Yesterday, 27 September 2020, was a beautiful, sunny fall day. Three days earlier, I had done a fairly similar drive, but extremely strong winds had forced me to cut short my drive and hasten back home.

There was a reason I really wanted to get down south again yesterday. At the Bar U Ranch, it was time for the Stoney Nakoda camp to be dismantled for the season. This was going to include a ceremony in the afternoon, giving a final blessing before the tipi was taken down, carefully packed up and loaded on to a waiting horse. It was so interesting to witness each stage of this event. The Stoney Nakoda have had a longtime connection with the Bar U Ranch.

"The Stoney Nakoda were absolutely essential to keeping foothills ranches going. In the early part to the 20th century Stoney families would come down and camp at various family ranches and work right alongside the ranch families.” From an article in OkotoksToday, on Jun 29, 2020, describing the setting up of the tipi, and giving other interesting information.

www.okotokstoday.ca/wheels-west/bar-u-ranch-exhibit-pays-...

It took me longer to get down south this time, as I took a wrong turn at one of the new overpasses that are part of the new massive Ring Road around the city. Just a confusing mess. Eventually, I found myself on a familiar road and headed off in such beautiful scenery. On the way home after my Ranch visit, I decided to take a completely different route home, in order to avoid that overpass intersection. It worked well and, as a bonus, I found a few 'new' barns to photograph.

While at the Ranch, I took a number of video clips of the various stages of the tipi ceremony. I will gradually add a few of them, partly because I have always loved the sound of the drums.

The ceremony began with smudging the inside and outside of the tipi. Some of the members entered the tipi and sat in a circle to begin the smudging.

"Although Indigenous nations have their own culturally specific smudging traditions, they typically share certain teachings. For example, all smudging ceremonies require some sort of vessel to carry the medicinal herbs, such as a special container, shell, smudge stick or ball. Burned in small amounts, the herbs contained in the vessel produce smoke that is said to have healing powers and carry the prayers of the people to the Creator. The smoke is wafted over the face and body of the person being smudged, either by a feather (ideally an eagle feather) or by hand. The person guides the smoke towards their body with their hands, inhaling as it comes their way."

www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/smudging

After the smudging of the tipi itself, the women removed and bundled up the covering. The poles were then removed. The empty tipi ring on the ground was also smudged. The bundled up covering was lifted on to the back of a waiting horse and taken away. Afterwards, a pleasant wagon ride (carefully socially distanced) led us through the woodland surrounding the empty camp area.

I have always remembered how my father had respected First Nations people. A drawing he did many, many years ago, when I was either a child or a teenager, included a First Nations man in full feather headdress. After my parents and my brother had died, my amazing friends in England sorted through all their belongings and shipped them off to me here in Canada. I kind of hoped that this drawing could just be amongst all the papers, etc. It was! Couldn't believe my eyes.

Like on my visit last year, I enjoyed a chat with Lewis Martin Pederson. He showed me a beautiful leather book cover and an engraved(?) leather picture he has been making for a family member.

"From riding bulls to singing about bulls to reciting a lot of bull, Lewis (from High River, AB) has done it all (nearly). He is a rancher/farmer whose sense of humour has helped him survive a rodeo and recording career with Rodeo Number One Spot his claim to fame. He has a book titled Cowboy Philosophy.

Lewis, who loves to make people laugh, has entertained people from Toronto to Sicamous over the past 40 years. He has performed poetry in Pincher Creek, Medicine Hat, Maple Creek and at the Calgary Stampede. He currently runs the saddle shop at the BarU Ranch, Canada’s only National Park with a western theme."

www.albertacowboypoetry.com/performers

Tags:   Bar U Ranch Stoney Nakoda Travis Jimmy John

© All Rights Reserved

Yesterday, 27 September 2020, was a beautiful, sunny fall day. Three days earlier, I had done a fairly similar drive, but extremely strong winds had forced me to cut short my drive and hasten back home.

There was a reason I really wanted to get down south again yesterday. At the Bar U Ranch, it was time for the Stoney Nakoda camp to be dismantled for the season. This was going to include a ceremony in the afternoon, giving a final blessing before the tipi was taken down, carefully packed up and loaded on to a waiting horse. It was so interesting to witness each stage of this event. The Stoney Nakoda have had a longtime connection with the Bar U Ranch.

"The Stoney Nakoda were absolutely essential to keeping foothills ranches going. In the early part to the 20th century Stoney families would come down and camp at various family ranches and work right alongside the ranch families.” From an article in OkotoksToday, on Jun 29, 2020, describing the setting up of the tipi, and giving other interesting information.

www.okotokstoday.ca/wheels-west/bar-u-ranch-exhibit-pays-...

