| The hospital is on the island causing | | | | family as they teach adult children and |
| transportation difficulties during the | | | | grandchildren how to hunt. Another |
| warmer season. Rachel*, our guide, told | | | | question, "What do you think they are |
| us when her mother was pregnant with her | | | | hunting?" This is moose country, with |
| older sister during break up a | | | | moose, black bear, foxes, and wolves |
| helicopter was also in service. With no | | | | could be their prey.. Their target is |
| lighting for the helicopter, for two | | | | the Canadian Goose! Yes, as many as have |
| weeks before her due date she was flown | | | | migrated to the States, some are being |
| to the hospital on the island for the | | | | harvested for the food they provide. We |
| night and returned during the morning. | | | | saw how they plucked and cooked the |
| This went on for two weeks after her due | | | | goose, giving new meaning to having your |
| day. Her sister was born during the day | | | | goose cooked! It was an interesting |
| at home. Gives us a different | | | | documentary. |
| perspective, doesn't it? | | | | This morning at breakfast, one of the |
| Back to the ride up the river. We had | | | | couples told us about being asked to |
| seen a few other people out in their | | | | attend a wedding where the feast |
| boats at this hour and one on a beach. | | | | included 15 geese being roasted. Imagine |
| Early Hudson Bay Company ships had to | | | | someone in the states or any larger city |
| load sand from "Ships Sand Island" to | | | | for that matter, asking a tourist to |
| balance the ship for the return trip to | | | | come to a local wedding. I know it was |
| England. The furs must have been too | | | | fascinating to visit with the local |
| light. | | | | residents and to be watching the geese |
| Our ride took about an hour from | | | | being cooked. Lunch was served, a ham |
| Moosonee before we reached the mouth of | | | | sandwich with carrots on the side. Still |
| the river. Having seen the salt water of | | | | on the river we were served a cake with |
| James Bay the Polar Princess began to | | | | a maple leaf drawn on it for Canada Day. |
| turn around. I would like to know your | | | | I kept trying to get Rachel* to sing "Oh |
| guess for the movie title, so take a | | | | Canada," the national anthem. Oh well. |
| minute to think about it. I will reveal | | | | It had been a great ride up and we are |
| it soon. We were now headed for Moose | | | | approaching the island. I will describe |
| Island Factory | | | | that excursion on another article. |
| One more fact about the spring break up. | | | | *Name changed |
| Remember I said the river had four feet | | | | You have my permission to reprint and |
| of ice during the winter. The width of | | | | distribute this article as long as it is |
| the river must be at least a half mile | | | | distributed in its entirety, including |
| at places. One channel was man made at a | | | | all links and copyright information. © |
| width of 50 feet. During spring break up | | | | Lloyd Mize 2007 |
| the ice erodes the banks of the river | | | | Lloyd Mize has retired from a full time |
| dragging dirt and trees with it. Over | | | | JOB! |
| the years the 50 feet has expanded to | | | | Currently, he spends his time as the |
| over 200 feet! | | | | webmaster for Christian Article Bank, |
| The movie has started. It was a national | | | | A Biblically Based Collection of |
| documentary (sorry) about the Cree | | | | Articles. |
| making their fall and spring hunting | | | | As you can tell, he enjoys traveling and |
| trips. Children today are losing their | | | | seeing wildlife. |
| hunting skills and knowledge. This story | | | | Thanks to Ann Stewart for editing this |
| was about an elder, his wife and their | | | | article. |