Making New Friends

It was busier than usual when I arrived at the salon for my hair appointment, so I shared the seating space with a young man and  his two little girls as they waited for Mom to have her hair styled.  Dad had his five-month old daughter on his lap, who gazed at me with that steady look that only little folk can fix on one, waiting to see whether I'm worth a smile or not.  I cooed at her, as I always do at babies, and she smiled so I knew we were friends.  Her two-year old sister sat quietly in the stroller, also checking me out, but after her Dad and I had spoken about the weather, and I had asked about the children's ages, she began to show me her bunny rabbit, which was purple, she told me, and eventually we had conversation.  I knew she was telling me a very important story, so I listened with appropriate reponses as I watched the changing expressions on her face, and her purposeful arm gestures - I don't think either of us said any real words of any language, but we were certainly connecting through her story-telling and my story-listening!  It was delightful!

The baby began to fret a bit, so Dad began to sing softly to her, and I recognized one of the songs I often hear my Anishinaabe sisters singing, so my thought that they were a First Nations family was confirmed, and I hummed a bit very quietly along with him.  Baby Girl stopped fussing immeditely and sat quietly listening, and Little Girl in the stroller was singing gently along with her Dad, and I thought how restful and comforting that was for all of us.  The hairdressers continued their work around us, but I could tell that no one was upset by this - in fact, they probably all found it restful and soothing.

When the song finished, I said "gchi miigwech" and "nishin" so the Dad shook my hand, and told me his name which, unfortunately in my old, old age, I don't remember (I hate that part of being old!) and I introduced myself in Ojibwe - just a few words - but I sensed that he appreciated that.

So we talked a bit more - he is from Bearskin Lake First Nation, in Treaty #9 territory, not far from the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation (Big Trout Lake) and I told him of several people I know in those communiti4es and he knew them too, so it was easy to see that we were really neighbours and also friends.

Then Mom's hair was done, and she looked lovely, so they were ready to go, and we shook hands and said goodbye.  They are living in Peterborough at the present time, so I'll hope to meet them again before too long.  Kaa waab min N'wiijkiwenh - Farewell, friends, until we meet again!