Tag: Rita Jasper

Indigenous Elders, Teressa and Simon Sapp talk about their Grandma

by Rita Jasper, posted in Mary and her Metis Grandma

I was very lucky to interview two Elders, the late Teressa and the late Simon Sapp, about their Grandma, Maggie Soonias. It warmed my heart to meet these Cultural Workers and to know that their Grandma babysat my Grandma.

Daily Life and Midwife Work of an Indigenous Female Elder of the early 1900s.

In this video, they talk about their Grandma’s daily life and the sacred work she did as a midwife. Maggie Soonias was a traditional Medicine Woman. Click button below photo to view video.

Simon also talks about the type of work he did as a young Indigenous man.

Simon Sapp worked as a labourer, for road constructiion, fixing fences and picking rocks. Click above link to access video.

Teressa and Simon sit in their living room in front of a wall hanging of a family of bears
Click here to view video.

Grandma’s Tea Set

by Rita Jasper, posted in Mary and her Metis Grandma
click here
Prairie Rose Teapot

Reminiscing — Years Later

It is interesting how images can take you back to to other times. In Mary and her Metis Grandma she shared much traditional information when we drank tea. Images can anchor emotions.

Art can move a person emotionally

I wrote a creative prose about a butterfly and a rose. With a butterfly’s farewell touch, a petal falls. It floats to its final resting place on the ground with Mother Earth. The rose remains beautiful, even missing that one petal. To read complete prose chose above button “click here” .

For more Information

For more information Chick the above button (near the tea pot image) that says “Click Here”
or https://www.facebook.com/groups/9213126825374189/posts/23989093370684291/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/themngv/posts/9657027834362807

For easy purchase click the. links below
https://www.amazon.ca/Mary-Métis-Grandma-Rita-Jasper/dp/1998779890

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/mary-and-her-mtis-grandma/9781998779895.html

https://www.strongnations.com/store/12339/mary-and-her-metis-grandma

https://ritajasperart.com/category/mary-and-her-metis-grandma

https://www.tracpac.ab.ca/search/card?isbn=9781998779895&controlNumber=2202714

https://www.harvard.com/book/9781998779895

https://www.prairielights.com/book/9781998779895

Grandma’s beaded Metis infinity necklace

by Rita Jasper, posted in Mary and her Metis Grandma

Necklaces form circles which are important to Indigenouse cultures. They understand that everything is connected — you, me, Morher Earth and Father Sky. The Metis adopted the infinity symbol because they believed their culture and people would survive forever. Below is Grandma Pearl’s necklace with the Metis infinity symbol.

click here

Mary and her Metis Grandma

Pocahontas — An Untrue Stereotype 

In Mary and her Metis Grandma, my Grandma Pearl explained the true story about Pocahontas and other steryotypes. Needless to say, I did not dress up as Pocahontas for that or any other Halloween. That year I went as a hippie with peace signs painted on my cheeks and an old necklace with the peace symbol for a pendant.

Meeting Indigenous Elders

When researching for Mary and her Metis Grandma, I went to meet some Elders, Teressa and Simon. As we drove to Little Pine Reserve we stopped at different places to purchase gifts for them; giving a gift shows respect and appreciation for their knowledge. I gave her a necklace with an abalone pendant shaped into the image of a wolf. She loved it. Her immediate reaction was to put the necklace on, and her joyous excitement was rubbing off on me. It took away my nervousness and gave me confidence.

Mary’s Painting gives Grandma Cause for Pause

by Rita Jasper, posted in Mary and her Metis Grandma

I produced this painting about two years before I wrote Mary and her Metis Grandma. However, while I was writing the novel, I decided to make the main character a painter and I included this painting in the manuscript.

Painting of a Pregnant woman birthing

As I helped Grandma up from the bench on the balcony, she glanced at my painting. “Do I see a pair of legs in there? And those look like breasts?” I tensed with a question. I wonder. What does Grandma think about naked legs and breasts? Instead of asking that question, I sheepishly smiled and said, “Yes.” 

Grandma just said, “Hmm, interesting.” 

Passion and Desire

Grandma sat up straight with that little smile she would have when she was feeling proud or accomplished. “Good idea, Mary. That’s usually what I say. You’ve exhausted me.” I kissed her on the cheek. Before we went to our separate bedrooms, she smiled and added, “I’ll always be there for you.”

Hmm. I kept my thoughts to myself. That’s nice of you to say Grandma but you aren’t going to be around for long.

From that day on, I started to see the world differently. I understood the difference between passion and desire. Desire is like wanting a cookie, but you’re not likely to jump off a bridge to get it. Passion is something that you care about deeply and is not a passing thought — being passionate about something is when you spend a great deal of energy achieving it and you might jump off a bridge to get it but hopefully you do not. Passion sometimes causes you to make sacrifices for it.

