Elder Q&A: Rita Potson

Age: 68
Member of Seine River First Nation
Where were you born?
“In Seine River.”
How many children and grandchildren?
“Four kids, two girls, two boys and eight grandchildren.”
What jobs have you had?
“I worked in the tourist camp for 16 summers, brush-cutting, tree planting, trapping, pulp cutting, homemaker, mother and grandmother.”
What is the biggest change in the community?
“Running water, electricity on the reserve, roads, telephones and cellphone, everything changed. Growing up we got water from the lake and had to handwash everything. We have everything now like the washer and dryer. There is no hard work anymore. I started working when I was seven or eight – gathering the wood and getting water. I would also get day-school during the day. My mother made our house; she was a pulp cutter. She used to get two cords a day with just a swede saw and an axe.”
What is the best advice you ever received?
“I was raised by Indian teachings – not supposed to steal, be kind to all living things – almost like the 10 commandments. That’s how I raised my kids and grandkids; the Indian way.”
Aanti ka-ishinitawikiyin?
“Mi-oma Seine River.”
Aniin minik entashiwach kinichanisak shikwa kiyoshisak?
“niiwiwak nintapinoochishimak, niishiwak ekwesansak, niishiwak kwewisensak shikwa niishwachiwak niyoshisak.”
Aniin kapi-inanookiyin?
“mitaswa-shi-niikotwaso niipin ninki-anooki i-ima kwashkepichikewi-kamikoon, ninki-pashkoka-ike, mitikonsiwi-kitikewinink, ninki-wani-ike, ninkikishka-akwe, ninki-kanawentan niwaka-ikan, ninki-omamawi shikwa ninki-okoomimawi.”
Wakonen mawach ka-aanchisek o-oma kitashikewinink?
“0inapikesin nipi entayan, wasikan ayamakan o-oma ishkonikanink, mikanan, kikitowapikonsan, kakina kekoonan ki-aanchisewan. Weshkach kapi-onpikiyan nikinitananata-ipimin i-ima saka-ikanink shikwa kakina kekoon kimichikisipikinikatewan. Kakina kekoon kayanchise nookom kapimipitekin kisipikinikewinan shikwa kapimipitek chipatekin kisipikinikewinan. Kaawin awiya nita-anookisi nookom. ninshwaso kema nishwaso nikitasopiipoonwe kakimatanookiyan – nanatawiseyan shikwa ekinanata-ipiyan. Ekishikak nikikinwa-amako. Nimamanan oki-oshitoon niwaka-ikaninan, kinitakishka-akwe. Ninshominate minik okikishitonan peshikokishik ekimichi-apachitoch kamichiwepinikatekin kishkikipoochikan shikwa wakakwat.”
Aniin ka-shi-ayakwamimikoyin?
“ka-onpikiyan kipiminisha-ikate anishinaapewi-pimaatisiwin – chikimotisisiwan, chikitimakentamaan kakina kekoon kapimaatisimakakin – tapishkoka-ikitomakakin mitaso ayakwamisiwinan. Mi-i ka-ishikikinwa-amawakwa ninichanisak shikwa nooshisak; anishinaapewi-pimaatisiwin.”