"Special Dinner Planned for Seniors"

OHSWEKEN - One of the highlights of the Six Nations Indian Fair in September was the free samples of freshly-cooked fish and game given out in the arena. And what samples they were. My dish was heaping with venison, moose meat and fish. Lots of fish - even octopus. All of the meat was cooked in various ways by a master cook.

The cook in question is Jim Styres who lives on Fourth Line on the reserve. His expert cooking of "wild game" is a labor of love to the community. Assisting him this year was a large contingent of Six Nations hunters, who also supplied some of the meat.

Those of us who are not hunters get little opportunity to try the food which long ago was common to our forefathers, such as venison and moose meat. And, of course, almost everyone loves fish, so it was not surprising to see a long line up form across the arena floor when the word spread that the food was cooked.

When I was a boy my father did a lot of hunting and trapping, as well as working his small farm. However, we got to eat every little of the game he bagged. The pheasant, partridge and quail were usually cleaned, dressed and sold to customers in Brantford. Rabbits were likewise skinned and prepared for the Brantford market while we ate salted pork. Cash was scarce and you got it where you could.

Today's hunters go farther afield than the reserve. Groups of them take trucks and vans up north to hunt moose in season. It is a form of recreation from their regular jobs and they don't use bows and arrows.

This coming Saturday at 5 p.m., Jim Styres and his helpers are putting on another "wild game" dinner. This time it will be for Six Nations senior citizens and the handicapped and, of course, it will be free. If you are from Six Nations and qualify, just show up at the Community Hall in Ohsweken with an appetite. Prominent on the menu will be caribou (reindeer) meat.

Jim is a husky former CFL football player who wants to put something back into his community. What better way than to honor the elders? In the old days the elders, with their knowledge and experience, were recognized as a great resource. Lodged in their memories were the correct ways to do many things. One of the important things the younger generation has forgotten is how to co-exist with nature. Maybe remembering our older people in this way is a small step in the right direction.