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Back in 2004, Facebook started as a social media platform. People were making more friends than they could ever have imagined. I was getting into the swing of connecting with people. My self-esteem seemed to go up a notch when I reached 450 friends. Then, as time went on it felt exhausting trying to read other people's timelines and faithfully read the posts that came scrolling in. Since then many other social media platforms have arisen that people use to connect with...
I have been writing for Indian Life, now Intertribal Life, for over 21 years. I recently read the March/April 2026 issue and felt humbled to be a part of such gifted leaders, reporters, columnists and staff who develop this uniquely meaningful newspaper. I appreciate the editor, and I marvel at how Todd and Krystal and Kene not only contribute to and manage a newspaper and the publishing business but also share God's truth and encouragement through youth and community events...
I'm hoping that the title of this article has gotten your attention! Fortunately, the word "arrested" has more than one meaning. Arrested can mean, "taken into custody by officials" or it can also mean, "to capture and hold someone's attention." I'm happy to report that law enforcement agents at the Qu'Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan, Canada did not arrest me. But I was caught off guard during a day trip. I had left during the late morning to visit First Nation communities...
As a professional humor guy, who has made a living on laughter since way back in the 1900s, I get emails or actually-written-with-a-pen letters from listeners who are interested in knowing more about what I do. Here's one from Zach in Manitoba: "Why would you tell a joke about staying in a nice hotel where the only complaint you had was that the towels were so fluffy you couldn't get your suitcase closed? What's next, funny jokes about robbing banks?" Good question, Zach. The...
We had a wonderful farm. It had green pastures, two ponds, lots of big shade trees, and a huge barn. Although we had some animals-we had several ponies and thirty goats and assorted cats and dogs-we discovered several of our neighbors had animals they didn't want anymore. We decided to start a "retirement home" for unwanted animals. We put a big sign on our front gate that read, "Free retirement home for unwanted animals. Animals will be loved, fed, well cared for, given...
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37 (NKJV) I have had to come to God many times to help me forgive someone who has hurt me or wronged me in some way-not so much physically, but certainly emotionally. For instance, when I was quite young, I had a special cat I loved. At that time, living on the reserve, we had a day-school teacher who was boarding in our home. He decided one Sunday...
Question: "My life and my community have faced a lot of loss. At times, it feels like the grief is overwhelming. Does God give us any tools in His Word to deal with deep grief?" Answer: I'm sorry to hear about the grief you and your community are enduring. That's the exact way to describe it-enduring! Enduring signifies that strength still prevails, that there is much hope and that God's Word still commands your thoughts! James' epistle says, "My brethren, count it all joy...
"God bless you all for the hard work all over the world; you all do an excellent job! I have learned lots of inspiring stories. . . . I will be praying for you all every night, every day."-Rosemary S. "I met a sweet little Cree granny in the hospital in Regina and gave her some [Intertribal Life] papers. She seemed grateful and I promised her some more. Could you please send a year's subscription to her?" -Patricia G....
"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." Proverbs 8:17 My mosoom (grandfather), Thomas Jackson, was a future-focused individual. Back in 1939, he was the first one on our reservation to own a radio. As near as I can figure, it would have been a 1939 Zenith 9S367. My dad talks about that time, remembering how people would come over to their place to listen and marvel at this box that talked-with no "real" person speaking! Some would check carefully behind the...
This season has been a full one. With travelling to Sioux Lookout for a testimony conference, planning two dessert night fundraisers (one for a mission trip and one for Intertribal Life Ministries), regular Native Youth Conference planning meetings, and planning for the Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child First Nations Shoebox Packing Party, our time has been rather full. This, in addition to being parents, spouses, friends, active church members and loving children to...
The worldview of an Indigenous people comes from all aspects of life being connected physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Today, I want to look at the title of this column through spiritual eyes. How can we realize that a certain amount of healing is possible on this side of the grave? Even when harsh and unimaginable things happen to us? Even when we feel like our hearts have been broken? As someone who has lived for 57 years, I can testify to the fact that...
What are some of your favorite experiences of feeling our Creator's presence and knowing for certain that He is there and that He cares about you personally? It is a powerful feeling! At this point it is extremely important to know our Creator's name. So how can we know who our Creator really is? What are His ways? How does He want us to worship Him? If He truly created the stars and our planet, the earth, then He probably has His own thoughts. I've had many encounters with ou...
In May 2013, Harrison Okene's boat of 12 crew members capsized off the coast of Nigeria and sank to the bottom of the ocean. Harrison, who was the cook on the boat, spent 72 hours in a watery grave 100 feet underwater, in complete darkness and isolation from the outside world. He was the only survivor who managed to find a small air pocket in a bathroom. Because he saw some movement and light in the water from a recovery diver who was looking for bodies, he reached out to the...
