Memories of My Dad

The Allen Sapp Gallery was very interesting. Looking at all of his paintings brought back a lot of old memories of when I was a child growing up.

One particular painting, of a log house, reminded me of my father's home and his life.

He was eighteen years old when he started logging and trapping. He had built a log house along a river, where I was raised as a child, along with my five brothers and two sisters. I think of how my father and mother had it rough in raising us - no running water or power.

When looking at these paintings, I thought to myself, what a life. Quite peaceful and wonderful.

My father still lives that kind of life. He lives today at Pegan Lake, Saskatchewan. My children and I love going to Dad's for holidays.

Leona Fleury

The Story of My Child's Birth

I had just turned nineteen years old when I met a young man named Burton. He and I began living together on the Sweet-Grass Reserve, next door to my cousin Sylvia. She had six children and I would baby-sit them. Sylvia was a teacher on the reserve and loved playing bingo. Her youngest child was a newborn and the rest were all a year apart. This was my only experience with children.

While living on Sweet-Grass, I was into lifting weights, running, and exercising with my boyfriend. One day, we were running across a field and I had to stop. I got a really bad pain on the left side of my hip, so the next day I made an appointment to see the doctor.

After seeing the doctor, I was told I was two months pregnant. I was stunned! I didn't know what to think. I was frustrated and confused. I did not know how Burton was going to take it. When I got home I said, I've got something to tell you." Before I could finish, he said, "You're pregnant."

I said, "Yes."

He was not pleased and he had a strange look on his face. He did not speak to me for the rest of the day. I felt alone and more confused.

As the months went by, we were drifting apart. Burton started drinking, and smoking marijuana. I kept myself busy by baby-sitting. Burton was starting to not come home on weekends, or sometimes during the week for three days. I was all alone, sad at times, and thinking, what did I do to deserve this? I started getting bigger and that was when I realized I was going to be the mother of this child.

I continued to baby-sit Sylvia's children until I was eight months pregnant. Finally, I couldn't handle being alone, being worried and frustrated, and having to look after these children, all at the some time. I called my sister in Battleford and told her my problems. She asked me to come and stay with her for a couple of days. While I was with my sister, we phoned my father and told him everything. He came the next day. I went back to live with him about twenty miles north of Meadow Lake. It was so peaceful. I felt more relaxed being with my parents.

A week before having this child, I went to stay at a boarding house so that I was closer to the hospital. I met some nice people there. Then one day I realized I was in labour. The lady at the boarding house was panicking and rushed me off to the hospital.

When I got there, the doctor checked me and told me I had to keep walking in the hallway. I was alone again. My dad didn't have a phone. I was in labour for twenty- four hours. I was getting worried, scared, and I was in pain. The nurses put me on a bed, checked me, and said the doctor had to leave for a while. The second nurse that checked me said, "You still have a while to wait," and said that I might have to have a cesarean. When she said cesarean, I got really scared. My Aunt Toni used to tell me that a cesarean is the worst way to have a baby. I called the nurse and yelled, "It's time! The baby is coming out!"

They said, "It can't be time yet."

I yelled, "Please look!"

So the nurse checked and sure enough, they began to panic. They couldn't get hold of the doctor.

Three nurses got me into the labour room and told me not to push yet. They said my baby was laying the wrong way and I got scared. Then, all of a sudden, the nurse yelled, "Get the doctor in here!"

My baby come out feet first. The doctor came in just in time, cut the cord, and said, "You have a baby girl; eight pounds, two ounces." He wiped her off and laid her on my chest.

I was happy, excited, and glad the labour was all over. I was very tired. I slept the whole next day away. When I awoke, it was to flowers and gifts all around my bed. A nurse said my family and friends had come by to see my baby. She explained that they didn't want me to have visitors in my room just yet, because I needed my rest.

The next day I had visitors. I also filled out forms. I named my baby Katherine Marie Fleury. I didn't know what to name her, so I named her after my mother, Marie, and my grandmother, Katherine.

When I got out of the hospital, I lived with my parents for a couple of months. Then I rented a cabin from my dad, up on a hill not far from him and near a lake.

I had the experience to take care of my baby because of the baby-sitting I did while I was pregnant. My life was hard. I had no running water. I had a propane stove, wood heat, candles and a cool oil lamp for light. It was rough, but I loved it.

As I would walk down to the lake with my five gallon pails for my diaper wash, I would think, my life is good.

Leona Fleury

Summer and Winter

I like summer because it is hot and sunny. People go hiking, fishing, camping, swimming, and water skiing. I like to go camping and cook outdoors because it is peaceful, and it's nice and warm out. When I wake up, the birds are singing. Sometimes, when it rains, I have to pack up and leave for home.

I don't really like winter because it is too cold to do anything. But, some people go ice fishing, cross country skiing, and skating. My children love making a snow man, and sliding, and they know when Christmas is not far away. I like staying indoors most of the time unless I have to get to my literacy class, or do my shopping, or other important things.

Leona Fleury

One Summer Day

On one hot summer day in July, my children, Kathy, Lovina, and Stacey, and I went camping. Kathy, the oldest, is twelve, Lovina is seven, and Stacey is five. We had been planning this trip for a month and we were excited. We were going to my father's place at Pegan Lake. That is twenty miles north of Meadow Lake. He lives right at the edge of the lake.

The first thing we did when we got there was pitch our tent. Then we decided to go fishing for a couple of hours. My girls each caught a fish, but I had no luck. Afterward, we went picking berries, and later we had a wiener roast.

The next morning was going to be another adventure for us. Every day of the summer was fun for all of us.

Leona Fleury