The Lansdowne Letters: Puss, Puss, Puss!

Ask any elementary student what his or her favorite part of the school day is,
and chances are that he or she will exclaim "Recess!"
The Ojibway children in Landsdowne House a half century ago
were no different from children everywhere.

White or Ojibway, we loved our recess breaks
at my father's Church of England Indian Day School.
We had a fifteen minute recess in the morning and another in the afternoon,
as well as an hour break at lunch,
and we children crammed every bit of energy, movement, and noise
we could into those precious minutes of freedom.

Church of England Indian Day School

Lansdowne House, Northern Ontario, 1960

Photo by Don MacBeath 

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Our activities varied with the weather and season.
We had little in the way of playground equipment,
just a small swing set and a ball or two;
but like children the world over,
we had plenty of inventiveness and imagination.

The younger children, especially the girls,
liked to take turns swinging and pushing each other on the swings,
even in the coldest subzero temperatures.
But many of us opted for more energetic pursuits.

Swing Set at the Roman Catholic School

Father's Island, Lansdowne House, 1960

Photo by Don MacBeath 

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

As I wrote at twelve, a year after I left Lansdowne House:
"Recess and noon hour were times we loved.
In the subzero weather we raced about laughing and shouting.

The Indians had no organized games of their own,
but they enthusiastically joined in ours with a vital interest
unparalleled by white children.  

Even boys eighteen and nineteen lapped up Hide and Go Seek.
They plunged vigorously into Red Lights and Green Lights
and went wild over our Giant Steps and Hospital Tag.
But of all games, their favorite was undoubtedly Puss in the Corner.

Puss in the Corner

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Each day we arranged ten to fifteen empty, navy-blue oil drums in a large circle.
We needed a "multi-cornered" space, one drum for each child playing,
except for the person who was "It."
The number who wanted to play was amazing! 

The child who was "It" would step into the center,
pause while carefully considering the best corner to run to,
then screech "Puss, puss, puss," and the race was on!

There was a mad scramble as everyone changed drums.
The boys were a blur of black leather jackets, blue jeans, and caps,
the girls a maze of multi-colored cotton skirts, blue and red jackets, and flying black hair.  
Shrieks and laughter filled the air.  
The child who ended up without a drum became the new "It."  

Again and again we repeated the cycle,
and the empty oil drums rocked from the noise and banging they took.

A scourge for some, but not for children with an imagination!

Oil Barrels or Drums in the North

Flickr:   Provincial Archives of Alberta        License

Oil drums were very useful in a number of games.  
One winter "drum sport" in particular stands out in my mind.
  
Eight or nine of us would each select a sturdy looking drum, turn it on end, and mount it.  
Carefullying balancing ourselves, we would begin to rock the drum back and forth.  
Shortly we would be furiously rocking the drums around and around.  
Inevitably the drums would tip, and we would tumble off.  
The object of the game was to see who could rock the drum the longest."

Dad's Ojibway Girls at Play (Inside)

Lansdowne House, Northern Ontario, 1960

Photo by Don MacBeath 

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Dad's Ojibway Boys in Their Jackets and Caps

Lansdowne House, Northern Ontario, 1960

Photo by Don MacBeath 

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

I look back on these happy times with my Ojibway friends with great fondness.
It was some of the best fun I ever had!
Dad was not out supervising us as we ran and played.
He was probably enjoying a quiet cup of coffee and a quick smoke at his desk
before we all tromped in to resume our lessons.

My Father, Just Before Leaving to Start the School Day

Father's Island, Lansdowne House, 1960

Photo likely by Uno Manilla

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

I think school would be much improved today
if teachers pushed back against the cutting and eliminating of recess
in the pursuit of improving high stakes test scores.

Children need to run and play outside every day.
In my opinion children learn better when they do.

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

Crossing Petite Passage
Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia
Photo Copy by Roy MacBeath 
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

For Map Lovers Like Me:

Map of Canada

Highlighting Ontario

Wikimedia

Location of Lansdowne House

Wikimedia   edited

Lansdowne House

Sketch by M. Louise Barbour

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Rough Sketch of Lansdowne House

by Donald MacBeath, Fall 1960

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

This sketch shows the Father's Island and the tip of the "Mainland" peninsula

that contained the community of Lansdowne House.         

                                                                    #23 My Father's Church of England Indian Day School

                                                                    #15 Forestry Shack (Our Home)

                 Black Dots ~ Indian Homes