Today I was too cold to take any photos while walking around the city. I wasn't out with the intention of taking photos, but always have it in the back of my mind, and altough some scenes caught my eye I was too lazy and chilly to take my camera out of my bag and risk freezing my hands any longer than need be.

That made me think about people in Winnipeg. How people suffer short or extended periods of misery because of our climate. I want to capture those moments.

The above photo may show the vastness of the prairies, the snow covered fields and frozen rivers, and to some degrees the loneliness of winter months, but it does not tell you what it's like to be someone living in such a place. I want to see the scowls on peoples faces while they wait for the bus at 11 o'clock at night on Portage Avenue; the expressions of discomfort as a pedestrian adjusts their scarf against a frigid prairie wind. I want to show people who are accustomed to the climate and newcomers who merely endure it.

Winnipeg Internet Pundits - Go west, young Bipole

Yesterday I was back on Winnipeg Internet Pundits discussing Kapyong Barracks and the racist reactions of certain Winnipeggers; Idle No More; Perimeteritis; and listened to Cherenkov talk about Manitoba Hydro.

Here's the link to the Wab Kinew piece from the Huffington Post that I mention.

Trevor also mentions Vanessa, of Rose Coloured Beer Goggles' post about racism in Winnipeg, I second his recommendation to read it.

In the struggle between the oppressor and the oppressed, I will always stand on the side of the oppressed.

Wab Kinew, writing at the Huffinton Post:

To me this conversation is more than just an "Indian Thing." It is one that Canadians of all backgrounds should pay attention to, if not participate in. The ideals that are underlying this action are ones to which we all aspire, even if we may disagree on how exactly to pursue them.

That's exactly how I see Idle No More. It is the same struggle as Occupy, the Québec student movement, Palestinian anti-apartheid, and women's rights. All are struggles against forms of oppression, and all deserve the support of people around the globe.

I often get criticized for talking about issues that don't directly effect me, but what those who criticize fail to see is that everyone is effected by the struggles of others, maybe not directly, but like the graffiti I photographed the other day none of us are free unless all are free.

Before the hoarfrost

This photo was taken Friday night as thick fog descended on Winnipeg. I took this particular photo while walking towards Osborne Village, an hour later when I was walking home the fog was so thick that the buildings across the river could just barely been seen. I remember thinking that it was foggy nights such as this that produce the beautiful hoarfrost that covers Winnipeg's elms. If I had more forethought I would have woken up early the next day to go back and take a frost covered version of this photo in the morning sun.

Racism in Winnipeg

Bartley Kives, writing at the Winnipeg Free Press:

About 274 years ago, the first white guy set foot in Winnipeg. Some of his buddies have been acting like they’ve owned the place ever since.

All Winnipeggers (and pretty much everyone living in the Americas) could benefit from educating themselves about colonialism. Kives' article does a good job of driving home the general point, but for anyone looking to learn a bit more on the topic I recommend reading A Peoples History of the United States, by Howard Zinn as well as The Red Indians by University of Manitoba professor, Peter Kulchyski.

one world

I took this photo earlier tonight while exploring under the new(ish) Osborne Bridge. I couldn't agree more with this statement.