How goeth the campaign? you ask.
Damage control tells me I am the frontrunner. To save me some heartache, he did not mention it was purely by virtue of the fact that I am the only one who has so far announced his candidacy. I have also secured several votes. Two, in fact. Thanks, mom and dad. My staff of one and I have been trying to come up with catchy and chic slogans. They are: A goose in every pot or a goose over every teepee fire… The lesser of the evils… Bedge votooheegue… Je bedge votooheeyegue mag… Looking for a movement… “Vote for me and I’ll buy you a beer,” was nixed as soon as it was proposed, with the reason that it was “too long.” I think it’s safe to say the campaign is gaining momentum. Now all we have to worry about is the proverbial mud which will surely be slung. But that is the reason we have given the damage-control department unlimited powers.
In case you haven’t heard, the Annual General Assembly is in progress here in Waswanipi. The powers that be and those that want to be have assembled in the school gym to discuss, examine and steer the direction of the Cree Nation. Also on the agenda is the proposed creation of Cree-topia. Most of the “chieves” are present. Absent are the leaders of Nebraska and Waskaganish. Look for the story in the next issue. It’s gonna be a good one. Waswanipi’s been a bustling metropolis for the past few weeks. There was a Pow Wow a while back, a Youth-slash-Elders’ Gathering more recently, and for your listening pleasure, hellfire and brimstone sermons can be heard at the nightly Pentecostal camp meeting. There’s also a giant bingo with a jackpot of $20,000 smackeroonis coming up. And last but certainly not least, there’s the Miss Waswanipi Pageant coming up. “The Cutest Girl In The Cree Nation!!!!” Carole Kitchen is in the running. The others are Harriet Ottereyes, Janice Gull, Maxine Gull, Rhonda Oblin (a cousin of mine many times removed), Dolores Gull, Flora Otter and “still not confirmed” at press time Micheline Saganash, Jessica Otter and Bertha Dixon. Pix will be in the next Rez Notes. I promise.
