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Louise Abbott & Niels Jensen’s new book explores northern culture
By Brenda Hartwell
Image Credits: Louise Abbott and Niels Jensen
If you have ever wondered about the indigenous people who make their home in the far north of this province, then I recommend that you read the newest release from Louise Abbott and Niels Jensen. Eeyou Istchee: Land of the Cree is a gorgeous coffee table book, filled with stunning images shot by both Abbott and Jensen, and anyone familiar with Louise Abbott’s writing knows that she is a thorough researcher. She also seems to possess a gift for forging connections with her subjects, and this enables her to render a full and empathetic depiction of people, their history, culture, and lifestyle. Read More »
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Adventures on Snowshoes
Technology has changed tramping for the better
Story: Jerome Krause
Image Credits: Jerome Krause; National Archives of Canada
Every North American First Nation that lived where conditions were snowy developed some form of snowshoe, and the shapes and sizes of those shoes varied considerably according to functional demands. Where more flotation was called for the shoes were larger; where manoeuvrability was called for in forested locations they were shorter and either rounder or narrower, depending on prevailing snow conditions.
 Image: National Archives of Canada Shoes that saw cross-country hunting use, such as those developed by the Cree, tended to be much longer, up to nearly six feet (1.8 m). Some of the widest shoes were devised by the Inuit, but they did not see extensive use, in that the ice of the far North is seldom deep in snow. Snowshoes were one of the few utilitarian cultural objects in common use throughout all Northern snowy regions.
In very recent years, now that the most typical snowshoe use is recreational rather than strictly practical, shapes and sizes have evolved yet again. And, materials used to make snowshoes have recently changed, as well. The most common snowshoes seen today have aluminum frames that are decked over with synthetic material, although some solid plastic shoes are also on the market. Traditional wooden-framed and rawhide-laced snowshoes can be found, along with other variants, but tubular aluminum frames currently are most widely seen. Modern shoes are secure on the feet, stable, light, and easy to use. They have teeth on their bottoms to assist with travel on slopes. Except for the aesthetic appeal of antique snowshoes, modern recreational varieties are superior in nearly all regards. This is so because of market demands – greater numbers of snowshoes are in use today than at any earlier time and, therefore, competition among manufacturers to develop ever better models drives their evolution. Read More »
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Mount Hereford and Ely Stream
Story by Gladys Mackey Beattie
Photo credits: R. Hall and G. Mackey Beattie.
Compass readings are courtesy of Robert Hall.
 Mount Hereford promises sweeping vistas. Our first hike will be up Mount Hereford in the southern part of the Townships not far from the Vermont and New Hampshire borders. This road-walk will test your legs and lungs and provide you with a very rewarding view if you have chosen a clear day.
This mountain and surrounding woodlands are owned by the Tillotson Woodlands Corporation, who harvest, plant and maintain the property so that it continues to be a viable producing forest, and graciously allow the public access via two hiking trails and the road which is driveable by car, if you dare. The road to the mountain top was built partially to transport harvested wood, and partially because the late owner, Mr. Neil Tillotson, wanted to get to the top of the mountain in his golden years so he could enjoy the outstanding view which covers much of his holdings.
The road is 3 km long and winds upwards gradually in sweeping curves. Nowhere is it excessively steep. Birds and wildflowers can be seen along the way. There should be lots of yellow, dandelion-looking Coltsfood crowding along the edges of the road. You might get a chance to see a Canada Jay,or some Black and White warblers in migration. Perhaps there will be some Goldfinches or Cedar Waxwings. Likely the Purple Finches will be serenading from the tree tops. The Blue Jays will surely scold you, and you will be checked out by the resident ravens. Look back over your shoulder once in a while as you walk and you will see lovely views of Mount Orford on the horizon. You will get glimpses of the Stoke Mountains, and you might get a view of Mount Megantic. Higher up, if you find a clearing among the trees, you may get a glance at Owls Head Mountain. Read More »
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Irish Folklore in the Eastern Townships
Story and Photos by Grant Myers
 Thompson Cemetery, New Mexico Road, Quebec The graveyard was a quiet and forlorn place. As I entered through a rusty gate, a cold wind blew in from the empty field to the west causing me to shiver and robbing the early spring sun of what little warmth it had to offer. The snow that remained on the ground somehow emphasized the decay of time and neglect and suggested that those buried in the old cemetery were forgotten—or would soon be forgotten—in the memories of the living. “Was she here?”, I asked myself with a whisper, perhaps afraid that if I spoke any louder, even to myself, that I might disturb the souls of the dead. This had to be the place. This was the Thompson Cemetery, the Irish burying ground along New Mexico Road. If the story was true, she had to be here.
