Category: Writings

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The Maryland Flag, Again

Illustration by Benjamin Jancewicz for the article The Confederate Roots of the Maryland Flag: the Maryland state flag with the red and white Crossland quarters replaced by two figures in Ku Klux Klan hoods, drawn to show what the Confederate half of the flag already represents.

On October 13th I started getting messages asking if I’d heard about a tennis club being suspended.

I had not.

The University of Maryland’s club tennis team sent a Google doc out to the other teams before a tournament. Schedules, a campus map, that sort of thing. Somewhere in it was an illustration of mine. I made it almost ten years ago.

Howard University’s team saw it, posted about it on Instagram, and took it to the Maryland administration. Maryland suspended its club tennis team indefinitely. Reporters started calling that afternoon and I did interviews all week.

Some of you have been reading me long enough to remember the first time this happened. A lot of people turning up this week weren’t here for it. So here is where that illustration came from.

The Maryland state flag with the red and white Crossland quarters replaced by two figures in white Ku Klux Klan hoods.

The article

In 2017 I was living in Baltimore and I could not get over the Maryland state flag.

I’d never seen that much pride in a state flag anywhere. It’s on houses, on cars, on crab shacks. People get it tattooed on them. Black Marylanders wear it as much as white Marylanders do.

What most of them don’t know is that half of it is Confederate.

That July, April Reign, the media critic who started #OscarsSoWhite, launched #NOconfederate against an HBO series that imagined the South winning the Civil War and keeping slavery. I couldn’t afford HBO. So the day after her campaign ran, I wrote a Twitter thread about the Maryland flag instead. In October I turned it into a full article.

The Maryland state flag, black and gold Calvert quarters alongside red and white Crossland quarters.

That’s the flag. Before 1880, Maryland didn’t have one.

Maryland stayed in the Union, though there was heavy Confederate support in parts of it. The first casualties of the war were in Baltimore. The Union Army of Maryland flew the black and gold, which is the heraldic banner of George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore. Baltimore City still uses that design as its own flag.

Secessionist Marylanders, a lot of whom fought under Robert E. Lee, the general who commanded the Confederate army, took the red and white Crossland banner as theirs. It got so widespread that a law was passed forbidding people from displaying those colours. If you got caught wearing them you were arrested for treason.

Fifteen years after the war, at a parade for Baltimore’s 150th, the state put the two halves together into one flag as a gesture of reconciliation between North and South. It became the official state flag in 1904.

Black Marylanders, who the war was fought over and who the Confederacy affected most, were never asked.

Why I drew it that way

For the top of the article I took the Crossland quarters out and put two figures in Ku Klux Klan hoods in their place.

That was the point. People look at the Maryland flag and don’t see a Confederate flag, because there’s no stars and bars on it. I wanted to make them look.

What happened in 2017

CBS Baltimore ran a story without talking to me or to April. Christina Tkacik at the Baltimore Sun talked to both of us. Debra Alfarone at WUSA9 did a video interview that went out on the DC evening news. Breitbart called it an attack by leftists.

Then Red Maryland, a right wing group, started a petition called “Save Maryland’s Flag,” saying the flag was under attack.

Governor Hogan had just taken the Roger B. Taney statue out of the State House in the middle of the night. Taney was the Chief Justice who wrote the Dred Scott decision in 1857, the ruling that said Black people could not be citizens and had no rights a white man was bound to respect. He was a Marylander, and his statue sat outside the State House until Hogan had it hauled off in the dark. That had the far right in the state furious with him. He posted his support for the petition and linked to it.

The Red Maryland Save Maryland’s Flag petition at 28,317 signatures, beside Governor Larry Hogan’s Facebook post saying the flag will never be changed as long as he is governor.

All of that to save the flag. From me, apparently.

I have never once called for the Maryland flag to be changed. Not then, not now.

This month

Somebody took the illustration out of the article and put it in a document about tennis matches. Somebody chose it. Out of the article it is just a Maryland flag with Klan hoods on it, and that is what the Howard players opened.

I messaged Howard’s tennis club on Instagram to tell them I was sick about how it had been used. They wrote back and said mine was the first apology they’d gotten from anybody.

Instagram message exchange in which Benjamin Jancewicz apologises to Howard University’s tennis club for how his illustration was used, and they reply that his was the first apology they had received.

