Dead fry

Tree

Yesterday, before lunch, we went swimming at the pond. There were a two or three vehicles there-canoers on the pond. After a bit, we saw a canoe headed down the pond. We got out to let them put in, and as we were getting out of the water, we saw several of the small fry from the school I mentioned a few days ago, dead on the shore.

We sat down on the log to wait, and two shirtless short clad guys beached the canoe and started to unload. Most of the time I say hi first-since it was two guys I opted not to address them, and started taking to the saplings about the small fish we had seen dead.

"Perhaps a big fish scared some out of the water and they flopped the wrong way?" I suggested.

"Or maybe a big predator ..." like a coon, I was thinking, although I had not seen any tracks..

Suddenly one of the guys interjected.."When we got here there was a huge bunch of fish,"

"Shiners," the other interjected..

We went on to have a three way conversation , me suggesting they had been stocked, but what were they? Them admitting they had been scooping them up in their hands, and, used some for bait.

Later I gathered the little dead fish and took this picture, then I buried them under a scoop of wood duff nearby.

I was sort of steamed for awhile about them. IT seemed so savage that they came to visit this pristine place, and the first thing they see, a mindblowingly enormous school of fish fry, and they leap in and start scooping them in their hands, scattering the school and leaving others dead or dying on the shore.

The saplings were equally incredulous at the callous indifference.

We went for another swim in the afternoon, and spoke with a middle aged couple pulling out another canoe. They had word that the loon pair had a chick, which was happy news for me to hear.

Sometimes I wish that certain areas could be permanently banned from access by humans. Like for a thousand years, not five until someone breaks the deed. It seems so arrogant to think that we are entitled to it all. Then I was thnking that even disallowing physical access would not prevent airborned pollutants from reaching isolation, or as things are now, climate change affecting even those wild places we don't go to very often.

Then we had the miracle of the rainbow (see next post). That lightened my mood considerably. (and hey, also the fact that we didn't lose power, even though it flickered-see, I can be grateful for modernization)

Last night I was searching rainbow symbolism, and came across this. I can definitely relate! :)

Warriors of the Rainbow Last century an old wise woman of the Cree Indian nation, named "Eyes of Fire", had a vision of the future. She prophesied that one day, because of the white mans' or Yo-ne-gis' greed, there would come a time, when the earth being ravaged and polluted, the forests being destroyed, the birds would fall from the air, the waters would be blackened, the fish being poisoned in the streams, and the trees would no longer be, mankind as we would know it would all but cease to exist. There would come a time when the "keepers of the legend, stories, culture rituals, and myths, and all the Ancient Tribal Customs" would be needed to restore us to health, making the earth green again. They would be mankind's key to survival, they were the "Warriors of the Rainbow". There would come a day of awakening when all the peoples of all the tribes would form a New World of Justice, Peace, Freedom and recognition of the Great Spirit. The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would spread these messages and teach all peoples of the Earth or "Elohi". They would teach them how to live the "Way of the Great Spirit". They would tell them of how the world today has turned away from the Great Spirit and that is why our Earth is "Sick".
The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would show the peoples that this "Ancient Being" (the Great Spirit), is full of love and understanding, and teach them how to make the "Earth or Elohi" beautiful again. These Warriors would give the people principles or rules to follow to make their path light with the world. These principles would be those of the Ancient Tribes. The Warriors of the Rainbow would teach the people of the ancient practices of Unity, Love and Understanding. They would teach of Harmony among people in all four corners of the Earth.
Like the Ancient Tribes, they would teach the peoples how to pray to the Great Spirit with love that flows like the beautiful mountain stream, and flows along the path to the ocean of life. Once again, they would be able to feel joy in solitude and in councils. They would be free of petty jealousies and love all mankind as their brothers, regardless of color, race or religion. They would feel happiness enter their hearts, and become as one with the entire human race. Their hearts would be pure and radiate warmth, understanding and respect for all mankind, Nature and the Great Spirit.
They would once again fill their minds, hearts, souls, and deeds with the purest of thoughts. They would seek the beauty of the Master of Life - the Great Spirit! They would find strength and beauty in prayer and the solitude of life.
Their children would once again be able to run free and enjoy the treasures of Nature and Mother Earth. Free from the fears of toxins and destruction, wrought by the Yo-ne-gi and his practices of greed. The rivers would again run clear, the forests be abundant and beautiful, the animals and birds would be replenished. The powers of the plants and animals would again be respected and conservation of all that is beautiful would become a way of life.
The poor, sick and needy would be cared for by their brothers and sisters of the Earth. These practices would again become a part of their daily lives.
The leaders of the people would be chosen in the old way - not by their political party, or who could speak the loudest, boast the most, or by name calling or mud slinging, but by those whose actions spoke the loudest. Those who demonstrated their love, wisdom and courage and those who showed that they could and did work for the good of all, would be chosen as the leaders or Chiefs. They would be chosen by their "quality" and not the amount of money they had obtained. Like the thoughtful and devoted "Ancient Chiefs", they would understand the people with love, and see that their young were educated with the love and wisdom of their surroundings. They would show them that miracles can be accomplished to heal this world of its ills, and restore it to health and beauty.
The tasks of these "Warriors of the Rainbow" are many and great. There will be terrifying mountains of ignorance to conquer and they shall find prejudice and hatred. They must be dedicated, unwavering in their strength, and strong of heart. They will find willing hearts and minds that will follow them on this road of returning "Mother Earth" to beauty and plenty - once more.
The day will come, it is not far away.
The day that we shall see how we owe our very existence to the people of all tribes that have maintained their culture and heritage. Those that have kept the rituals, stories, legends and myths alive. It will be with this knowledge, the knowledge that they have preserved, that we shall once again return to "harmony" with Nature, Mother Earth and mankind. It will be with this knowledge that we shall find our "Key to our Survival".
This is the story of the "Warriors of the Rainbow".
http://www.birdclan.org/rainbow.htm

To end on a light note, the Firebird pointed out to me that if one stands a distance from the monitor, and looks at this blog's header, given the color of the title font, it appears to read as "Pee's Ocean of Thought"