The Eastern Townships is a haunted by old tales and legends of times past that lurk incomplete or only half-remembered in our collective imagination. Stories told to us by our grandparents, parents, aunts or uncles when we were children now compete for our attention with the complex trappings of contemporary life and are often lost to memory before they can be shared with those that have come after us. But sometimes, if only by chance, an old tale is recorded or written down and survives in a published book or manuscript, taunting us by its paucity of detail to unwrap the riddles of its narrative. Such is the legend of Peggy Green. Read More »
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Local Author’s Second Book a Must Have
By Brenda Hartwell
 Local author Matthew Farfan has done it again. His first book, The Eastern Townships: In Town and Village, which was released two years ago, was a whopping success, and now his newly released book, The Eastern Townships: On Lake and River, offers readers another fascinating journey back in time. This is the perfect book to grace the cottage coffee table or to give as a gift to anyone who has ever had the great good fortune to pass some time near a Township lake or river.
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Maple Recipes from the Eastern Townships
Last month we asked readers to send in their favourite maple recipes. One loyal reader, Judy LeBaron from North Hatley, answered the call. She told us that her mother handed both of these recipes down to her. Judy remembers eating Sticky Pudding when she was a little girl growing up in Sherbrooke. When she became a mother, she whipped up this dessert for her own children, who enjoyed it very much.
 Maple custard fit for a queen Maple Custard is fancier fare. When Judy serves this at a dinner party, the guests are almost certain to ask for the recipe. It is simple and elegant. In fact, it is good enough to serve the Queen!
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Starting Seeds 101
By Brenda Hartwell
I enjoy gardening, but I was not blessed with a green thumb. My vegetable garden is a war zone where the twitch grass definitely has the upper hand, and my flower garden is populated with only those varieties of hardy perennials that can withstand a certain amount of abuse. I also specialize in shrubs, like lilacs and black currant bushes, which are nearly impossible to kill—species that can survive an accidental razing from an overenthusiastic lawn mower, ornamentals, which miraculously spring back after a delivery truck runs over them.
Fortunately I am blessed with a dear friend who is a gardener by nature and by profession. Her property is awash in colour. The variety of specimens, the immaculate state of her beds, the profusion of petals and greenery, are sustenance for the eye and the soul. She is a generous and wise woman, and because she is also humble and shy, I will not call her by name. Because she refers to herself as an old fashioned gardener, one who uses mostly organic methods, propagates her own plants, and tends to reuse materials, I will refer to her as the Thrifty Gardener.
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Cookshire’s Master Bladesmith Christoph Deringer
Story & Photos by Brenda Hartwell
 Christoph Deringer, at Shazaam Fest, explains his art
The summer of 2008 had not been particularly kind to outdoor festivals, and unfortunately the third edition of Shazaam Fest was not able to escape nasty weather. The idyllic riverside site near Way’s Mills, the enthusiasm of the organizers, the great food, the eclectic mix of music and entertainment provided everything a festival should need to flourish, but unfortunately bad weather kept many people away.
The few damp souls who braved the weather armed with ponchos and umbrellas were not disappointed with the offerings or with the interesting people on site. Shazaam Fest attracts a variety of colourful characters, and many of them fall into that “missing middle” demographic of 25 to 45 year olds. It is the perfect place to find a story worth telling.
Underneath a canopy of trees beside the dirt road leading down into the bowl of the natural amphitheatre, a forge was smoking away. A low table adorned with beautiful objects hunkered nearby. A strong arm rose and fell rhythmically, and the sound of a hammer striking hot metal rang throughout the forest. I approached, mesmerized. It is not every day that one can witness the ancient art of blacksmithing.
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Making Fire with a Flint & Steel
Story by Grant Myers
Photo Credits: August Myers and Grant Myers
Flint and steel fire-making is an ancient technique that has been in use since the Iron Age. Until replaced by the friction match in the second quarter of the 19th century, the flint and steel remained the most common and reliable way of making fire.
 The flint & steel fire-kit The equipment needed for flint and steel fire-making is relatively simple. The toolkit consists of a portable striking surface, or “fire-steel”, a piece of flint or similar stone that can be worked to a sharp edge and some “charred” cotton or flannel cloth. I also like to keep a small amount of very dry tinder in my kit, like cedar bark or wood shavings, to help the fire along.
The fire-steel itself must be hard enough to produce a good spark when it is struck by the flint. A good fire-steel can be made from an old file or any tool that has been made with high carbon steel. I made my fire-steel using a piece of soft wrought iron which I “case”, or surface, hardened. This method was used to mass produce cheap yet reliable fire-steels in the 18th and 19th centuries. The traditional fire-steel should not be confused with Ferro-cerium rods that are now sold in many outdoor supply stores. These work on more or less the same principle but are much easier to use.
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