4"x6" Stories: The Métis Ice Fisherman: Long ago before, when there were only trails to the frozen lake in the winter, the Métis ice fisherman used the little tiny Native Ponies to haul heavy fish boxes off the ice. Some ponies were grey or black, bay or brown but they all had dorsal stripes and fuzzy little ears to keep the cold out. In the cold winter months they would feed them frozen fish and the ponies loved that. The trails were very narrow so they would hook up three ponies in tandem, to pull out the heavy fish box off the ice to home. Without blinkers, reins and heavy boxes in tow, the Native Ponies would help everyday and would be turned out again free when the work was all done. The ponies loved to help the people and the people treated them with love back. The Elders Stories: Long ago when I was young, around the 1970's, I would hide on the staircase at a friend's house listening to older loggers talking about The Native Ponies. I remember hearing that they lived on the islands and in the bush in NWO. I thought while I listened, fascinated, thinking, "someday I am going to find them!" When I did, I asked many Elders and they said they were always here as long as the oral stories, birch bark scrolls and pictographs were told and documented. I painted this Painting to show how the Elders said that they were always here and they should get the credit for these teachings. They spoke long before any book and articles were published. -Rhonda Snow The Tipi: During the wild rice harvest, a young Anishinaabe girl would stay back at the tipi while the family was out in rice beds. her job was to holler out of the Tipi hole if the little Native Ponies came to munch on wild rice. The Little girl enjoyed the ponies very much and she had a special one that seemed to communicate with her with just their eyes. Her special little pony would come out of the bush and without a word, it knew that she was going to treat it with rice. She fed them some rice before she hollered but usually they just wandered off. This way everyone was gifted. The Girl in the Snowstorm: Long ago when there were no roads, an Anishinaabe girl decided to go visit her relatives in a nearby village. She rode her pony on the trail through the bush to get there. One day while riding, a snow storm suddenly hit. The Girl wasn't dressed warm enough and the snow storm tuned into a blizzard. Her fingers started to freeze so she decided to let go of the reins and put her frozen fingers under the thick mane of her pony. When her hands began to warm up, the pony could feel that she could hang on and began to trot. The warmth of the moving pony also warmed up her body. After a while the pace grew faster until suddenly the Native Pony stopped. The girl sat up on her pony and saw the back door of her cabin. Buffalo Under the Stars: Long ago before Europeans, wild herds of Little Native Ponies lived along side the Buffalo under the Stars. The Little People in the Native Ponies Mane: During cold nights, the little people would crawl up inside the little ponies manes. The little people would be warm and could sleep well leaving dreadlocks and braids of thanks in the Little Ponies manes. Jibay: Because of the selective breeding of Fred Isham, the Native Ponies remain the same as it was before colonization. Jibay was always free. The Native Medicine Pony: The Native Ponies, along with all wildlife, survived by eating natural indigenous plant life. They also knew what types were healthy during certain seasons. The Métis used the Red River Cart: The Métis are well known for Traditions of canoe, song and dance. However when they needed more speed, they would unhook the oxen from the carts and used their wiry Little Native Ponies. The Spirit Pony: The Spirit Pony is this painting is a symbol of the trail that was not lost, but hidden by colonization. What was not documented in history books was how tiny, strong-willed ponies had an important story to tell. It just took time to seek and circle to find the trails of these "Little Ponies with Big Spirits" that were almost lost. By collecting stories related to native ponies, both before and after European contact, many generations can enjoy the stories forever. The Spirit Pony travels again in a circle to tell the truth in traditional story telling ways through art. The circle around this Spirit Pony is how knowledge was protected for next generations. The Pony Express: Long ago, Native children and Native ponies were the beginning of what was called the Pony Express. The speed and endurance of the Indigenous children on their true Native ponies needs to be recognized. The Waterfall: Once there was a doubting man who told his medicine man that he did not believe the Spirit Ponies existed. The medicine man took him for a walk and they climbed up a really high rock cliff. They reached the waterfall and walked behind it. Suddenly through the mist, a small Native pony appeared with beautiful colours around it. The doubting man then believed. Long Before Colonization: The Native ponies were plentiful living freely alongside buffalo and all wildlife before colonization. In the Indian Affair Archives, agents documented in 1886 that the jackfish were plentiful and could be scooped out of the creeks with a shovel or pitch fork. Native Ponies lived free in the own herds and were all over Turtle Island long before it was called Canada. The Chiefs: The Indian agents' plan was to be rid of the Native Ponies, deeming them worthless. The older Chiefs hung on to them for as long as possible. They were spiritual ponies and an important part of their culture. Turtle Island Herd: Long ago herds ran free