It took me longer to get down south this time, as I took a wrong turn at one of the new overpasses that are part of the new massive Ring Road around the city. Just a confusing mess. Eventually, I found myself on a familiar road and headed off in such beautiful scenery. On the way home after my Ranch visit, I decided to take a completely different route home, in order to avoid that overpass intersection. It worked well and, as a bonus, I found a few 'new' barns to photograph.

While at the Ranch, I took a number of video clips of the various stages of the tipi ceremony. I will gradually add a few of them, partly because I have always loved the sound of the drums.

The ceremony began with smudging the inside and outside of the tipi. Some of the members entered the tipi and sat in a circle to begin the smudging.

"Although Indigenous nations have their own culturally specific smudging traditions, they typically share certain teachings. For example, all smudging ceremonies require some sort of vessel to carry the medicinal herbs, such as a special container, shell, smudge stick or ball. Burned in small amounts, the herbs contained in the vessel produce smoke that is said to have healing powers and carry the prayers of the people to the Creator. The smoke is wafted over the face and body of the person being smudged, either by a feather (ideally an eagle feather) or by hand. The person guides the smoke towards their body with their hands, inhaling as it comes their way."

www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/smudging

After the smudging of the tipi itself, the women removed and bundled up the covering. The poles were then removed. The empty tipi ring on the ground was also smudged. The bundled up covering was lifted on to the back of a waiting horse and taken away. Afterwards, a pleasant wagon ride (carefully socially distanced) led us through the woodland surrounding the empty camp area.

I have always remembered how my father had respected First Nations people. A drawing he did many, many years ago, when I was either a child or a teenager, included a First Nations man in full feather headdress. After my parents and my brother had died, my amazing friends in England sorted through all their belongings and shipped them off to me here in Canada. I kind of hoped that this drawing could just be amongst all the papers, etc. It was! Couldn't believe my eyes.

Like on my visit last year, I enjoyed a chat with Lewis Martin Pederson. He showed me a beautiful leather book cover and an engraved(?) leather picture he has been making for a family member.

"From riding bulls to singing about bulls to reciting a lot of bull, Lewis (from High River, AB) has done it all (nearly). He is a rancher/farmer whose sense of humour has helped him survive a rodeo and recording career with Rodeo Number One Spot his claim to fame. He has a book titled Cowboy Philosophy.

Lewis, who loves to make people laugh, has entertained people from Toronto to Sicamous over the past 40 years. He has performed poetry in Pincher Creek, Medicine Hat, Maple Creek and at the Calgary Stampede. He currently runs the saddle shop at the BarU Ranch, Canada’s only National Park with a western theme."

www.albertacowboypoetry.com/performers

Tags:   tipi smudging Bar U Ranch Stoney Nakoda

© All Rights Reserved

Yesterday, 27 September 2020, was a beautiful, sunny fall day. Three days earlier, I had done a fairly similar drive, but extremely strong winds had forced me to cut short my drive and hasten back home.

There was a reason I really wanted to get down south again yesterday. At the Bar U Ranch, it was time for the Stoney Nakoda camp to be dismantled for the season. This was going to include a ceremony in the afternoon, giving a final blessing before the tipi was taken down, carefully packed up and loaded on to a waiting horse. It was so interesting to witness each stage of this event. The Stoney Nakoda have had a longtime connection with the Bar U Ranch.

"The Stoney Nakoda were absolutely essential to keeping foothills ranches going. In the early part to the 20th century Stoney families would come down and camp at various family ranches and work right alongside the ranch families.” From an article in OkotoksToday, on Jun 29, 2020, describing the setting up of the tipi, and giving other interesting information.

www.okotokstoday.ca/wheels-west/bar-u-ranch-exhibit-pays-...

It took me longer to get down south this time, as I took a wrong turn at one of the new overpasses that are part of the new massive Ring Road around the city. Just a confusing mess. Eventually, I found myself on a familiar road and headed off in such beautiful scenery. On the way home after my Ranch visit, I decided to take a completely different route home, in order to avoid that overpass intersection. It worked well and, as a bonus, I found a few 'new' barns to photograph.

While at the Ranch, I took a number of video clips of the various stages of the tipi ceremony. I will gradually add a few of them, partly because I have always loved the sound of the drums.

The ceremony began with smudging the inside and outside of the tipi. Some of the members entered the tipi and sat in a circle to begin the smudging.

