"Wild Game Feeds Six Nations Elders as People Return to Old-Fashioned Way"

OHSWEKEN - Six Nations elders were treated to a bit of old-fashioned generosity Saturday night at the annual wild game dinner.

A number of hunters from the community donated moose, bear, deer and elk meat from their hunting trips earlier this fall to fill the plates of the guests.

"I tasted all three kinds of meat here, the moose, elk and deer, and I have some moose meat gravy, and some nice buns, and some lemon and apple pie," said 74-year-old Bob Jamieson, one of about 500 elders and community members who enjoyed the free meal.

Mr. Jamieson lamented changes that have taken place as people move away from the native tradition of sharing.

"I was brought up all the old-fashioned way," said the translator for the Iroquois Confederacy. "Maybe this might change the lives of people" and encourage them to return to more traditional ways.

"I'm just hoping that this can be kept up. I guess it can as long as those fellows know how to cook."

Jim Styres, co-ordinator of the dinner, said the evening is an important one for him "for the simple reason that it's our heritage. This is what the old Indians used to do.

Mr. Styres, who performed cooking demonstrations at this summer's Internation Plowing Match, prepared bear meat for the dinner, but said the recipe was "an old Indian secret."

In addition to the people served in the Ohsweken community centre, over 100 dinners were taken to handicapped people and older people in the community who could not leave their homes.

Volunteers also took vans to pick up people who needed a lift.

Mr. Styres said the dinner would never have succeeded without the help of the dozens of volunteers, the donations from hunters and non-natives in the area, and the $1,200 donated by the band councillors.

Chief Coun. William Montour was part of a hunting team which brought two moose back to Ohsweken in October.

"We brought back a lot of wild meat to the community, and the idea is that we try to share some of it."

The hunters each prepared the meat at home and then took it to the community hall.

Chief Coun. Montour said his specialty was Chinese moose balls and a wild rice casserole, which were "pretty good."

Garfield Jonathan was part of a hunting team that killed four moose.

Even though he is anticipating a long winter, which may be difficult because of the recession, he was delighted to share meat with the elders.

"I just love the elder people, I think most of my learning has come from them. You can read books or go to school to learn things," but the most important lessons come from the elders, he said.

Wendell Mt. Pleasant, 85, donated $100 to the oldest person at the dinner, 101-year-old Carrie Green.

"I really enjoy this," he said.