The Seekers and the Residents

Mashkodens is alive with the energies of humans who cook, eat, and work on various projects together. It’s always a treat to sit around the evening fire with everyone else amidst bear and buffalo-fat chunks sizzling on skewers, dripping into cabbage leaves and bowls. Perhaps there is sucker-fish cooking, or deer, or raccoon. Occasionally in the fire are (hopefully breakage-free) rocks which are being heated up for cooking the Wild Rice in our giant wooden lidded troth. We share the stories of the day, and perhaps do a health/feeling check-in, just like in the morning; make plans for the following Sun.
Nick and I are in a unique position. We’re gone through the yearlong, and we’ve had much wilderness experience elsewhere. So we often have the opportunity to be in a more of a Guiding role – to help the eight Seekers find their own ways to solve various problems that come up. This is also a challenge for us, as we are a part of the group, sharing food, firewood, and other resources – and we have a vested interest in communicating with the circle our needs and desires as well!
The Seekers have daily workshops on all sorts of things – sleeping tarp set-up, “guardian” moving, pack-frame making, circle-consciousness, and general body/mind maximization. We two residents are enjoying partaking in them, as they are inspiring reminders for us. Our own Deer-hide tanning is in full swing.
Coming up very shortly is the Wild Leek gathering camp, to be hopefully followed by Suckerfish camp. And after that, we are not sure. I plan to visit family, for one. Also, a primitive skillshare event is on the horizon, as is the coming of Matt, who will join us for an undetermined amount of time.
So that’s the scoop! Once again, no pictures!

Alyosha

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4 Responses to The Seekers and the Residents

  1. coyote 3 feathers says:

    It will be interesting to know how sucker camp goes/went. What is the ice condition, status? I would love to be there, rather than so far away reading this on line. May your gathering be abundant!

    • admin says:

      Hey Coyote! The ice melted sometime around teh very beginning of May from the surrounding lakes. The water is still not quite warm enough for them, though we are gonna start checking soon. Yeah, I remember our time together doing this before.. fun! Remember Leek camp?? We’re doing it again, probably same place – and I think this time will bag everything right away to not bother with blanching.. should stay good anyway, according to research. Anything to gather around where you are?

      Take care!
      Alyosha

  2. Olga Breslav says:

    Привет,Лёшенька!
    Мне нравится как ты подписываешься.:)И вообще ,очень хорошо пишешь!
    Когда же ты приедешь?
    А вы на лодке из шкур рыбу ловить можете?
    Love,
    mom

    • admin says:

      Privet Mamulya! Priedu skoro, kak ti znaesh.. a ribu skoro budem lovit’ sachkami i rukami! V obshe dva goda nazad lodka bila v horoshem sostoyanii i s neyo mozhno bilo lovit’ kryuchkom. 🙂

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