I don’t buy that it got there by accident. Before all this, the only way that image came up in a search was if you searched for “racist Maryland flag.”

Reporters kept asking me how I felt about it. What I kept telling them is that the students this was done to are the ones who should be centred in this, and that I am not the person to ask. Howard University News Service and The Diamondback both covered it properly.

Dr. Jeanette Snider and Dr. Rashawn Ray called me from the Bowie State and University of Maryland Social Justice Alliance. It’s a partnership between the two schools and the 2nd Lt. Richard W. Collins III Foundation.

Collins was murdered on the University of Maryland campus in an act of racial hatred in May of 2017, a few months before I made the illustration. It tore through the state. I was in Baltimore for it, the same way I’d been in the streets there for years before and have been since.

On Wednesday I sat down with students from Maryland and Howard and Maryland’s NAACP chapter, to talk about how the illustration got made and what white people who want to help with this are actually good for.

What I told them is that they get to paint, in whatever colours they want, how history remembers this moment.

What it’s like

This is work I believe in and it is not fun to do.

In 2017 I got hate mail for weeks. I got it again this month. Most of it came through comments online. These two came in minutes apart under different fake names.

Two abusive comments received in October 2026, sent minutes apart under different fake names. Email addresses and IP addresses have been redacted.

That’s the mild end of it. I’ve been targeted before for calling the Maryland flag what it is, and I knew that would start up again the moment the illustration resurfaced.

What I actually want

People look at my illustration and recoil. Good. That’s what it’s for.

What I want is for people to have that same reaction to the regular Maryland flag. Not my version. The real one, the one on the tattoos and the crab shacks and the State House. What I drew is what the thing already represents. People are bothered by the hoods and not by the flag. Those are the same thing.

Whether that flag changes is not my call, and it never was. Black Marylanders are the ones who should decide whether they want Confederate symbols on the flag that represents them. They weren’t asked in 1880 and they haven’t been asked since.

Benjamin

A note, since it’s been a while.

Since August I’ve been working full time for the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach. Design, photography archiving, language documentation, community communications.

I write about it every month on Patreon. Long posts with a lot of pictures. The drive north, the train, a men’s gathering out on the land, the artifacts that came home from the museum.

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A Farewell to Ronald Sandy Pien

Yesterday, the community gathered in Kawawachikamach to lay Ronald Sandy Pien to rest. He was 57. He had been living in Sept-Îles, and in June, his life was taken by violence. He was brought home to be buried.

The funeral was set for 2, but word went around on Facebook that it had been pushed to 4. So many people down south wanted to be there that they needed the time to fly up. By the time it started, the church was already full, and it kept filling up throughout the service.

It was one of the longest funerals I have been to. So many people had something to say in his memory, and about what has been happening. I got up to speak for myself. The chief could not be there, so I read what she had written.

To my community,

My heart is heavy as I write this. Like so many of you, I have been thinking of the death of Ronald Sandy Pien, a Naskapi whose life was taken by violence. That loss has stayed with me, and I know it has stayed with many of you, too.

His passing has me thinking hard about something we do not talk about enough.

Bullying is not small. It is not something children simply grow out of. We have watched it grow into adult cruelty, into name-calling, into shaming, into belittling, and into violence. We have watched it take people we love. Some were beaten. Some carried wounds we could not see until it was too late. Some of them were so very young.

I carry my own memories of this. I know what it is to be a child and to feel like you cannot go on. Too many of us know that feeling, and we have carried it in silence for too long.

Bullying should have no place in Kawawachikamach. Cruelty should have no place here. Name-calling, shaming, belittling, threatening one another, none of it should belong in our community.

We can choose something better, and we can begin today. We can teach kindness at home, in our schools, and everywhere we gather. We can stand beside the ones being hurt instead of looking away. We can speak up when we see someone treated badly, in person or online. And we can check on each other, especially the ones who seem to be struggling.

If you are hurting right now, please reach out. Come to an Elder, to a teacher, to anyone you trust. You are not alone, and you are not a burden to anyone. Your life matters to this community far more than you know.

If you need someone to talk to and you are not ready to talk to someone you know, the Hope for Wellness Helpline is there for Indigenous people across Canada, day or night, at 1-855-242-3310.