"Although Indigenous nations have their own culturally specific smudging traditions, they typically share certain teachings. For example, all smudging ceremonies require some sort of vessel to carry the medicinal herbs, such as a special container, shell, smudge stick or ball. Burned in small amounts, the herbs contained in the vessel produce smoke that is said to have healing powers and carry the prayers of the people to the Creator. The smoke is wafted over the face and body of the person being smudged, either by a feather (ideally an eagle feather) or by hand. The person guides the smoke towards their body with their hands, inhaling as it comes their way."

www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/smudging

After the smudging of the tipi itself, the women removed and bundled up the covering. The poles were then removed. The empty tipi ring on the ground was also smudged. The bundled up covering was lifted on to the back of a waiting horse and taken away. Afterwards, a pleasant wagon ride (carefully socially distanced) led us through the woodland surrounding the empty camp area.

I have always remembered how my father had respected First Nations people. A drawing he did many, many years ago, when I was either a child or a teenager, included a First Nations man in full feather headdress. After my parents and my brother had died, my amazing friends in England sorted through all their belongings and shipped them off to me here in Canada. I kind of hoped that this drawing could just be amongst all the papers, etc. It was! Couldn't believe my eyes.

Like on my visit last year, I enjoyed a chat with Lewis Martin Pederson. He showed me a beautiful leather book cover and an engraved(?) leather picture he has been making for a family member.

"From riding bulls to singing about bulls to reciting a lot of bull, Lewis (from High River, AB) has done it all (nearly). He is a rancher/farmer whose sense of humour has helped him survive a rodeo and recording career with Rodeo Number One Spot his claim to fame. He has a book titled Cowboy Philosophy.

Lewis, who loves to make people laugh, has entertained people from Toronto to Sicamous over the past 40 years. He has performed poetry in Pincher Creek, Medicine Hat, Maple Creek and at the Calgary Stampede. He currently runs the saddle shop at the BarU Ranch, Canada’s only National Park with a western theme."

www.albertacowboypoetry.com/performers

© All Rights Reserved

Yesterday, 27 September 2020, was a beautiful, sunny fall day. Three days earlier, I had done a fairly similar drive, but extremely strong winds had forced me to cut short my drive and hasten back home.

There was a reason I really wanted to get down south again yesterday. At the Bar U Ranch, it was time for the Stoney Nakoda camp to be dismantled for the season. This was going to include a ceremony in the afternoon, giving a final blessing before the tipi was taken down, carefully packed up and loaded on to a waiting horse. It was so interesting to witness each stage of this event. The Stoney Nakoda have had a longtime connection with the Bar U Ranch.

"The Stoney Nakoda were absolutely essential to keeping foothills ranches going. In the early part to the 20th century Stoney families would come down and camp at various family ranches and work right alongside the ranch families.” From an article in OkotoksToday, on Jun 29, 2020, describing the setting up of the tipi, and giving other interesting information.

www.okotokstoday.ca/wheels-west/bar-u-ranch-exhibit-pays-...

It took me longer to get down south this time, as I took a wrong turn at one of the new overpasses that are part of the new massive Ring Road around the city. Just a confusing mess. Eventually, I found myself on a familiar road and headed off in such beautiful scenery. On the way home after my Ranch visit, I decided to take a completely different route home, in order to avoid that overpass intersection. It worked well and, as a bonus, I found a few 'new' barns to photograph.

While at the Ranch, I took a number of video clips of the various stages of the tipi ceremony. I will gradually add a few of them, partly because I have always loved the sound of the drums.

The ceremony began with smudging the inside and outside of the tipi. Some of the members entered the tipi and sat in a circle to begin the smudging.

"Although Indigenous nations have their own culturally specific smudging traditions, they typically share certain teachings. For example, all smudging ceremonies require some sort of vessel to carry the medicinal herbs, such as a special container, shell, smudge stick or ball. Burned in small amounts, the herbs contained in the vessel produce smoke that is said to have healing powers and carry the prayers of the people to the Creator. The smoke is wafted over the face and body of the person being smudged, either by a feather (ideally an eagle feather) or by hand. The person guides the smoke towards their body with their hands, inhaling as it comes their way."

www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/smudging

After the smudging of the tipi itself, the women removed and bundled up the covering. The poles were then removed. The empty tipi ring on the ground was also smudged. The bundled up covering was lifted on to the back of a waiting horse and taken away. Afterwards, a pleasant wagon ride (carefully socially distanced) led us through the woodland surrounding the empty camp area.

I have always remembered how my father had respected First Nations people. A drawing he did many, many years ago, when I was either a child or a teenager, included a First Nations man in full feather headdress. After my parents and my brother had died, my amazing friends in England sorted through all their belongings and shipped them off to me here in Canada. I kind of hoped that this drawing could just be amongst all the papers, etc. It was! Couldn't believe my eyes.

Like on my visit last year, I enjoyed a chat with Lewis Martin Pederson. He showed me a beautiful leather book cover and an engraved(?) leather picture he has been making for a family member.

