It has been a rainy week. Each night I check approaching weather systems and tides to see if its a sailing day and the weather continues to be a little cold and wet. I am on a very tight budget so I spend a lot of time on the setee with a book or sitting up in my bunk with my laptop. The photo above was taken a week ago during a few clear moments. This is the view out the port side of the cockpit looking toward the chief rock formation. Hopefully the summer like conditions will arrive soon and I will get some wind and much needed time on the water.

My just in case fishing licence

The above photo was taken on a trip I did last September. A big day of sailing in the Straight of Georgia before anchoring at Keats Island. I am awaiting a storm system to pass over before any adventures, and in my endless attempt for things to do I went online and purchased a saltwater fishing license. I even threw a lure over the side drift fishing style to test my old fishing rod and graphite reel here at the dock. I don't have any illusions of hooking a coho this summer but it will help pass the time on long tacks in light airs. I don't have a down rigger but I could try mooching or drift fishing style with a weighted line and a plug lure. I did price a down rigger at the hardware store at 200bucks. Might be nice to try the local style of flasher and hoochie lure off a down rigger.

It's been many years since I spent any time fishing. And many more since I actually caught anything. Not working has opened up a little free time in the next couple months to try fishing a little. I will buy some cheap weights, some leeders, and a couple lures tommorow. the down rigger and flasher set up may half to wait.

On the Beach

Spending time on the beach was a top priority after my 2nd winter on board the boat. I spent several days playing beach volleyball, sun tanning, snorkeling and listening to my ipod. Now back home in BC I am cuddled up to the laptop, a tea candle and pot of tea listening to a streaming mystery/suspense radio podcast. There is a crescent moon Rising across the night sky. The Adiabatic alpine outflow winds are flowing down the glacier from Mamquam mountain. I have been staying on board a lot and not eating out or shopping to save money. I spent 200bucks to rebuild my mountain bike. I have enjoyed a few good single track xcountry rides already, now I just need a new spine and new knees and I will be good to go.

Mexico

My Thoughts drift back to a hot day in the Yucatan peninsula where I visited the Mayan pyramid. Stories of the great feathered serpent king Kulkulcan. The Morning and Evening Star of Venus aligns the temple with the platform of venus. I can picture the area during its heyday a center of trade and ceremony. A place where water was worshiped out on the desert plateau. I hope to return to Mexico and spend more time in the non tourist towns.

It has been a difficult year financially for me not unlike many other people. But in addition to the no job issue I also lost my dad. That was the only guy who could have possibly bailed me out of my financial state. As it is I am not sure if I'll make it through next winter. My hope was another trip to Mexico but without a little work before then It may not be an option. Even though my vacation lasted a month it was still too short and I have spent the last month hiding from the april rains, and the bills. Hopefully I will get some sailing in soon. Its a wonderful escape from the bills and employment letdowns.

Taxman

Even though I am a fringe lifestyle person. Mostly off the grid and sometimes on the hook. I still had to file a tax return. Nothing brightens my day like being reminded how little money I actually made this year and how shafted I am by one employer whom didn't release an ROE or T4.

I now have the rest of the summer to seek out new opportunities.

Early Season

Its late April in the coastal rain forest. The night air has a wet chill in it. I am cocooned in my sailboat listening to comedy104 over streaming wireless internet. Thoughts of my recent trip to Mexico do not keep me warm, nor does it bring back the sun. It is said April is a cruel month, I believe this to be true in my harbor.

I have done the pre season checklist, engine, lights, sails. I made minor repairs to the galley flipper tap. I even went on a quick shake down day sail. It is still a little stormy and I don't really relish a cold night at anchor in blustery winds.

Its also a 20 nautical mile beat into 20 knot head wind most days to get south out of our mountain sound. Although I occasionally get crew, I usually sail single handed in my sloop. I Have Sailed this area since 2001 as a seasonal culinary worker commuting by boat with extended live aboard times.
Sailing around here in the north pacific close to rocky lee shores is best approached with some fore knowledge. It is my hope that in sharing some of these lessons learned other people can progress on their own learning curve.

Dads thoughts on Mohawk situation.

Here is a more militant side of Dads Human Rights Activism.
FANTINO’S SKYWAY BRIDGE BLOOD BATH TO GET EVEN WITH MOHAWKS – Is martial law here?

MNN. June 13, 2009. Commissioner Julian Fantino of the Ontario Provincial Police has a longstanding personal grudge against the Mohawks of Tyendinaga. He wanted to show his power and what he’ll do to anybody who stands up to fascism.