We are Naskapi. We have carried each other through so much already. We can protect one another.

With love, and with strength, Chief Louise Nattawappio

Some spoke about Ronald. Some spoke about what has been happening, and what has to change.

It went on long past when a funeral usually ends. Nobody rushed it.

The room listened and journed together.

The children were there for all of it.

When it was finally over, the cross led the way back out.

Maddison reached up and kept her hand on the casket the whole way to the hearse.

Before driving out, we did the traditional parade around the community, the cross carried at the front.

Then everyone piled into trucks. I still do not have one, so I rode with family.

At the cemetery, people went to visit the graves already there.

The cemetery sits in a dip in the ridge where the wind does not reach. After a morning of rain the blackflies came up out of the bushes in clouds and did not let up.

We sang one song. Then people covered the casket with flowers, handful after handful, until you could not see the wood anymore.

There was a feast at the Jimmy Sandy Memorial School. Platter after platter of traditional food, so much of it that they made everyone take a plate home. His face was on the cake.

In loving memory of Ronald Pien, 1968 to 2026.

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A Vigil for Bilal Abdullah

On Thursday, Juneteenth, the family of arraber Bilal Abdullah held a vigil in West Baltimore.

Bilal, also known as BJ for “Bilal Junior”, was killed by the Baltimore Police on Tuesday. The Baltimore Beat has been extensively covering the story.

I went out and took pictures.

A memorial was set up with photos of Bilal and lots of candles. Hundreds came and signed posterboards in memorial.

Many who were his friends and family came to celebrate him. The mixture of attempts to bring joy in remembering his life and the deep pain of losing him was thick in the air.

Bilal had been well known as an arabber in Baltimore, and had been credited as one of the people who were bringing a resurgence of the practice back to Baltimore. Many of the current arabbers are much older.

A heavy storm had delayed the vigil by several hours, which meant that a lot of the heavy police presence from earlier in the day dissipated. The police helicopter continued to circle the people lighting candles for hours though.

Jeff Abell from Fox News kept trying to get close to Bilal’s mother, who made it very clear she did not want to be photographed, videoed, or interviewed. She had been injured by the police trying to get to her son when he had been shot, and sat in a chair near the memorial. People kept telling Jeff that he was not welcome, and blocked his camera. He finally gave up and left.

Though the breeze was heavy and kept blowing the candles out, a steady rotation of people came back and kept relighting them each and every time.

As it was setting, the sun broke through the storm clouds, casting a golden glow over the entire scene. “That’s Bilal,” his mother said, “He’s come to thank us for being here.”

Aaron Maybin, a community activist and board member of the Civilian Review Board, came with his kids to console Bilal’s mother and provide updates to Baynard Woods, the Baltimore Beat’s journalist. “They keep pushing back the release of the body camera footage,” he said.

Realizing I was there for them, Bilals family began asking me to take photos of them gathered. “It’s sad that this is what brought us all together” one of them said.

Catalina Byrd, Tawanda Jones, and Baynard Woods stayed near Bilal’s mother, letting her talk through her pain. “I hate this,” said Tawanda, “I hate that she’s now part of this club,” referring to the group of people in Baltimore who have had loved ones killed by the Baltimore Police. Tawanda’s brother, Tyrone West, was beaten to death by the police in 2013. Every Wednesday since then, Tawanda has led a protest in his honour.

For many people attending the vigil, there were echoes everywhere. “This feels like Freddie Gray,” one young man said, lighting a candle. Freddie Gray was killed by the Baltimore Police in 2015. Directly across from the vigil, a mural of Trayvon Martin had been painted on the side of a garage. “There’s just so much pain here.”

On the outskirts, police vehicles sat, lights blinking into the crowd. There was nowhere anyone could go to mourn without being able to see the police on the fringes.

As it got darker, people began to filter home, and a soft rain began to fall. Family members picked up the photos of Bilal to take with them. “Bilal was my rock. My foundation,” one woman said, holding up a photo of Bilal standing in front of a red, black, and green wall.

The sky rumbled with thunder softly as people walked home. Tonight was about peace.

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A Farewell to Shamani


Yesterday, the communities of Matimekush and Kawawachikamach came together to lay to rest Jean-Marie (Shamani) McKenzie. The Matimekosh church, with its beautiful architecture and warm light, served as the sacred space for his farewell.

