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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Frybread is awesome, and powwows and lip-pointing

By: Colleen Simard

Posted: 03/31/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Neil Pasricha started a blog called 1000 Awesome Things about the underappreciated things in life -- like putting on a pair of new socks, or finding money tucked in your jacket pocket. His blog was such a hit it sparked a bestseller called The Book of Awesome.

The book made me think: Do aboriginal people have their own kinds of awesome? After all, we are pretty awesome. I hate to sound cocky but if we weren't awesome, Germany wouldn't have clubs where people dress up and dance around like us, and stores such as Forever 21 would have a gaping hole in their "tribal wear" section. What would the Twilight movies be without a little aboriginal flavour?

Aboriginal people are the best at appreciating the small pleasures in life. So why not celebrate aboriginal awesomeness? It might sound shocking, but we aren't just about doom and gloom. If that was so we would have all shrivelled up and disappeared a long time ago.

So, here's a snippet of what a book of aboriginal awesome might contain.

Frybread is awesome.

Frybread is just what it sounds like, a piece of fluffy dough deep-fried in oil and then enjoyed like bread. I've written about my love-hate relationship with frybread many times, and I've learned to accept I will always have a soft spot for it even if it's bad for me.

Frybread is so popular with aboriginal people, you can find some version of it on every rez in North America.

The fattiest and most flavourful way to eat frybread is to use it as an "Indian taco." This is a piece of aboriginal awesome that should be tried at least once in moderation.

Powwows are awesome.

There's nothing like a powwow in the summer to get people excited. You can check out the dancers' colourful regalia and dance moves, as well as listen to drum groups from near and far. No doubt you'll meet up with a cousin or friend you haven't seen in a while.

Then there's artists selling their beading, jewelry and other work, as well as tasty treats like Indian tacos and bannock dogs for sale. It's also a well-known fact powwows are a great place to find some romance.

Moccasins are awesome.

Now, I'm not talking about mass-produced moccasins with the built-in soles and the furry insoles you pick up at the mall. I must admit, I do have a fondness for those moccasins, although I also own an embarrassing number of fringed Minnetonka moccasins in several different styles.

I'm talking about the holy grail of moccasins -- handmade by an actual aboriginal person. All you fashionistas take note: Nicole Richie and her fashion design team didn't try to sell their own version of beaded moccasins for nothing. She totally knocked off beaded moccasins and hers are really expensive.

Run, don't walk to your nearest aboriginal boutique or find a local artisan who makes these beauties. I don't know anything else that could make a person feel as special as a pair of moccasins made especially for them.

Pointing with your lips is awesome.

Here's how it works: You are relaxing on the couch and your son asks, "Where's the remote?"

You've had a rough day and don't feel like peeling yourself off the couch to pick up the remote and hand it to him. So, what do you do? Purse your lips and push them outwards as if going in for a kiss on your grannies' cheek.

Point those lips in the direction of the remote and say, "Over there."

This is probably the only awesome thing on my list I've never seen a non-aboriginal person do, although it is very possible with a little practice.

Remember, this list of aboriginal awesomeness is just a start. There's tons of awesome out there to discover, and available for everyone to enjoy.

Now that's awesome.

Colleen Simard is a Winnipeg writer.

colleen.simard@gmail.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 31, 2012 A19

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