Sunday, June 14, 2015

Nourishing the Soul!

  
     
Quiche ~ "The Robin"
    
          Nourishment of the body is done by the foods and drinks we partake in, Nourishing the Soul on the other hand, is done through the company we keep over a meal. This is a story of how an unexpected Robin we shall call her Quiche. No not the delicious French Breakfast dish, rather short for Quiche-key-cou and the word for the bird Robin in my language, and how Quiche transformed the narrow view that Ko-ishin-mit "Son of Raven" has for vegetative foods.

Ko-ishin-mit ~ "Son Of Raven"
        Based upon the stories of my people the Nuu-chah-nulth whom use an anthropomorphic style in story telling. Which is basically just giving human characteristics and form to anything other than human beings. I know that this character Ko-ishin-mit is very much food driven, he is also something of a trickster or boisterous character. A squawker always has something to talk about. One thing for certain with Ko-ishin-mit he never, never says no to an offering of food.



        So one nice summer day Quiche moved into the tree next to Ko-ishin-mit. Almost instantly these neighbors discover that the social nature of Ko-ishin-mit as he liked to eat with others. That fact would soon build a bond between the two. Day in and day out they would feast with  one another.  She soon found out that Ko-ishin-mit liked to eat salmon with everything. Quiche would often bring vegetables to contribute to the feast, teaching along the way the different benefits of vegetation.  

MmMmm Salmon
   
      Ko-ishin-mit thought that salmon was the, end all to be all in food. He soon found that matching and pairing of foods was quite beneficial and tasty! His reluctance to try new foods, soon was overcome by Kindness, Imagine that kindness in unkindness (a collective of ravens) it was kindness and generosity that bonded the neighbors. Ko-ishin-mit would often talk of generosity of mother nature, of people and especially of generosity in sharing of food. For that action alone is a staple in how we the Nuu-chah-nulth conduct the most sacred of business, is conducted over a meal. Quiche and Ko-ishin-mit where they came from was worlds apart, yet as individuals they were very much the same, sharing a meal together is what bonded these two characters.

Soon the Ko-ishin-mit became very versatile in  food preparations, little
did he know that adding volume to how and what he eats with his salmon would add such versatility. He would make a raw vegetable dips of canned salmon. He would prepare salmon "Fish Hash" a variety of root vegetables mixed in with canned salmon. He would eat salmon on his pizza, and it is quite delish too! He would make chicken eggs and salmon eggs and spinach omelet. He loved that his vegetative repertoire was expanding he soon found what grabs the attention of his taste buds, is more a blessing that anything he has experienced before. All thanks to lil quiche, she open his world view, and truly explored foods and vegetation.

     Everyone you meet has something valuable to teach you! You need only be open to teaching, learning, and sharing with one another. My time of "Life On The Edge" during the summer of 13, was indeed lasting and memorable. Quiche may have migrated back to her home, she remains however bound to the heart of a raven. We are told as children that food nourishes the body and our company nourishes the soul. For we are social creatures in search of great food, and great company. I know for certain that Quiche has taught Kindness, vegetation, sharing, and most importantly respect for foods and how foods are harvested and processed. Something Ko-ishin-mit took for granted, and will take for granted no more.

This is one story of how an unexpected little robin "Quiche" and how she nourished the soul of Ko-ishin-mit. The salmon loving Son Of Raven for she did the unimaginable through kindness and persistence changed his view on the foods we eat! A change for the better, I might add!! 

        

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