Father Gerard Tsetsalam, originally from Cameroon, delivered the entire funeral service in Innu. Later, at the feast, we exchanged words in Innu ourselves—an exchange so unexpected that someone nearby chuckled, “This has to be the weirdest conversation in Innu I’ve ever heard”.

The church was full. Family, friends, elders, and youth packed the pews. Shamani was deeply loved, and his memory brought together generations.

The casket, handcrafted by Craig Jaques, was a true work of art. With a curved lid and inlaid wood, it stood as a testament not only to craftsmanship but also to the love poured into Shamani’s farewell.

Susie Uniam McKenzie, Shamani’s mother, held onto the casket as long as she could before it was loaded into the hearse.

Following tradition in both communities, a long procession followed the hearse out of Schefferville, making its way up the hill to the cemetery.

While the casket was prepared for burial, many took the opportunity to visit their own loved ones buried nearby—an unspoken ritual of connection and remembrance.

The casket was gently lowered onto boards and then into the grave with ropes. His family laid flowers across it before it was sealed inside the outer box.

As the outer box was sealed, Father Tsetsalam offered one last blessing over Shamani’s resting place.

Pierre-Jacques McKenzie, Shamani’s stepfather, and Jacynthe, his niece, embraced Susie Uniam McKenzie before casting their flowers.

As the blessing was spoken, a Whiskichak (Canada Jay) flew low over the mourners, weaving between us before alighting on a wachinakin tree overlooking the grave.

The bird circled a few more times before resting on the large cross at the center of the cemetery. It remained there until every handful of earth had been placed and the crowd began to drift away.

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Looking Back. Moving Forward — A Special West Wednesday at Red Emma’s

On Wednesday night, I had the honor of photographing a very special edition of West Wednesday—its 611th gathering—hosted by Baltimore Beat at Red Emma’s.

The panel was titled “Looking Back. Moving Forward”, and it marked 10 years since the death of Freddie Gray and the 2015 Uprising that followed. The evening served as both reflection and rallying cry—a chance to grieve, to remember, and to imagine what justice can still look like in our city.

The Panelists

The conversation was led by some of Baltimore’s most powerful voices:

  • Tawanda Jones – Activist, sister of Tyrone West (killed by Baltimore Police in 2013), and the driving force behind West Wednesdays
  • Devin Allen – Award-winning photographer whose images from 2015 made national headlines
  • Lisa Snowden – Editor-in-chief of Baltimore Beat
  • Lawrence Grandpre – Author and Director of Research at Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle
  • Eze Jackson – Musician, moderator, and one of the city’s strongest community voices

Each of them brought truth, vulnerability, and a fierce clarity to the conversation.

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Last night was the launch of the Baltimore Peace Movement Weekend Rally. I went out and took pictures.

Tonight was the launch of the Baltimore Peace Movement Weekend Rally.

We gathered at Mount Holly & Edmonson Ave, a block west of where we normally meet. Because of the cold, St Bernardine Roman Catholic Church opened its doors so that those who were cold could warm up.

We stood on the corners, encouraging drivers to honk their horns, as we kicked off the Peace Movement Weekend.

The Baltimore Peace Movement began as the Baltimore Cease Fire, a movement to stop gun violence in Baltimore. Since then, as it has become a successful instrument in reducing the homicides and violence the city has traditionally experienced, it has expanded its mission to be more helpful to the people of Baltimore.

While we were gathered, one of our Ambassadors pointed out that just a block away, a young man, Lamel Edwards, had been killed.

The Baltimore Peace Movement has been doing Sacred Spaces since early in its history. We gather in spaces where someone has been hurt by violence in the city and intentionally bring peace to that space.

And so we did that tonight as well.

I also made a video:

The Baltimore Peace Movement has been an important reason why violence has decreased lately. Their work helping with mediation, comfort, and support for the families who have lost loved ones, and many many more things have been a healing salve on the city.

If you’d like to learn more about them and contribute to their work, you can do that here: https://baltimorepeacemovement.com

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Apple TV Feels Like the Indie Movie Theater of Streaming

The image shows the interior of a vintage-style movie theater with rows of plush seats facing a large screen. The screen displays the Apple TV+ logo, which consists of the Apple logo followed by the text "tv+" in a sleek, modern font against a black background. The theater is dimly lit with warm lighting along the walls and aisle, creating a cozy ambiance.

