Dandaa maak kawch iishin'kaataakinuuwich Nicki Moisseaux, Nicki Tuuktaan, kiiyaa Don(ald) Jitjaan indaa baaj uutaach baaikaw aa maamuuwii ich aa niipiniich... [How they got their nicknames that one summer...]
The following are excerpts from their acceptance letters from the very successful Miiyuupimaatisiiwin INTENSIVE SUMMER PROGRAM @ Shaapuwaasaayaao Pimaatisiiwin Foundation at the coastal Campus University in Istchii.
“[sic]…Rebuilding the circle which has revolved around existence since time immemorial which suddenly became contorted into a gridlock colonized-unbalanced-pyramid for a time, then where it later crumbled back down to grains of sand to be conquered through each step forward known by Peace, once the Stars came down to Istchii in order to help the people remember the way back to the timeless circle of being…
Ensuring the spirit of the human being is respected while remaining balanced and fully conscious within its cosmos while decolonizing the spiritual, emotional, physical, psychological, and social consequences where colonization, the Indian Act and its subsequent residual aftermaths, has deeply fragmented a multigenerational gap of violence, massive social discrimination against the Rainbow Clan, perpetuated chaos that hinders Miiyuupimaatisiiwin for all Iiyiyuuch. Its primary humanitarian mandate is to restore its balance with great ethical consideration of Shaapuwaasaayaao Pimaatisiiwin WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE Principles through the Northern Door White Goose Education Act; without promoting any forms of discrimination to any students’ background (on or off territory), capacities to speak or understand the language of Our Ancestors, universal rights of being human in a natural world or stated otherwise, kaw.
- Dr. Atkinson, M.D, Ph.D, Founder of Shaapuwaasaayaao Pimaatisiiwin Foundation
Wachiya,
We are pleased to offer you admissions into our [sic]… Here at Shaapuwaasaayaao Pimaatisiiwin Foundation, we believe it is never too late or too early to cultivate the mind, body and spirit of the Dab Iiyiyuu within and to promote peace. Note: Any previous credits from previous semesters in other related programs can be transferred towards your current program. Please review the guidelines and ethical policies again for what is required* for your stay, such as outdoor gear and etc., at our Coastal Campus guide website once you log into your account [URL LINK].”
Aashikuum aa niipich, Shaapuwaasaayaao Pimaatisiiwin Foundation jii uutaaskuunaao uutsiniijuu jaa jii its`kuutimaasuuwii`ch Miiyuupimaatisiiwin [SUMMER INSTENSIVE PROGRAM] intaa wiinuupaaku’ch…
Akuut maak kaat uutch’jipiiyiich Donald Jitjaan uu jitjaauun, kiiyaa Nicki Moisseaux niishtim kaa kuujipuuwaat Mishishuu Iiyiyuu. Nimauj paaiik auch iitaaii’tuumj kiiyaa jaa maamuu taaoshkaatuuj uuyaa Wiikupiishaakin Maaskinaayuu… [This is where Donald Jitjaan's jitjaauun began, also Nicki Moisseaux encounters the Saber Tooth. None would expect to cross paths on the Rainbow Road...]
Aashikuum aat uutaaokshiij, kaa jii maamuu pimshkaaj naataa aakaamch siibiich Jaymsheej (James Saahuun & James Taayuu), Nickeej (Moisseaux & Mishishuu), Jaaskeej (Dawn Nipii-Oso & Donald Jitjaan), kiiyaa injii KaaJeesij (Jennifer Nipii-Oso & Roxy Atkinson-Thunderstar).
Mishuu kaa daaj aakaam’ch, miin kaat maanjaaj uu maa’ki’hiimwow, aakuunj Jaymsheej kaa jii kuutuuwaaj intaa naaspaatimch aa siniiau’kaaich.
Teeyuu kaa wisik Roxy kiiyaa kaa jii aaii’kuunaa’jaao Jen. [Roxy boils tea and Jen is making bannock.]
Tiiwaa’ch kaw wii kaat jis’tuutaat Nicki (Moisseaux) naataa tuuk’taaoch kaa siniiau’kaaij uujeeyuu. Waanjisjit uu niimuutaan. Muuk uu wiiuutish, uu misinaapiskihiikin, kiiyaa uutaatipuun jii ti’kuunuum.
Nicki Mishishuu kiiyaa Donald jii intuuwaapituumij mit’ bititaa intaa mishtuukskaaich…
They reached the firewood cache area, slightly further away from the campsite, both start uncovering the tarp which covered the firewood cache and start splitting the logs in half as they prepare the quart needed to cook supper. Miss Mishishuu has had a crush on Donald since the first year of their program but never expressed her feelings until the perfect moment where she asks him the paradoxical question:
-“Aye, shjisjin aa niishtim kaa jiskuutimaasuuwiik uut SPFU…” says Mishishuu to Donald in a nervous tone.
-“Neyhey. Saash muuk naauu ipuun naa…” Yuu Donald as he pauses from splitting wood beside Mishishuu work area to wipe the sweat off his perfectly maintained brows.
- Asserting her composure then steps forward with her perky chest out, “jik kawjimtin maa jaakawn.”
- She finally pops the paradoxical question; “Nicki Tuuktaan maa?”
Donald suddenly becomes nervous with uncertainty yet confusingly excited because he never received this favour from anyone before, especially from such a gorgeous human being like Miss Mishishuu.
- Donald head nods “mm” in accordance; they begin awkwardly making out with Mishishuu jumping the eager lead. Then she goes for the beaded belt buckle, Donald is overcome by a surging waking energy, turning his state into a feverish nauseating vertigo effect which made him react by pushing her away, screaming out loud, from him as he graciously twirled around to vomit then lose consciousness in a stylish dramatic manner.
The rest of the gang at the campsite overheard the scream and ran towards their direction. They find Nicki sitting on the ground with a blank expression on her face, and right beside was Donald’s gracious but unconscious body. She explains what just happened and they all started rolling on the ground laughing as Donald slowly comes back to reality with a new sense of being. Thus this is how Nicki Mishishuu became Nicki Tuuktaan and Don Jitjaan, well, found his inner jitjaauun.
Jaymsheej assist Don back on his feet and they made their way back to the campsite with firewood. Miss Mishishuu feels somewhat upset at the whole confusing ordeal, failing to realize that her crush eventually led to helping him discover his way to the Wiikupiishaakin Maaskinaao, her bruised ego prompts her to go take a hike to cool off her embarrassment and notices that Nicki Moisseaux forgot her bag by the portage path. She picks up Nicki’s niimuutaan along with some fresh bannock, a thermos filled with fresh tea and heads up towards the hill where the Jiishuu’k SPFU observatory is setup. // part 1 of 2
