We met Mister C (we know his real name but you get the nickname) late at night as he sat on a bench at a well-known park to look over a fountain as he worked on a small art project. Mister C is a former teacher, and cab driver. He is 63 years old, originally from Wisconsin and of the Menominee Native American Indian Tribe, often referred to by Europeans as the Wild Rice People.
Mister C likes to paint, draw, travel, sail on catamaran, and talk with people.
Mister C had an accident where a bunch of heavy things fell on him and he was unable to work for a long time. Mister C explained that he gets social security income and if he waits a couple more years, he should be able to increase the amount. Instead of spending it on rent at an apartment, saves money and occasionally travels.
Our conversation was interrupted by a large Black-crowned Night Heron [Nycticorax nycticorax] that landed in the park to hunt the mice that scurried along the edges of the surrounding bushes where we sat. It was fascinating to see this kind of bird. Mister C snapped to life and ran to the other side of the hedge row and crouched down low, and instructed us to do the same so that we could see the bird closely without scaring it away. We did as he said.
Mister C introduced himself using his nickname and once we got on talking he told us real name and that he doesn’t like his nickname or the shortened version, but that is how some people remember him so he accepts it grudgingly.
Harvested in the early autumn, wild rice was an immensely important commodity to Native Americans, particularly the Ojibwe and Menominee, who lived in the areas where it grew abundantly. The Menominee even took their name from the Indian word for wild rice, manomin, and were often referred to as the Wild Rice People by Europeans.
According to Menominee oral traditions, wild rice was a gift to humans from one of the Underneath Beings. When the rice was mature, the Menominee offered tobacco to this spirit to insure a good harvest. After that, the Underneath spirits and the Thunderbirds could claim their share of the rice. The chief threw tobacco into the fire as an offering to the Thunderbirds so they would not interfere with the weather. At the end of his speech, all the elders would smoke from a pipe passed around the group, and a feast began. Unless someone acted with disrespect, this ceremony assured calm weather for the upcoming harvest.
we bought a sketch pad, some colored markers and two black markers so that he could draw. then, after we ate dinner we brought him back a burger with a salad.
on eaccident had whiplash and concussion while driving cab. he was stopped someone ran into him.
we just talked. he did a lot of talking. was really eager to share with us his art. has us hold and engage with his art. many homeless
he started to make something for us. wanted us to look at it, think about it, and then take it home and add to it.
seemed to real enjoy l ife, being out and enjoyed his art, the moon the sky, the weather, loved to be outside..
semeed like he had future goals… his net goal was to figure out his SSi , travel and save money… seemed like a free spirit.
we really enjoyed the conversation.
Chief is yuou just feel close to him and welcomed… like
reminded us of Kenny the
antarcia.. would ahve to go from south america
morocco..
reminded us of <a title=”Dinner+Coffee” href=”http://goody4shoes.us/creativegiving/dinnercoffee/”>Kenny</a> the
antarcia.. would ahve to go from south america
morocco..
Mister C spoke well of the Church of the Epiphany, and of an organization called Miriam’s Kitchen/
how michelle obama selected a piece of art in the likeness of her husband
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