For me, Apple TV feels like that neighborhood indie movie theater—the one you can walk to, the one tucked into the corner of downtown, the one that only shows the best stuff 90% of the time and insists on real butter for the popcorn. It’s not about quantity; they don’t always have shows; it’s about quality.

On a recent episode of Basic AF, cohosted by my friend Jeff Battersby, I had the chance to talk about my love for Apple TV and how it stands apart from other streaming services. During the show, another guest and journaling expert Joe Moyer encouraged me to turn my reviews into a journal entry. So here it is!

Why Apple TV Works for Me

I’ve been evangelizing Apple TV pretty hard lately. With other streaming services continuously hiking their prices, Apple TV’s curated, high-quality content feels like a breath of fresh air. Althought it’s not as accessible as Netflix or Prime, for me that’s actually part of the appeal. It feels exclusive—almost like you’ve discovered a hidden gem.

Because Apple TV creates virtually all their own content, it doesn’t clutter its library with “filler” content. Unlike other services where scrolling too far down reveals some questionable movies, Apple TV curates with care. Similar to the Walled Garden model that their App Store offers, almost every show or film meets a high standard, and I appreciate that level of curation.

And most of what I love on the platform are TV shows, which is surprising for me.

I’m an ex-Lost fan. I had built entire friendships around that show; a group of about 20 of us would meet up in someone’s basement, sharing snacks and debating theories long into the night.

The way that series ended badly scarred me. I tried again with Game of Thrones, only to be let down again. So I stayed away from TV shows for a long time, and watched movies instead. I would only watch a series if the entire run had ended and the end had positive reviews.

Apple TV changed all that.

TV Shows Worth Your Time

The image is a collage of six visuals related to various themes of television shows. Top left: An astronaut in a spacesuit with the reflection of a person standing on the Moon, with Earth visible in the background and an American flag patch on the suit. Top center: A futuristic sci-fi themed portrait of a woman with a spaceship and a landscape in the background. Top right: A stylized artistic representation of a woman’s face overlaid with a group of people holding a torch, symbolizing themes of discovery and leadership. Bottom left: A minimalistic office setup featuring green partitioned cubicles and an old-fashioned computer on the desk. Bottom right: A group of shirtless men standing next to a vintage military aircraft, evoking themes of wartime camaraderie and aviation history.

For All Mankind ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A masterpiece. Stellar storytelling, NASA-level science accuracy, and visuals that could rival anything on the big screen. It’s an alternate history that feels so real you might start questioning your knowledge of the space race.

Foundation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Issac Asimov’s work is notoriously tough to adapt, but they pulled it off. This series manages to balance the sprawling complexity of his novels with a visually stunning and coherent storyline. For bonus points, they brought Robyn Asimov on board to make sure that the show remains in her father’s vision. I can’t wait for more.

Silo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Silo is a wild ride. The Season 2 finale completely resets everything you thought you knew, and that’s what makes it so brilliant. Apple TV nailed the world-building, special effects, and character development here.

Severance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A haunting, thought-provoking show that deserves at least two watches. The way it explores work-life balance through a sci-fi lens is nothing short of genius.

Masters of the Air ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The visuals in this WWII drama are breathtaking, and you can feel Spielberg’s touch. Every detail, from the sets to the aerial combat, feels meticulously crafted. As a bonus, make sure you watch The Making Of documentary after you’re hooked on the show.

Solid Honorable Mentions

The image is a collage of four different visuals, likely representing characters or themes from popular television shows or movies. Top left: A person wearing a hat stands in a vast field at sunset, looking toward a triangular portal revealing a starry sky, blending rural and sci-fi aesthetics. Top right: A man with an intense expression crouches in the aisle of an airplane, seemingly in a tense or action-packed situation. Bottom left: A woman with vintage 1950s-inspired blonde hair and makeup, wearing a professional outfit, with a pencil tucked behind her ear, evoking themes of classic drama or period storytelling. Bottom right: A bearded man wearing a beanie holds a sleeping baby close to his chest while holding a green leaf, suggesting themes of family, survival, or emotional drama.
  • Invasion ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Nail-biting suspense with interwoven stories that keep you invested.
  • Hijack ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Idris Elba at his finest—gripping and full of twists.
  • Lessons in Chemistry ⭐️⭐️⭐️: Sweet and surprising, blending science and romance.
  • The Changeling ⭐️⭐️⭐️: Engaging but a bit too unsettling for my taste.

