misâskwatômina

misâskwatômina
by Zoe Todd
Saskatoons. The fat, dusty purple-blue berries that proliferate the slopes of the river valley, where the sun falls from dawn to dusk while the sîpiy (river) water flows past. Berries that bear witness to sohkeciwan (strong, flowing current): the veins of water that wind all the way from the mountains to the ocean, tying Edmonton (Amiskwacî), our home in the Beaver Hills, to the heavens and the earth. Seeds of life and joy that burst in your mouth, testaments to the sun, the air, the water and warm mud from which they grow.
Memories of picking berries with my family wind along languid summer afternoons. Seeking out the best berry spots while cyclists and joggers flash past, unaware. The knowledge that these berries were here long before us, and will persist long after.
misâskwatômina.
All nêhiyawêwin (Plains Cree) words sourced from The Online Cree Dictionary: creedictionary.com

 

LOVE LETTER

 

The Mayor has warned that it may ask the province to remove the Historical Designation (for the second time) on this imposing yet beautiful piece of architecture, a landmark of Edmonton, a testament to the site where people have settled for thousands of years, and a symbol of the growth of the city as we know it.

It would cost only 7.4 million dollars to stabilize the complex of buildings, which have minor structural issues, plus 87 million dollars to save and later repurpose the plant into one of many fantastic visions already developed and studied. Meanwhile, the city has just announced that it will fund a 35 million dollar gondola from downtown to the Rossdale Community. Maybe I'm just cynical, but it sounds to me like a certain someone wants waterfront development, and thinks this old thing is in the way.

Please pass this on if you care about this building's fate. Tell your Councillor how you feel, and consider joining forces with the Rossdale Regeneration group who meet next at the Rossdale Community Hall (10135-96 Ave) on April 24 at 6 pm.