You don't meet many musicians who would sooner play to a handful of people than to a thousand, but my friend Mark is one. He's been my friend since the day I spoke at a church where he pressed a business card into my hand and said those three magic words, "Let's golf sometime." And so, we did. Together with our sons, we hacked and duffed and mulliganed our way around a golf course; it was the thing of which friendships are made. Recently, Mark and his wife, Cori, took my wife...
Many people believe in "luck" but don't really believe they are "lucky." I've survived fires, floods, and car accidents and almost drowned twice. When I was a teenager, I walked into a store and saw a man using a knife to rob the owner. I turned and ran and was stabbed in the back. The police arrived, arrested the thief and drove me to the hospital, where I was "stitched up." I'm a survivor, even though I could have died a dozen times. Moku was a rabbit. He would have been an...
January 1, 2026 marked the launch of the Council Fire podcast. With 1638 downloads in the past 60 days, we have been hearing story after story coming in from listeners, letting us know how they have been encouraged by it. Read what a few have to say: Peter writes, “I have lived as a Christian all my life. Always read or heard devotionals. Council Fire is special! Simple, inspiring and addictive! Thank you, Council Fire creators.” Gary called us to say, “I was on my way to th...
When I think of everything that I've been through in my 57 years on this earth, it sometimes overwhelms me. At other times, I feel like a warrior for surviving all these years. Through the ups and downs and all of the hairpin turns. There were seasons when I felt that I was in complete rebellion with our Creator. There were seasons when, just like the gospel song, "Trust and Obey," says, "When we walk with Lord in the light of his words, what a glory he sheds on our way." As...
I've been reading a book called The Book of Lists. It includes things like "10 Celebrities who have seen UFOs." These include Muhammed Ali and William Shatner of "Star Trek" fame. Another list is "11 Cats Who Traveled Long Distances to Come Home." At the top of the list is a two-year-old part-Persian named Sugar who was left behind with a neighbor when her owners moved 1,500 miles from Anderson, Cali. to Gage, Okla. Two weeks later, Sugar disappeared. Fourteen month after...
"... I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live," Deuteronomy 30:19, ESV A while back, I had the chance to drive my 11-year-old grandson to his hockey practice (about 130 km away). It was a real good time to talk and catch up on where he was in life! We talked about everything from dinosaurs to hockey equipment and Bible verses. Then we ended up talking about the future-his future, and what that would l...
"Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” Philip Stanhope is credited with first writing a form of this quote to his son in 1746. I heard it many years back, likely from my parents, and I found myself repeating it to our adult son just the other day. He is studying to write his third-year test for an apprenticeship program at a polytechnic school close to home. Upon hearing me say this, he smirked and jokingly rolled his eyes at me, followed with, “I know, Mom.” I guess I’ve...
Starting a new year, 2026, we look forward with anticipation as we consider the doors that are open for Intertribal Life Ministries. We’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on why we do what we do. What various endeavors are Intertribal Life Ministries involved in, and why are we involved in them? Simply put, the love of Christ compels us. When Jesus walked this earth, He was intentional about truly seeing people. About looking beyond what he could see with his eyes, and going deeper, into the heart of the matter, teaching other...
Council Fire, daily devotionals written exclusively by Indigenous and Native American followers of Jesus, has been our best seller this year. We have printed and distributed over 30,000 copies with more reprints to come. That's 30,000 copies in 2 years! We praise God for giving Intertribal Life Ministries such an opportunity as this, and for our many partners who have helped make this publication possible. About a year ago, the Intertribal Life Ministries team, along with...
In 1998, Fender Guitars and country and western singer Merle Haggard teamed up together to create a guitar line called the "Merle Haggard Tuff Dog Telecaster." It was a strikingly beautiful instrument with extra sustain and a warm, rich, resonant tone. An American-made Tuff Dog in good shape sells today for between $6,000 and $12,000 USD. That kind of pricing kicks the door wide open for the production of counterfeits, and they can be easily found and bought (brand new) for...
The journey of FamilyLife Canada's Family Matters began about 25 years ago in Mistissini, a Cree Nation town nine hours north of Montreal. A local police officer named Noah Coonishish began to feel a burden on his heart as he saw pain and brokenness in the homes around him-couples struggling, families hurt by violence and addiction. "During my career as a police officer, I saw a lot of violence in the community," he explains. "When we got married, I wanted to be a good...
A few weeks ago, we were invited to a conference in Steinbach, Man., by the pastor of our home church in Langdon, Alb. The conference was about personal renewal; renewal of the spirit and soul. We learned many things, but it all came back to the fact that when individuals are renewed, this results in churches being renewed, which results in the worldwide church being renewed. It was a life-giving weekend for us individually, as a couple and as the director duo of Intertribal...
