For all the years I’ve spent as a Manitoban, even living a couple of them in Winnipeg, today was the first time I set foot on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building. Being privy to its interesting origins and with it basically being in my back yard, perhaps I should have visited sooner, but there was just something about a mass of people in an altered state of consciousness amidst such sacred architecture that drew me to finally check it out today.

Although I’ve yet to enter the building, even from the outside the structure is absolutely breathtaking up close, sculpted of Tyndall limestone from when the area was an inland sea, complete with traces of marine fossils. I’ll go back soon by myself and then take a deeper look with Frank Albo on his tour this summer.

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Cruising down the Trans Canada Highway between Brandon and Winnipeg, approaching The Half Way Tree, I realized how often this landmark has found its way into my life lately. I’ve been doing a lot of traveling back n’ forth to see my two favorite smiles and although I’m sure almost every western Manitoban knows about this tree, it wasn’t until now that it had any real relevance in my life, so I took a picture. Then I remembered how I’d once went to school with a girl who felt strongly enough about it that she wrote a song…

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In case I’d forgotten her name, which I hadn’t, a few minutes later on the barren highway on a Monday afternoon a van passed me to remind me. So, it just felt natural that I should come home and honor The Half Way Tree and this song about it by Kim Reimer…

Yesterday I partook in my first sweat lodge ceremony, conducted by my friend, Running Bear. How we’ve fallen so far from what the indigenous peoples offer is truly a shame. I’m grateful to be here as they – and the wolf – return to us.

It was one of the most beautiful days of my life.