What’s Coming Soon

The image is a collage of four visuals likely related to upcoming television shows, movies, or cultural references. Top left: A woman with blonde hair in a black sleeveless top, with the text "WYCARO 339" beside her, suggesting a mystery or drama theme. Top right: A cyberpunk-style illustration of a man wearing an intricate VR headset with glowing yellow markings, a cigarette in his mouth, and a futuristic, gritty aesthetic. Bottom left: A classic animated character wearing a racing helmet and gloves, posing in front of a checkered red and yellow background with a stylized futuristic race car, likely referencing vintage racing-themed cartoons. Bottom right: A retro-style mosaic of an astronaut in a CCCP (Soviet-era) spacesuit, raising one hand in a salute-like gesture, hinting at historical space exploration themes.

There’s more to get hyped about:

  • Wycaro 399 – Vince Gilligan’s take on sci-fi.
  • Neuromancer – A long-awaited cyberpunk adaptation.
  • Speed Racer – A nostalgic cartoon adaptation.
  • Star City – Alt-history that promises to amaze, spinning off from For All Mankind.

Movies That Stuck with Me

Top left: A period drama scene featuring a man and a woman seated at a dining table, with the woman wrapped in a striped blanket and the man wearing a vintage suit. The setting suggests a historical or Western theme. Top right: A stylized artistic portrait of a man with part of his head fading into an abstract design, conveying introspection, identity, or psychological themes. Bottom left: Two men, one in a green jacket and the other in a red fur-lined coat, striking a playful pose against split red and green backgrounds. This suggests a holiday or comedy theme. Bottom right: A man sitting in a thoughtful pose in a home setting, dressed casually, giving off a contemplative or documentary-style vibe.

Killers of the Flower Moon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I appreciated the attention to historical detail and the powerhouse performances from Lily Gladstone, Robert DeNiro, and Leonardo DiCaprio. It’s hard to watch because it is brutal and raw, but definitely worth it. This should be required viewing in history classes.

Swan Song ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A psychological romantic sci-fi movie, it’s almost like an expanded Black Mirror episode, but with even more emotional depth. It’s beautifully done and deserves more attention.

Spirited ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds compete to be the funniest person in the room? It’s a self-aware Christmas classic in the making.

Still ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I mentioned on the podcast how blown away I was by this documentary’s storytelling. Using old footage and body doubles, they recreated Michael J. Fox’s life in such a seamless way that it feels like stepping into his shoes.

Why Apple TV Stands Out

Apple TV isn’t just about producing “content” — they create art. There’s a level of care in their projects that you just don’t see in most other platforms. Whether it’s sci-fi, drama, or documentaries, their storytelling is top-notch.

If you haven’t checked out Apple TV yet, I highly recommend giving it a try. Now, I start there first when I’m looking for something new to watch because I know I’m going to find something worth my time.

What’s been your favorite Apple TV show or movie? Or is there something I absolutely need to add to my list? Let me know—I’m always up for a recommendation.

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A Requiem for Spooky

I killed a cat on the way home last week.

A pickup truck was coming in the other direction.
As soon as it passed me, the cat darted across the road.
I was going slow already.
I hit the brakes.
It didn’t matter.

He was a big guy, all black, and very fluffy. Looked like a shadow with eyes.

I did a quick u-turn on the empty street, hit my flashers, and ran over to him.

He was still breathing as put my hand out to comfort him, but didn’t last long.
He didn’t cry.

I looked up in the direction he had been running; a house that resembled a well-worn and threadbare slipper.
There was a light on inside.
The porch didn’t seem like it would hold me.

Through the front door, I could see an older man in a bathrobe watching TV.
I knocked.

A silver-haired woman with bright eyes and glasses came to the door.

I asked her if she owned a black cat.
“A few!” She laughed, but then looked past me.
“Oh no.” She said.

“Yeah.” was all I could say.

