Maureen Florence Bartleman (1922 - 2013)

Lives Lived: Maureen Florence Bartleman, 90

Dirt poor, the object of prejudice by mainstream society and abused by her mother and grandmother, Maureen’s early years were brutal. This changed when she met and married, at the age of 14, Percy Bartleman, a young, happy-go-lucky Orillia man who had spent the Depression years riding the rails across Canada.

Wife, mother, survivor, proud Chippewa elder. Born Aug. 28, 1922, at Lake Joseph, Ont., died March 28, 2013, at the Chippewas of Rama First Nation of natural causes, aged 90.

Born in a tent during a fishing trip with her family at Lake Joseph in Muskoka, Maureen spent the springs and summers of her childhood at the Indian Camp in Port Carling, Ont., where her father trapped muskrat and beaver and worked as a casual labourer and her mother sold handicraft to summer visitors.

My deepest condolences to James Bartleman.

What a beautiful Celebration of Life: written by her son, Jim, diplomat, Perth resident, author of many books.

1. Out of Muskoka (a short memoir–2002)
2. Raisin Wine: A Boyhood in a Different Muskoka (autobiography–2007)
3. Rollercoaster: My Hectic Years as Jean Chretien's Diplomatic Advisor, 1994-1998 (2005)
4. On Six Continents: A Life in Canada's Foreign Service, 1966-2002 (2005)

Open Book's Five Things Literary series

Five Things Literary is a series that gives our readers a sense of literary life in the author's community. You can read what others have done here.

Jennifer Jilks
Living and dying with dignity : A daughter's journey through long-term care /Jilks, Jennifer A. 2008. I live near Perth, Ontario. Cottage Country in south eastern Ontario.

Heritage Perth

Perth, in Lanark County, has a strong number of volunteers who assist others in the community. As a hospice volunteer, I have found many who give back a little of what they have been given.

1. Perth, established in 1816, is a delightful town. Just out of town, I go to the forest for inspiration for my blogs; where the birds, the bears and the bees, provide much for my photography and writing.

2. We live in a community which embraces authors, artisans, actors, artists, agriculture and those who enjoy rural life. We have many festivals to celebrate both author, agriculture and artisan.

• Perth Garlic Festival 
• Stewart Park Music Festival 
• Festival of the Maples
• Perth Studio Tour
• Perth Fair
• Classic Theatre Festival

3. The local library has many great programs, including children's programs to encourage readers. They are most supportive of all ages, and allowed me to host a 'How to Get Published' workshop!

4. I've been working on a list of Ottawa Valley authors. Living in the Ottawa Valley, we have a strong community, with many close ties. Only an hour from Ottawa, many have cottages here, where shallow lakes host much wildlife. I call it Cottage Country Southeastern Ontario!

Local bookstores have been good to local authors.

James Bartleman at a book signing in Perth.
He and I traded books! A great way to read other writers

For example:
James Bartleman

• Raisin Wine: A Boyhood in a Different Muskoka
/ 2007
• Out of Muskoka / 2006
• Rollercoaster : my hectic years as Jean Chrétien's diplomatic advisor, 1994-1998 / 2005

5. We have many strong women in Perth. Kay Devlin, 95, a resident of PCCC, is one of the wisest women in this community. Retired nurse, farmer, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, she has the wisdom and strength that life experience has 
One Day On Earth 11.11.11 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.granted to those who embrace it.
About being in long-term care,
"You have to realize it's not the end of your life; it's a part of it."
She was getting extra home support, but caring for her husband began to be too much. They had Meals on Wheels for awhile, but the demands of caring for loved ones with dementia, as we all know, can be overwhelming.
She is quick to let you know that her poetry is inspired by her current life situation, but she doesn't let that limit her mind. Her body has been limited in many ways, with aging.
She recognizes her health issues, and her vision challenges, but doesn't let that stop her.
She learned to paint at age 75. She writes and recites fabulous poems.

