Edward

[casil403]

Meeting Edward this morning after shooting at the bottle depot was one of those small special moments that happen b/w people sometimes....for me in recent memory anyhow. I was taking shots behind the Old Alberta Boot Factory when I came around the corner and noticed him sitting alone. I walked across the street and said hello and he said hello. I just for some reason started talking to him...he was sober and he had kind eyes and seemed friendly enough...and I like to talk to people...hear their stories and sometimes just listen.

He used to live in Waterton. Born and raised in the Blood nation and wanted to go back there someday...now he lives in Cardston and was in Calgary for the time being, I gave him some money...a couple dollars (he didn't ask me - I offered) and he said " I can't give you anything in return except a prayer"....and my thanks. I replied " a prayer would be lovely" so he grabbed my hand and closed his eyes and started praying in Blackfoot. It was so powerful...and emotional and it brought tears to my eyes hearing him pray in his first language. When he finished he looked up at me and he too had tears in his eyes...it was one of those small special moments that just happen sometimes.
I get tears in my eyes just thinking and writing about it now.



Funny, yesterday on the way to Fish Creek I ran into a group of people who had just started drinking near the Stampede overpass. I spent a few minutes talking to them too. The one lady named Rita had the most beautiful hand beaded pair of First Nations leather deerskin gloves that she showed me. I asked her if she made them and she said no but she used to do bead work and make ceremonial dresses all the time...her son said to me " you should have seen the stuff Mom used to do." I can just imagine. Her hands were obviously arthritic and she was in a walker now so it was pretty clear she couldn't do it anymore...but I would just bet her stuff was incredible. I didn't take any shots of her or her son Richard and didn't give them any money...and they never asked but they were also really friendly and interesting and it was really nice to just listen.