She came out in her socks, and gently lifted the cat up from the stain on the pavement.

“I’m so sorry…” I said, I began to tear up.

“I told you, Spooky,” she admonished the cat, still warm in her arms. “I told you so many times…”

“I’m so so sorry.” I repeated.

The man called from the porch. “Spooky?”

“Yeap.” Replied the woman. “It’s too bad.”
She turned to me. “It’s not your fault. I just couldn’t keep him in, you know? Some cats just don’t take to bein’ indoors.”

The man, apparently ever practical, reappeared on the porch holding a garbage bag.

Their daughter came out, and took the bag from him.

She came out to us, smoothing Spooky’s fur down.

“I’m really glad you stopped and told us.” The elderly woman said.

“At least it was quick…” the daughter searched my eyes, it was a half question.

“Yes; very.” I reassured her. “I stayed with him until…”
She visibly relaxed. “Thank you for doing that.” She lifted him gently, closing his eyes. “A lot of people wouldn’a even stopped.”

They thanked me again, I apologized again, and they went back into the house, carefully cradling Spooky.

You were loved, Spooky.
I hope you know that.

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Reading Response to Explorations in the Interior of the Labrador Peninsula

While I am in Kawawachikamach, I am taking Naskapi 2 from McGill University, which my Dad, Bill Jancewicz is teaching.

One of our assignments was to read a portion of a book titled Explorations in the Interior of the Labrador Peninsula by Henry Youle Hind.

The excerpt I read is available below.

Explorations_In_Labrador_01_Hind-ExtractDownload

Reading the selection from Explorations in the Interior of the Labrador Peninsula was fascinating for me for a number of reasons. There was a peripheral fascination with the pet beaver and the tools they used and how they travelled. But I was much more interested in the interactions between the various people in the story.

I loved seeing Domeninque’s interactions with his wife. It is quite clear throughout all their interactions that they are in a strong partnership. Domeninque consults with her at every single interaction, even calling her over to participate in conversations when Hind and Louis attempt to talk to him alone. Even though Hind doesn’t even bother to learn her name, it is clear that she has equal footing in every decision that is made.

It was quite clear to me that the Innu chief Domenique did not trust Hind at all, even from his caution when he first approached them on the river. Louis, who serves as Hind’s translator, detects Domeniques hesitation in helping Hind at all at a very early stage. He delays Hind’s request for Domeninque to give him Michel, a young orphaned Naskapi boy, multiple times. He intuits quite well that Domeninque does not want to let Michel go with Hind.

Domeninque has had a lot of experience with white colonizers, being a member of one of the tribes that were first contacted by the French, and it is clear he does not trust Hind at all. I really want to read the rest of the story to find out what Hind ultimately does.

I also got kind of annoyed with Hind as the story progresses. It’s clear that he values Native people and hires and pays them quite well (a dollar a day is near the top of what going wages were for the time period) and yet he repeatedly ignores or resents their advice throughout the narrative. He gets told by multiple people that the water is too high, making it dangerous to continue, by people who grew up and know this territory. And he ignores them, even though he’s paying them for their expertise. Hind even calls Louis “talkative and bumptious”, when he sees Louis is at ease talking with Domenique, despite having just used the man for multiple pages of repeated and redundant questions about the previous winter’s hunt and the icy conditions ahead.

Hind then goes on to make racist remarks about how he knows how “Indians are deferred from any efforts involving great labour”. The high water in the Moise River is a life or death situation, and not something to be taken lightly. This attitude of doggedly pushing through any obstacle in their path is what led to the death of many white men who first landed on North American soil. 

Hind seems at face value a neutral observer who simply records the things happening around him, but it is clear to me that as soon as his ego is at stake or if he feels himself the professional in the situation (despite having never travelled this part of the world), everyone else’s advice and opinions are null and void.

It is clear to me that Domeninque sees himself at a clear disadvantage in this situation. He and his family are alone on the river, and encounter a rather large (and uncounted in this section of the book) party entirely composed of men. Though the power dynamic is quite strong against him, and he fiercely protests the taking of Michel still. He makes the correct argument that Michel is the one and only failsafe his family has of survival should anything happen to him. Despite all this, Hind again does not take the Native person seriously, and asks Louis if Domeninque’s death threats are legitimate or not.

I look forward to reading more.

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