Back To School...

And the race is off again. Excpet this time the stakes are higher and, alot more desirable. Yes ladies and other, I am talking about Graduation. The finaly pass that unberable finish mark that says "I'm smart", "I am successfull", "I can continue to post-secondary to presue a career to make lots of money" and my personal favorite "I should graduate because that is what is expect of a First Nations man." Bullshit I say. Bullshit to the parents, leaders and close minded people who just fucking irritate me with that.

Been pondering my situation with high school. For those who would like to know, here is the low down.

• Failed Grade 8 Math, Science, English and Social due to lack of attentence. Passed Drama high and barely made it past P.E.
• Failed Grade 8 Math and Grade 9 Math Essentials.
• Failed Grade 9 Socials, Science and English due to lack of attendence.
• Slacked off completly for the year of grade 11.

So, if you calculate that correctly: I have to completle gr.10 Science, English and Math, plus gr. 11 Science, English and Math. I'll be in History 12 and Law 12 but everything else will still be catching up. What this equals is a year of acidemics with no breaks. All in order to graduate. I'll even have to come back next year and do English 12 to "really" grad. Oh well, the price I pay for failing the system... or did it fail me?

But I am excited. For the teen spirit, over-eager kiddies and fresh air of freedome from the confines of High School. Clics, Cliches, and crappy food will be gone. Immature, uneducated fools won't be around me by choice. The excitment is all due to the fact of, well, "good riddence."

I am hoping of course to create memories. I mean, this is the grad class I've spent the last 4 years with. Plus, I will admit my overjoyment comes with the territory of grad tradition and events. This tuesday is the time honored tradition of "Grad Sleep-Out". But, I am excited for everything except "school." Maybe after this, learning can begin.

So, let's raise our glasses to the current education system, may not be designed to, but does herd my people in to fine citizens, capitialistic job seeking, employed work force members of the great Canadian society. I am just so fed of with school I want to scream (and proably will.)

Although, a friend and ally has recommended highly a book titled "The Teenage Liberation". I've been interested as of late into alternatives to education in the hopes of my niece/nephew on the way (Oct 31st.) Hopefully I will have educated myself enough to be a facilitator in my new addition the families learning curve for the rest of it gods given life.

May the gods bless my path,
as I walk through the valley of darkness
in a grey world to find
a slightly lighter shade of grey.

So say we all.

OldManRivers Update 1.1

Here begins the current update of OldManRivers. I decided I am going to split the updates into different posts because there is so much to report on.

Where O' where to begin. Let's begin with current projects. As you can see from a few posts ago (link) I am reading a few books. I started reading Our Word is Our Weapon by Subcomandante Marcos and am currently on page 72. After reading some of the letters and essays, I realized I couldn't handle reading all of that straight. It's like going to a speach or lecture day after day. I need a story to be told, somtimes. With that, I decided to crack open another book; Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey. Only a few chapters in, lines like this had me cracking up:

"THE MARINE CORPS
BUILDS MEN

"Why don't it build women. Bonnie asked. Or how about the truckers' editorial?

IF TRUCKS STOP
AMERICA STOPS

Don't threaten me, you sons of bitches."

As for my latest pride and joy, I have wonderful news. For years now I've wanted a special toy, that has a special place in my heart. I know the saying goes "Love people, use things, not love things, use people." but this tool I use and carry, I absolutly love. Taken me years to final get it, but a month to build the money to buy it. I finaly have my new computer. Now presenting the MacBook Duo Core. Black and sleek, almost as sexy as moi. I'm so in love with it, I'm thinking of naming her. Anyways, I can now have a tool that is almost as fast as me. Now, as I gather the money, I am going to buy certain programs to assist me in my artist commentary on my life, and life in general. It feels so rewarding to have finaly bought this. It was my BE DO HAVE project completed. Although it was an arm and leg, it's true for greens that, no matter how much the car cost, if it has everything a green wants, they get it. This computer is exactly what I wanted, and it's mine! Tehehehehehehehehehe

What's next? Oh, yes. Teen Camp. (I think it's humorous how this post is in no particular order and reflect my thinking as of late.)