Links to book sellers

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/mary-and-her-mtis-grandma/9781998779895.html

https://amazon.ca/Mary-Metis-Grandma-Rita-Jasper/dp/1998779890

https://www.strongnations.com/store/12339/mary-and-her-metis-grandma

https://ritajasperart.com/category/mary-and-her-metis-grandma

https://www.tracpac.ab.ca/search/card?isbn=9781998779895&controlNumber=2202714

https://www.harvard.com/book/9781998779895

https://www.prairielights.com/book/9781998779895

Mary and her Metis Grandma — dream about the death of a mother

Featured by Rita Jasper, posted in Mary and her Metis Grandma

The dream is a premonition about how her life was going to change. It is told through the life of trees.

Video about a teen ager’s dream

This is a segment from the novel “Mary and her Metis Grandma“. Mary talks about when her late mother came to her from the other side in a dream and shares what her mother said. What other ways can one communicate death to young people?

Other ways to discuss death

I find that connection to nature and animals helps young people relax in times of loss. This book is for 11 year-olds to 80 plus. Please note Rita Jasper copyrights the words. I hope you enjoy this gentle video. ritajasperart.com

Rita Jasper and my new unusual friends

by Rita Jasper, posted in Diary

I’m always looking for new exeriences to write into stories. This person’s yard made me smile and I hope it does the same for you. It might go into my nexty book.
@ritajasper
https://youtu.be/sMYvx0a-ppw

My Heart — a guilty heart

by Rita Jasper, posted in Diary, Mary and her Metis Grandma

I wrote this poem when I was in my 20s. The inspiration for the poem was due to someone I loved who, unbeknownst to me, was using; I knew he was suffering, but I didn’t know why. Years later, I realized the poem could be about me. In the novel, Mary and her Metis Grandma, the teenager, Mary, must deal with survivor’s guilt, as I did.

This is a reflective song with a haunting melody sung by a female vocalist (unknown). The lyrics are emotionally powerful and soul-stirring. The copyright of the words belongs to Rita Jasper. 

Have you heard about the movie White Men can’t Jump?

Well, guess what — this Metis can’t sing (ha ha),
so the voice and music are AI-generated by Mureka.

FYI, I am no longer an impenetrable stone. I have risen above the traumas of life, and so can you.
@Ritajasper

Please see lyrics below & check back for upcoming video.

Please check back as I will put a video to this song. Thank you for taking time to view this post.

POEM My Heart — a guilty heart

My heart  —  a guilty heart

with time…

Became poisoned in a river that bubbled bittersweet wine.

The mind and soul of my heart went through life in a drunken stupor.

I, the little one who belonged to that heart, didn’t realize the eroding, the tearing apart,

the stupid games being played with my guilt-ridden tormented heart.

My heart drifted and drifted.

It wound here and there.

It couldn’t decide where,

Eventually, it found its way to the falls.

And down the cascading falls, it fell in what was years…

of old abandoned tears.

Its mind was dead, and the soul of the heart had been washed away; so now what was left?

So now what was drifting down that river?

It was a heart, but alas the heart was only driftwood.

It seemed to have drifted forever, hoping to find a home,

Any home.

It did, but too late because this heart that changed to driftwood had by then turned to

stone.

It rests now on a forlorn shore.

Sadly, it’s not alone.

The only comfort my heart now knows is

the caressing water

and

The company of other impenetrable stones.

https://www.mureka.ai/song-detail/FYWMY1MEnpSAaU57ZprH8j?is_from_share=1

Anti-provincial Danielle Smith and Amanda Gillis

by Rita Jasper, posted in Environment

This video explores Amanda Gillis’s perspective on the current political situation in Alberta, led by Danielle Smith, and its impact on all provinces and Indigenous peoples. @jasperrita

To sign form to protect the environment https://forms.gle/fVFskFdPHGqYMTnJ8

Albertans for Canada

Canada is a Corporation

by Rita Jasper, posted in Environment

This video is about Indigenous and non-indigenous people coming together to protect the environment & the treaties.

Signatures: An OPEN LETTER https://forms.gle/fVFskFdPHGqYMTnJ8

Mountains Not Mines Red Deer AB

by Rita Jasper, posted in Environment

It was nice to see all races and nations come together to protect the environment. Douglas Bonaise, an Elder, Powwow MC, and Knowledge Keeper, shared important information regarding treaties.

All nations and races rally to protect the mountains and water in Red Deer, Alberta. Douglas Bonaise, an Elder and Knowledge Keeper, shares valuable Indigenous knowledge. @jasper

Call for signatures: An OPEN LETTER to protect the waters. (n.d.). https://forms.gle/fVFskFdPHGqYMTnJ8

CORPORATE KNIGHTS [BY ALAN SHAPIRO JANUARY 30, 2025], & SHAPIRO, A. (2025, January 30). Trump’s deregulation agenda poses a threat to water health and security. CORPORATE KNIGHTS. https://www.corporateknights.com/water/trumps-deregulation-agenda-poses-a-threat-to-water-health-and-security/

Treaty 6 medal repatriated to Red Pheasant Cree Nation after 134 years. (2019, July 3). Thestarphoenix. https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/treaty-6-medal-repatriated-to-red-pheasant-cree-nation-after-134-years

https://youtu.be/W91_XZK_jAM?si=gik15ee3i5-1BfCM