"From riding bulls to singing about bulls to reciting a lot of bull, Lewis (from High River, AB) has done it all (nearly). He is a rancher/farmer whose sense of humour has helped him survive a rodeo and recording career with Rodeo Number One Spot his claim to fame. He has a book titled Cowboy Philosophy.

Lewis, who loves to make people laugh, has entertained people from Toronto to Sicamous over the past 40 years. He has performed poetry in Pincher Creek, Medicine Hat, Maple Creek and at the Calgary Stampede. He currently runs the saddle shop at the BarU Ranch, Canada’s only National Park with a western theme."

www.albertacowboypoetry.com/performers

Tags:   Alberta Canada south of Calgary scenery hills rolling hills Foothills farm farmland field silo old round wooden roof horses two rider outdoor fall autumn 27 September 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

One year ago, on 28 September 2019, we had a dreadful snowstorm, followed by a long winter!

Yesterday, 27 September 2020, was a beautiful, sunny fall day. Three days earlier, I had done a fairly similar drive, but extremely strong winds had forced me to cut short my drive and hasten back home.

There was a reason I really wanted to get down south again yesterday. At the Bar U Ranch, it was time for the Stoney Nakoda camp to be dismantled for the season. This was going to include a ceremony in the afternoon, giving a final blessing before the tipi was taken down, carefully packed up and loaded on to a waiting horse. It was so interesting to witness each stage of this event. The Stoney Nakoda have had a longtime connection with the Bar U Ranch.

"The Stoney Nakoda were absolutely essential to keeping foothills ranches going. In the early part to the 20th century Stoney families would come down and camp at various family ranches and work right alongside the ranch families.” From an article in OkotoksToday, on Jun 29, 2020, describing the setting up of the tipi, and giving other interesting information.

www.okotokstoday.ca/wheels-west/bar-u-ranch-exhibit-pays-...

It took me longer to get down south this time, as I took a wrong turn at one of the new overpasses that are part of the new massive Ring Road around the city. Just a confusing mess. Eventually, I found myself on a familiar road and headed off in such beautiful scenery. On the way home after my Ranch visit, I decided to take a completely different route home, in order to avoid that overpass intersection. It worked well and, as a bonus, I found a few 'new' barns to photograph.

While at the Ranch, I took a number of video clips of the various stages of the tipi ceremony. I will gradually add a few of them, partly because I have always loved the sound of the drums.

The ceremony began with smudging the inside and outside of the tipi. Some of the members entered the tipi and sat in a circle to begin the smudging.

"Although Indigenous nations have their own culturally specific smudging traditions, they typically share certain teachings. For example, all smudging ceremonies require some sort of vessel to carry the medicinal herbs, such as a special container, shell, smudge stick or ball. Burned in small amounts, the herbs contained in the vessel produce smoke that is said to have healing powers and carry the prayers of the people to the Creator. The smoke is wafted over the face and body of the person being smudged, either by a feather (ideally an eagle feather) or by hand. The person guides the smoke towards their body with their hands, inhaling as it comes their way."

www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/smudging

After the smudging of the tipi itself, the women removed and bundled up the covering. The poles were then removed. The empty tipi ring on the ground was also smudged. The bundled up covering was lifted on to the back of a waiting horse and taken away. Afterwards, a pleasant wagon ride (carefully socially distanced) led us through the woodland surrounding the empty camp area.

I have always remembered how my father had respected First Nations people. A drawing he did many, many years ago, when I was either a child or a teenager, included a First Nations man in full feather headdress. After my parents and my brother had died, my amazing friends in England sorted through all their belongings and shipped them off to me here in Canada. I kind of hoped that this drawing could just be amongst all the papers, etc. It was! Couldn't believe my eyes.

Like on my visit last year, I enjoyed a chat with Lewis Martin Pederson. He showed me a beautiful leather book cover and an engraved(?) leather picture he has been making for a family member.

"From riding bulls to singing about bulls to reciting a lot of bull, Lewis (from High River, AB) has done it all (nearly). He is a rancher/farmer whose sense of humour has helped him survive a rodeo and recording career with Rodeo Number One Spot his claim to fame. He has a book titled Cowboy Philosophy.

Lewis, who loves to make people laugh, has entertained people from Toronto to Sicamous over the past 40 years. He has performed poetry in Pincher Creek, Medicine Hat, Maple Creek and at the Calgary Stampede. He currently runs the saddle shop at the BarU Ranch, Canada’s only National Park with a western theme."

www.albertacowboypoetry.com/performers

Tags:   Alberta Canada S of Calgary Bar U Ranch ranch building structure weathered wood old log cabin window frame reflection outdoor fall 27 September 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved IMG_2528

© All Rights Reserved