all over Turtle Island. The horse nation was respected, honoured as equal to live in bands with their own families. The Native ponies taught the seven teachings and were a very important part of the wildlife circle. Never to be fenced in! The Vision: One day an Anishinaabe man decided he was going to travel with the missionaries over to a little island in Canada called Lac La Croix. The day of the trip the man was injured by his quarter horse and was cut in the chin and he had to have stitches. He decided to fly anyway and when he arrived at the island his head started to ache and he decided not to attend the service of God. Instead he went for a walk along the riverbank. He sat down and put his head on his hands and started to pray. All of a sudden he felt something watching him. He looked up and on the other side of the river stood four of the most beautiful little bay mares he had ever seen. They had a white aura around them and he could feel they were looking right into his soul. When he stood up, all of a sudden they disappeared. He managed to get over to the other side and tried to find them but they were nowhere to be found. When he went home he told his father Fred Isham about the the four little ponies from the bush and his vision. They were told they were rare Mustangs but they knew they were spiritual and decided to rescue them. Fishboy standing on the Log with his Pipe Pole: This Fishboy was not popular as he grew up as a young lad. He was raised to Fish, trap and log. Now his knowledge is respected. This Métis lad also worked on Rainy River, on the log jams and used a pipe pole to get logs free. Fishboy always loved to see Tony the Pony on the North Arm of Rainy Lake. He looked forward to seeing Tony always! Tony's spirit stayed with him everywhere he was. The Buffalo Hunt: The Native Ponies lived free along side the Buffalo. The stars were aligned perfect to ride along side and hunt them when food was needed. The Heist Across the Ice by the Light of the Moon: This painting is about Fred Ishams, Wally Olsen, Walter Saatela and Omar Hides as they trailered the Last Four Native Ponies from NW across the Ice to Minnesota. "The Heist across the ice by the light of the moon". Fred knew they were spiritual even though he was told they were Mustangs. Sacred Lake: There is a place called the Sacred Lake where the Spirit Ponies are. Little Native Ponies: When I was young I would listen to the loggers talk about what they called little Indian Ponies. I was fascinated to hear about how farmers would take their boats over to islands and buy the little native Ponies of the indigenous people. They said of all the horses they've ever had they've never ever had any that would work as hard as the Little and Native Ponies. Rainy Lake Spirit Pony Helping Trapper: Rainy lake spirit pony helped trappers long ago by travelling across the frozen lakes safely so they could trap for a living. Since the native pony was strong, trustworthy and tiny they could cross with ease when big horses could not. Many people of the bush and lakes were grateful to have this tough bush pony to help them during cold harsh winters. Tony the Rainy Lake Pony: On the north arm Rainy Lake lived a pony named Tony. He was a stallion that lived for 40 years on the islands and on the mainland. The people from Rainy Lake enjoyed seeing him swimming, standing on the rocks so proud and running along the shores. He was loved and visited many people and places. Tony was treated kindly and was allowed to run free, surviving on all types of indigenous plants. He was known to eat fish, deer, and even moose! Once he snuck up to a boat that was tied to a dock and ate the hunters' ducks! He was a uniquely spectacular gift that will never be forgotten. Tony the Rainy Lake Pony's spirit lives on. Waawaashkeshi (whitetail deer) & Amik (beaver): Waawaashkeshi (whitetail deer) is giving thanks to the beavers for cutting down trees to help them reach the delicious medicine leaves. Trees also are important to provide camouflage for the beautiful Timberghost of the bush. Amik (beaver) helps all living things in the wilderness who live off the land. They help to improve water quality by filtering pollutants. Beaver are excellent builders in the wetlands. The ponds they create are very important to help reduce the many effects of climate change, helping to reduce severe weather events that result in major floods, droughts, and wildfires. Just a few examples are filtration, water quality and quantity. The Tipi Ikwezens (Girl) & Ninjichaag (Spirit talk within): The tipi girl's native spirit pony & mahnomeniskkayzh (the little bird that jumps from lily pad to lily pad in the wild rice bed) were all keepers of the manoomin (wild rice). The young girl only communicated to her pony with her eyes, talking with the spirit within. She called this spirit talk. Her job was to guard the harvest and shoo away the ponies if they came to eat it. She always shared some with them and they were happy and just wandered. Wild rice, or manoomin (good seed) in Ojibway, is sacred to Indigenous peoples. It is part of their creation story because long ago when living off the land, it prevented starvation during harsh winters. The Trail of the Officials: During colonization, government officials, religious authorities and health officials would enter the communities. They would take it upon themselves to deem the little native ponies worthless as well as a nuisance. Soon they were ordered to be destroyed with excuses that they were dirtying the waters and it was not healthy for the children to see them breeding. These officials ordered them to be destroyed.
