Ed Jensen
Tk’emlúps Indian Band Submitted by Colleen Mosterd-McLean My brother Ed Jensen is one of the few traditional hunter/gatherers in our community. Not only does he hunt, fish and gather berries and medicine for himself and others, but he also teaches these skills to anyone who wants to learn. He has done these things since he was, as the elders would say, “knee-high to a grasshopper.” Our grandfather started taking him out into the bush when he was very young, much younger than our mother felt comfortable with. When he first started going out with grandfather, mom woke early in the morning to make fresh bannock for the hunt, boil the coffee on the stove and make sure Ed was dressed in warm clothes for the hunt. She waited all day for them to return and if it started to get dark, she paced until they were back safe. They always came home with something and every time it was a celebration as we gathered outside to see what they got. After grandfather passed, it was the uncles who began to mentor Ed. They taught him how to survive in the mountains. Through their teachings, he became a very skilled hunter. Today, Ed continues to hunt and fish for us girls and he also hunts for the elders and single mothers. He is well-known and respected as a skilled hunter and fisherman. He is passing his knowledge on to my children as his uncles did for them. My children share his great love for the mountains. To be a good hunter gatherer it is necessary to be in good physical condition by eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise. Ed abstains from drugs and alcohol in order to keep his soul, spirit and body pure and to be respectful towards the animals he hunts and fishes. He always gives thanks for all the gifts of the earth he receives. My brother scales the mountains like a goat. He has spent three days chasing a trophy buck and many nights in sub-zero windy, gusting weather, ice fishing. It is in doing these activities that he connects spiritually and he will tell you that it is this that feeds his soul, body and mind. He is a genuine role model and has recently helped form a men's society to encourage men in the community to live healthier lifestyles and participate in community service.
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