; : i : INSIDE COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 CHARLYNN TOEWS Pause ometimes I feel like the ghost of-a housewife, drifting about, lifting dl scart then laying it down, pausing sto sigh deeply ina doorway,” | wrote in my first col- umn for the Terrace-Standard, back in October of 1996. That was 30,000 words ago. Now, thir ty-cight columns later, [ feel the need for a bit of a rest. | am interested in remembering whal it fecls like to be deadline-tree, ta live more in the present tense,” neither looking back to come up with a ‘topic nor looking ahead ‘tothe inevitability of the Fourth Wednesday Tearing its head yet again. Not that.it has been an overpowering work- load: after all, it’s only 800 words, once: a month. But because 1 wasn’t reporting on what others say, because I was ‘rather reflecting on my own experiences and feelings, my own lit- tle house and family, it made: me feel kind of funny. Often-on the Wednesday: when my. col- umn appeared [would feel the need to hide in-— side‘my house, to peer out of my windows like a crocodile lurking in a 1 swamp, with only my _ eyes showing. : E would be scared to go ‘oul, lest someone on the street, ina. park, ata meeting, in a slore, would comment on my latest ramblings. And I would be terribly disappointed if nobody did. I felt shy and embarrassed, having my pic- “ture and name appear inthe paper so often, - like some’ srt oF petty crodk’or, éven worse, a publicity- hurigry starlet. Something that started driving me crazy was the fact my mug shot, the picture of my head, was above.this tong skinny column. Seeing’ myself like this, time after time, I began wishing [ could have a pic- ture of my shoes on the: bottom. [could be _ photographed with not only my head, but per- haps with good, solid, worn hiking boots at the . bottom, for an cutdoorsy kind of column, Or picture some ballet point-shoes for an Arts piece, or baloney sticking out of fuzzy’ bunny slippers when I was going fora laugh. “Or, with my head at the top and my feet at the bottom, maybe I could talk about sore throats in two first two paragraphs, go-on ta stomach complaints in the middle,.cover he- | morrhoids toward -the bottom, then finish up with foot fetishes down below. ’ Then | began thinking, Oh no! What if [ make a poignant point right about at my belly button? Woulda’t that be kind of rude? Femin- ist Literary:Critics like to talk about women “writing onthe body,” but 1 bet they never had to have a. picture of their head above a long skinny column in their local paper. Perhaps in this Sabbatical of mine 1 will take up hand- sewing patchwork quilts. | can think of several rousons, right off the top of my--head {see -above}. why quilting is belter than writing & column. _ First, and perhaps. most. important, with quilting, one needn’t worry about verb tenses quite so much. There are no commas, to put in or leave out, in a quilt. Column-writing does not afford cnough opportunity to use up scraps of paisley-printed cotton fabric, Old columns cannot be stitched together to cover an orange- and-brown floral-casy chair. You can see why a change is ag good, or possibly better, than a rest. Another reason for me to hit-the pause but- ton is that I always copy my friends. When they were all taking courses, I decided I wan- (ed to take a course; loo, So | took Creative - Writing and gat an’A-plus (which. really ticked me off) and then Cultural Geography and. got my first ever 63-per cent (which really. ticked ‘me off), So now some of my friends are taking a Sabbatical, so E want one, too. Since I don't actually have a job, I have decided to Take A __ Sabbatical from my column. In that first column. three years ago, I. was complaining aboul my house, ‘that it was too small and plain. I said that [didn’t like it en- ough to clean it. Well, I have learned to love my house, and I understand it now. I will be interested to find out-if | actually will clean it more once-I don’t have the excuse-of The Col- unin taking up so much of my psychic energy. i will be. interested to see if. [still need to. write without the official deadline forcing my hand. it is rather scary, this new door I am opening. But'shutting an old ‘one’ often ‘creates the right atmospheric conditions’ (a gust of wind, a slight change in air pressure) to ‘open up a new ore. See you later, ligetor TERRACE STANDARD The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 24, 1999 - C1 SECTION B ‘ALEX HAMILTON 638-7283 Local’s new book examines | itselasu and Kitselas Canyon - Author Rocque Berthiaume introduces readers to the first people who established villages in the Kitselas Canyon and to the Gitselasu of today. A NORTHWEST Com- munily College instructor wants local residents -to know they don’t have to travel to Eurape to see and learn about. historically rich cultures and civiliza- tions. You only have to go as far as the Kitselas Canyon, Where the Gitselasu’ have lived for more than 5000 years (o see-a historically rich site, says Rocque Be- rthiaume, anthropology in- structor. Berthiaume’s new book, entitled, The GOttsefasti: The People of Kitselas Ca- “yon, introduces. readers lo: the magical area and the peoples. ; One of the book’s aims ‘is to teach peuple not only about the’ Gitselasu, which means people of the ca- -nyon, but ‘also ‘about the subject’ of ‘anthropology, ‘the study of people: and their cultures, “The canyon is a. rich cultural area. What the book does - is bring it out.” ~ Rocque Berthiaume “The canyon is a rich” cultural area,” Berthiauime said. “What the book does is bring it out.” The book details what is known about the canyon and explains: why people . chose to settle there. It also’ describes. where the original village sites were located and. how people adapted to live in the area, Berthiaume said: he or- ganized the beok as a’ “appreciation “of ‘the ca- -pates. renders to take a band members and_elders. other goal of the book is ta educate students about First Nations culture and history. “The school board wan- ted to offer more First: Na- tions content in-schools in the. region,” Berthiaume explained, The hook, which ‘is packed full uf historic and few photos of everything from totem poles’ and’ pe- troglyphs to the Kilselas village of Kulspai’ on Queensway Drive andthe ° Gilaus subdivision, is eearcd