Book Review: As Long as the Rivers Flow

As Long as the Rivers Flow, 
by James Bartleman, 
Knopf Canada, 244 pages, $29.95

With Attiwapiskat in the news, it is timely that James Bartleman (call me Jim!) has released an historical fiction. A great man, he has worked tirelessly for First Nations in Ontario. He has established reading programs

Formerly a diplomat of 35-years, in 2002 he was appointed the first Native Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. He grew up in Port Carling, in the region of Muskoka, in central Ontario. He wrote a marvellous autobiography, which spoke of the poverty, ignorance and racism of the time. He has written four bestselling books:

1. Out of Muskoka (a short memoir–2002)
2. Raisin Wine: A Boyhood in a Different Muskoka (autobiography–2007)
3. Rollercoaster: My Hectic Years as Jean Chretien's Diplomatic Advisor, 1994-1998 (2005)
4. On Six Continents: A Life in Canada's Foreign Service, 1966-2002 (2005)

This novel integrates the story of Indian Agents, veterans given the job of doling out money from Ottawa to Native Bands. It speaks of residential schools, and the horrors of ripping children away from their families in the interest of what whites think determines an education. He weaves in First Nations spirituality, which was not accepted by the white men sent, theoretically, to educate and deliver treaty loot. He weaves in the abuse of the nuns, and residential school that haunt our Canadian spirit. For so long we did not understand issues like the decimation of the bison. I hope that now we know better we do better.

When I spoke to Mr. Bartleman, I told him how much joy I found in teaching my grade 6 students about this spirituality. I recall one of my favourite classes, a grade 4/5 class of 35 students, with a wide-range of abilities and disabilities. The 6 grade six students did some independent studies on First Nations. One student presented his research. He was horrified with the decimation of the Beothuks in Newfoundland. It gave us a greater understanding of the largely untold history of this country.

James Bartleman at a book signing in Perth

This is a great read. Heart-breaking story, but one which must be told as only this author can tell it, from the heart with humanity. The book is not without its faults, and I have not yet finished it, but for those who are thinking about First Nations, treaties, child sexual abuse in residential schools, and current issues like Attawapiskat (forget blame, find a solution), it is important to understand what has gone before.

More biographical information: This man is not an Occupier - he just gets the job done.

The Honourable James K. Bartleman becomes new Chancellor of OCAD

• In 2004 he launched the first Lieutenant Governor's Book Drive
• collected 1.2 million good used books for First Nations schools and Native Friendship Centres throughout Ontario. 
• in 2005 His Honour launched a Twinning Program for Native and non-Native schools in Ontario and Nunavut. 
• Established literacy summer camps in five northern First Nations communities as a pilot project. 
• In 2006 he extended his literacy summer camps program to 28 fly-in communities and secured funding for five years.
• He also launched Club Amick, a reading club for Native children in Ontario's North.
•  In the winter of 2007, he completed a second Book Drive, collecting 900,000 books for aboriginal children in Ontario, northern Quebec and Nunavut.

For another review: 

Generations lost, REVIEWED BY MAGGIE DE VRIES

In 1962, Martha is 6 when a float plane comes to her home in the Cat Lake First Nation in northern Ontario, and takes her away to the school on James Bay where she is to spend the next 10 years of her life. There she is abused by nuns – including a First Nations nun who is herself a victim of the residential school system – and sexually abused by a priest.

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@Barrie Summy

Book Review: Raisin Wine

I was trying to figure out a review for a different book. I have been reading a lot of murder mysteries; you can see from my book review list.

One of my best local reads has Raisin Wine (2007), by our former Lt. Gov., James Bartleman. Written about his home town, Port Carling, it tells a story of poverty, racism and ignorance of Native Culture.

Our phenomenal local man led a life that defies belief, yet one I have read in other stories. Native Peoples living in a land raped and overtaken by white folks usurping their territory. Settlers brought with them disrespect for not only the people, but the land. We still find places where the ancient civilizations were referred to as 'savages', as Champlain did in HIS memoir. I surely hope we know better now.

This book is a raw look at living off the land in a land where it was no longer possible. It tells of substandard housing and victims of poverty - living next door to those who maintained two homes: one in the city and one in cottage country. Beautifully written in the third person, we can see how this marvellous man and humanitarian, has risen above the heartless treatment he received as a youth. He managed to become a heartful human being.
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Yesterday's story from McKellar PK. P.S., Lakehead DSB was shocking: a young boy having his hair cut by an educational assistant. Many teachers (thanks to Gr. 6, and 9 curriculum) have learned to appreciate the teachings of the Aboriginal community, including this symbol of strength. It is one recent example of racism. 'Thunder Bay mom wants answers after teacher's aide chops off son's hair'.

The myths of the Underground Railroad seem to give some pride, yet very few slaves escaped using this route. When they arrived in Canada they still faced ignorance. A brilliant story,The Hanging Of Angelique: The Untold Story Of Canadian Slavery tells of the hanging of a black woman. Well-researched, it busts the myths. By Afua Cooper, 2006.
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Friday's Forgotten Books-for more book reviews