Last week I was plesured and gifted to coach at Choices Teen Camp. (Click Here). Absolutly amazing week. This is my second time around, and this was very different. One of the major differences being my two younger sisters were going through the program. I was also blessed with the chance to face a few of my own demons. My hope for the week was to balance myself, and that I accomplished. Now I just feel shattered, and have to build myself. "You can't take down the masters house with the masters tools."


I'm begining to think that my gift from kexe7nek siyam is that of idea's. My train of though on artistic and political idea's come flowing through me. I can only imagine what I could accomplish with the right training. My most recent idea, which I was able to add on to last night, was that of a Indigenous Endarged Languages Foundation (Name Pending). It's main purpose would be that our language don't die. Thinking about this, I believe that there isn't enough agents devoted to this cause. Instead of complaining, condeming or critizising, I plan on creating this chairty to devote it's cause to lauguages. Last night, while trying to go to sleep, I had the idea for on tactic to accomplish the foundation's goal. I am clandestine to reveal my greatest idea's in the caution it is not developed in my mind enough yet. Surfice to say, it will be exciting to start working on this project.

The humorous thing about my idea's is that most, if not all, don't require a post-secondary degree or high school degree for that matter. I'm unsure if even they are assests because they could be effectivly accomplished without either. I imagine in my future, straight out of high school, I will have a successful career in jobs and oppertunities created by myself. I don't imagine getting a job will ever be that hard when my heart is in it. I have a year till I graduate, and with that, a year to get ready with my foundations, companies, and projects. Lots of time, but not enough.

My greatest mindset recently was the fact I am not perfect. Nor are my heroes. Although I have my own weakness', peoples weakness' are they're strengths going one step too far. With that, I am more then confident that I can accomplish my wildest dreams because I know with friends, allies and people I consider family, they will pick up on my weakness' because it is their strengths. Does Superman learn himself how to build the space station for the Justice League? No, he gets Batman to do it because Batman has the smarts. Bruce Wayne has the funds, and the Flash can get it done in no time. See what I mean? I believe strongly this fight will not be done alone, but with numbers. It's taken a few select committed individuals to change the world in a durrastic way before, and will in the future. I only ask to form the Justice League of the Salish, Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chan-nulth. lol

After recent debate with Chiefs, collaboraters, and sell-outs, I'm glad in my position and idea's. As my friend posted in his blog, he quotes one of my fictional heroes.

"Our children need to know that some people fought back while others collaborated,"
- President Laurua Roslin (Battlestar Galactica)

With that, I am ready to be ready. Brothers & sisters I am frakkin' ready.

Give Peace A Chance

Remember
We must learn to live together
As brothers and sisters and not die apart
and so, for it to be done
What should we do next

Keep working
Keep struggling
and keep marching
We're doing something brand new today

Trying to stop a world of kwilten
Trying to slow down the strong
To protect innocent children
Don't you give up
and don't you surrender

Your spirit and faith will be tested
The war machine will give us fierce opposition
But faith can move mountains
and you are the light of the world

It's hope time
It's healing time
Its hope time
It's healing time

Give peace a chance
Give peace a chance
Keep hope alive
I love you

Summer Books 06'

Here is a list of books I have compiled that have been gifted to me, or I personaly bought to read. I plan on reading them on in the month of August. Some frakkin' hard books here (as you can see) but I think If I work my way up I'll get it. Some books I've ready already, but I want to read again to remember the teachings and tools that book has to offer. Here is the list, in the same order I'll read them in.

1. Our Word is Our Weapon
2. Monkey Wrench Gang
3. People of the Pines
4. Direct Action
   
5. Dune Messiah
6. The Way of the Peacefull Warrior
7. Restaurant at the End of the Universe
8. Decolonizing Methodologies
9. Conversations with Khatsalano
10. The Life Cycles
    
11. Autobiography of Malcolm X
12. Che: A Revolutionary Life
13. Pedogogy of the Oppressed