The OPP struck suddenly early Thursday morning on June 11th. No news coverage. No pictures. It was calculated to splatter blood everywhere to send a message on how he will treat Mohawks, Indigenous or anyone who wants to demonstrate peacefully. The premeditated plan was to hurt people, draw blood and wash it down quickly. What sharp deadly instruments did they use to draw so much blood? Where have they hidden them?

Dissent has been outlawed in Ontario. They don’t want a public inquiry. They want the OPP to be exonerated. The cops came from outside the area so the locals could not recognize them. They could be special forces or commandos trained to maim and inflict injuries that terrorize the victims. This is worse than being tasered or beaten by a baton. Their orders came from some outside agency untraceable to politicians or Parliamentary scrutiny. Did it come from the Pentagon or Camp Petawawa or Fort Drum in NYS? Are elite soldiers using us to train on how to strike quickly and leave without a trace?

The Ipperwash inquiry established the principle that politicians cannot order such attacks. An unsigned letter from the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs or a press communiqué from the Tyendinaga Council or a letter from the Akwesasne Council are political. Using them as official authorization is illegal. The police can only enforce the law, not to push the orders of a politician.

The Mohawks were passing out information to support our people at Akwesasne who don’t want gun toting agents in our communities. They were standing side by side with the police at the Skyway Bridge.

The police had blockades at both ends of the Skyway Bridge. The squad knew we had no weapons. Chief Tim Thompson of Akwesasne went to Ottawa to speak on Parliament Hill. Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl, NDP leader Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Quebecois were there.

Jim Potts wrote a report on how to deal with us called, Nonce: Policing and Aboriginal Occupations and Protests, 2005. We are viewed as criminals for questioning their authority and jurisdiction.

The key ingredient is for the police and other military organizations to stand back at first. Different people in the community are recruited to be liaisons with the police and military, and to keep tabs on the people for them. They articulate the cops’ position of wanting everybody to tow the line and walk in lock step with the totalitarian regime that is being set up. Blame and suspicion are cast on community members.

It’s a "how to" on how cops can brutalize people and not be prosecuted. It’s to stop people from exercising their legal rights to peaceful demonstrations, which is a basic right in a democracy.

Apparently the government is worried that our greater well-being and higher education will generate a greater level of sensitivity that the state wants to keep in check. More sophisticated Indigenous can articulate our grievances. The government and police are looking for other ways to suppress us. Brute force has become a main option.

At Tyendinaga the armed para-military officers arrived en masse by the hundreds. They carried out a military style “shock and awe” attack against unarmed civilians. No questions asked and no qualms about inflicting bodily harm.

Military goons sent in to beat us up is illegal. Has secret legislation been passed to do this? Was this a military decision because the government has designated us as insurgents and terrorists? This operation was meant to eliminate dissent as part of martial law. People will not be allowed to protect themselves in the new world order.

According to the Smart Borders agenda and other agreements under NorthCom, the Canadian police and military are controlled by the Pentagon. Is that why Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff is afraid to speak? Can he or anybody be designated as an insurgent for not going along with the program? The message is that when the roundup is done, those who question the Prime Ministers Office could be taken away in the paddy wagon.

In 1997 the New York State Troopers wanted blood at Onondaga. They attacked over 100 people during a tobacco ceremony. The state searched for those troopers who hate Indians so much that they volunteered to smash heads, including women, children and even a baby in a stroller. 12 years later we refuse to take money to settle. We want the trial of the NYS troopers and the NYS handpicked pseudo Confederacy Chiefs who sent them in.

How many OPP or soldiers were questioned as to their level of anger and innate prejudice against Indigenous? Were they offered extra money as mercenaries to smash our heads or just because they hate us? Did Fantino find them? Or were they soldiers who came to search and destroy?

Some kind of law suit should be taken against this brutality. If no one holds them accountable, they will start smelling blood. They will only be satisfied when they see more. A handpicked hired gun was sent in to murder Dudley George at Ipperwash in 1995. Now, like vampires they want to drink Mohawk blood so they can sprout wings and terrorize everybody. Watch out! The police state has arrived. [See photos of attack http://letstalknativepride.blogspot.com/]

Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Go to MNN “BORDER” category for more stories;

Contact Rotiskenrakete 514-269-1400. N. Benedict 613-551-5421 613-938-8145 nbenedict@akwesasne.ca, go to www.akwesasne.ca. ; Chief Wesley Benedict 613-551-2573; Larry King 613-551-1930; Chief Joe Lazore 613-551-5292. Tyendinaga: 613-848-6968, 613-813-1017, 613-391-5132