwa' teiakwate'khaháhkhwa' shos, kwah tewatkénnion karátie' tánon' oià:shon, Tekahkwì:tha Tsi Kawè:note' nonkwá:ti. Tiótkon nè:'e ionkwaterihwahtentia'tòn:ne', tánon' kowá:nen tewatkénnion kénhne' eh shitkahá:wi'. Akwé:kon tsi nihotitióhkwake ne Ron'swáhtha' Raotitióhkwa' enthón:ne' néne aktóntie' rotitióhkwaien' ne ísi' na'karístati, tánon' tenhontkén:ni' shos tsi na'tehónteron.
Tsóhsera thí:ken, wahonwatihón:karon' ne Ska'niónhsa Otitióhkwa', tsi ní:ioht ne sha'kentióhkwas. Thò:ne ki' wa'kì:ron', "Hao' ki' nio, tho netewá:ier, kwah akwé:kon tsi na'teiotonhontsóhon."
Wa'akhiiónnien' akwé:kon ne Ska'niónhsa Otióhkwa' ratiià:taron nahonthserón:ni' tsi na'teiotonhontsóhon áhontste' nó:nen enhontkennísa', ronterennótha' ionkwanenhraién:tahkwe', tánon' tó:k ní:wa' watewerata'skó:wa ionkwaién:tahkwe', ska'niónhsa kénhne'.
Rakhtsì:'a, Georgie, tánon' rikstén:ha, Lionel, ska'niónhsa onón:tsi wahnón:ni' nahnón:ten' ka'serehtà:ke. Thò:ne ki' kowá:nen io'serehtèn:ton wa'akwà:nerenke', tetsarónhkwen nonkwá:ti tekaieronnionhá:ton, ioién:tahkwe' kowanenhkó:wa onekwénhtara' ska'niónhsa awé:ri è:neken kà:rahkwe'. Ken' nikahiatonhseraténsha katsi'tsonnià:ton wa'atiónnia'te' thí:ken. Ì:'i, tsonkwathonwí:sen, thia'tewenhniserá:ke tánon' thia'tewahsón:take eh ieiákwe'skwe' Ska'nionhsà:ke sewenhnì:ta nikarì:wes; akwé:kon iakwatsi'tsón:ni, ionttsi'tsotáhkhwa' tánon' kí:ken tó:k ní:wa's onekwénhtara' ohì:ktate'.
Tehonte'khaháhkhwa' shiwenhniserá:te', wa'akhiiónnien' ne ratiksa'okòn:'a watahkwenniató:ken áhontste' né: ki' ne io'serehten'tòn:ke è:neken ia'tahatí:ta'ne' awé:ri ahatihá:wake'. Nè:'e wáhi ioteríhonte' nawé:ri né: ki' ne aiakote'nikòn:raren' tsi nihá:ti ratiksa'okòn:'a iah ónhka tehotí:ien', tsi ní:ioht ne tehonatonhnhakarì:'on.
Né: akkarókerike', kwah orihwakwé:kon wa'tiakwatèn:tsha'. Orihwakwé:kon! Wa'onkhiron'ónhkon' tsi aonhà:'a tioiánere watewerata'skó:wa, aonhà:'a tkanenhrí:io ronterennótha', tánon' aonhà:'a tkentiohkwí:io ionkwaién:tahkwe'. É:so tsi ioskatstòn:ne'.
Edited by: George Rahrhaienté:ri Fountotos, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Karonhí:io Delaronde