to: interest students and local history buits alike. “It meets ‘the needs of students and it’s a plea-. sant; informational read for people who want to know more of the Kitselas Canyon,” he said. “By piving readers a brief understanding and nyon, the book also pre- field tip to -Kitselas Ca- uyon lo-get a better under- standing of. the cultural and:geographic richness of the area. Berthiaume - started working onthe book'in the summer. of 1997, and fin- ished it one year. later, * He said: the book ‘is the result ‘of hard work from a variety of people, namely. the First. Nations. Educa- tion Centre,. archeologist Dave Walker, photogra- pher Morris Mason, resear- cher Lucas North, Kitselas historians Wilfred Bennet, Mel Bevan and Isabelle McKee,. and a number of Only 500 copies of the walk through space and © book were made. lime, beginning with the’ . “And -they’re going first settlers in the canyon — fast,” Berthiaume said. Locals oresidents can purchase copies al Misly River Books in, hardcover by the school district, an- ($34) or softcover ($24) and leading up to the Git- sclasu of today. initiated and sponsored MTO celebrates 25 years By Ev Bishop It lakes a community to raise a child is popular’ phrase these days, a creed among groups that strive to Strengthen and help families. While this old fashioned truth has gained new popularity. there's a wonderful group for mams and children. that has re cognized and acted’ on this trath for 25 years now: Mothers Time Off. M.T.O,, us its known lo its regular. vi- silors, is a non-pretit community program for moms and their kids delivered by the Terrace & District- Community Services Society, funded by the Ministry» for Children and Families. Flora Stokes; who went on to-run a similar group-in _Smi- thers BC, pursued the progtam simply’ be- cause she saw’a need in the community, A mother who had experienced post- partum: depression, had two ‘children: in _two years -and’ moved. several: times, Flora was‘ tit by the realization thal all young © mothers need Support in our irans- ient sociely. She started talking with. (then) Social Services and. Mental. Health and they were convinced thatthe program would be of value and eventually: pave the go ahead and funding. Mothers Time Off held their first meeting in September of 1974. M.T.O. started oul with approximately seven moms showing up and today on the ' four mornings a week that it meets there is ataverage of {0-15 mothers at cach session.. The Faces change day to diiy. There are the “old-timets” whu. have been “attending for 5 or more years, There arc “transitional” moms. who‘ come when they'te adjusting 10 being: new to parent- ing, moving to a new town, etc and move on'to other things when’ they're ‘feeling more connected with the community, , “There are..“occasionals” who: stop by for coffee and conversalion when. their schedules allow: Walk in on any given day and the aroma of coffee and the smiles of mothers will greet you. Mothers completely diverse iu age, economic status and background but who ut the same time have everything impor- tant in. common. They have kids whom they love and want to do at good job of raising. “M,T.O is. nol Just a coffee and chatting time. The value of forming friendships and being able. to share: what's:on your mind with others who ‘have been where you are is emphasized but its enhanced: by-a greal quality and quantity of programs designed . by the coordinator Trish Curtis and her assistant, Ivy Sorenson. Programs .that.range from fun and frie ‘volous: facial and-- manicures day, craft days, lo’ purposeful budgeting, anger and stress management, active parenting, und nutrition just to name a few. | Every program is. beneficial because it builds @ feeling of unity, “I'm NOT alone doing this” inva job. thal can sometimes _ leaving you feeling out-of the loop or jusl plain loopy: parenting. ‘Trained childcare providers entertain mothers youngsters in another room, providing a break for moms ; and. a {reat for kids: Why is this program great? Inthe words of ils’ supporters: “ils a program geared to. help and support parents before they have problems. Ils prevention which is always the best and cheapest medicine.” “It provides my laughs for the day.and the knowledge. that as parents we all go ihrougi similar expericnees.” “lisa greal break and nice to come in for support” and.a. phrase thal appeared often on M/T.0’s 25th anniversary. banner signed by. countless mothers: who. have came over the years, “Its a lifesaver!" Mothers ‘Time Off runs “Mondays, ’ - Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 am to 11:30am. Call Trish or Ivy at 635-4147 for more information. GREAT REAC: Rocque Berthiaume has written a book about the Gitselasu and the Kitselas Canyon, which is located 30 kilometres northeast of Terrace. Mother urges thieves to stop stealing bikes “LEAVE OUR children's bicycles alone,” stresses Debta Teal, afler an estimated 23-bikes have gone mis- sing since. July from the Skeena-Kalum Housing Com- plex on Haugland Avenue: ““Fhey goin the middle af the day, at night - whenever,” ‘Teal said. Her teenaged daughter's. bike was stolen amonth ago, , and her four year old's son Ryan’ s bike went missing this week, “That bike was his life she said. Aud fie can’t bike ride anymore. Its not fair,” Teal added that most of the families living in this complex are low-income, single mothers who can’t -af- ford ta buy another bike when their childrens’ are: stoten. “ICs pathetic they’re’ stealing Prom four or five- -year- oid children,” she said) “And they just keep doing it and doing it.” Although Ryan's bike wasn 1 locked, her daughter’ s bike was fastened with a kryptonite tock. One neighbour, she said, his lost five children’ 8 hi- cycles this summer to-thieves. If anyone has any information about these crimes, please contact the Terrace RCMP al 638- 7400. | Around Town * Concert tickets Concert society tickets to see Joc ‘Frio are available al Irwin's House of Fine Jewellers in the Skeena Mall. White ribbon campaign By wearing ‘a: white tibban December 6 people ire showing support for stopping violence against women, December 6 marks the lth anniversary of the: Montreal. Massacre. White ribbons are avail- uble at K’San. House Society, the Terrace Women’s Resource Centre and various locations around Lown.