| The hospital is on the Moose Factory Island | | | | documentary (sorry) about the Cree making their |
| causing transportation difficulties during the | | | | fall and spring hunting trips. Children today are |
| warmer season. Rachel*, our guide, told us when | | | | losing their hunting skills and knowledge. This story |
| her mother was pregnant with her older sister | | | | was about an elder, his wife and their family as |
| during spring break up a helicopter was also in | | | | they teach adult children and grandchildren how to |
| service. With no lighting for the helicopter, for two | | | | hunt. Another question, "What do you think they |
| weeks before her due date she was flown to the | | | | are hunting?" This is moose country, with moose, |
| hospital on the island for the night and returned | | | | black bear, foxes, and wolves could be their prey.. |
| during the morning. This went on for two weeks | | | | Their target is the Canadian Goose! Yes, as many |
| after her due date. Her sister was born during the | | | | as have migrated to the States, some are being |
| day at home. Gives us a different perspective, | | | | harvested for the food they provide. We saw |
| doesn't it? | | | | how they plucked and cooked the goose, giving |
| Back to the ride up the river. We had seen a few | | | | new meaning to having your goose cooked! It |
| other people out in their boats at this hour and | | | | was an interesting documentary. |
| one on a beach. Early Hudson Bay Company ships | | | | This morning at breakfast, one of the couples told |
| had to load sand from "Ships Sand Island" to | | | | us about being asked to attend a wedding where |
| balance the ship for the return trip to England. | | | | the feast included 15 geese being roasted. Imagine |
| The furs must have been too light. | | | | someone in the states or any larger city for that |
| Our ride took about an hour from Moosonee | | | | matter, asking a tourist to come to a local |
| before we reached the mouth of the river. Having | | | | wedding. I know it was fascinating to visit with |
| seen the salt water of James Bay the Polar | | | | the local residents and to be watching the geese |
| Princess began to turn around. I would like to | | | | being cooked. Lunch was served, a ham sandwich |
| know your guess for the movie title, so take a | | | | with carrots on the side. Still on the river we |
| minute to think about it. I will reveal it soon. We | | | | were served a cake with a maple leaf drawn on |
| were now headed for Moose Island Factory | | | | it for Canada Day. I kept trying to get Rachel* to |
| One more fact about the spring break up. | | | | sing "Oh Canada," the national anthem. Oh well. It |
| Remember I said the river had four feet of ice | | | | had been a great ride up and we are approaching |
| during the winter. The width of the river must be | | | | the island. I will describe that excursion on another |
| at least a half mile at places. One channel was | | | | article. |
| man made at a width of 50 feet. During spring | | | | *Name changed |
| break up the ice erodes the banks of the river | | | | You have my permission to reprint and distribute |
| dragging dirt and trees with it. Over the years the | | | | this article as long as it is distributed in its entirety, |
| 50 feet has expanded to over 200 feet! | | | | including all links and copyright information. |
| The movie has started. It was a national | | | | |