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Clark Cothern was just five when he realized that college presidents were powerful, frightening beings. What Clark saw of college presidents he noticed from floor level, as he played on the other side of his mother's desk in the administration building at Grand Canyon College (now University) in Phoenix, Arizona. His mom was dean of women at the time. Clark watched as students walked timidly down the hallway toward the president's office and stopped, their nerves on high...
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? My life was defined by homelessness, violence, and a severe struggle with substance abuse that began when I was just 10 years old. I was apprehended by Child and Family Services when I was young and became a repeat offender within the justice system. Tragedy continued into my youth. When I was 17, my mother tragically passed away at the age of 38, which fueled a deep anger and hurt within me. In my early twenties, I joined a gang....
What's the biggest mistake you have ever made? Sometimes we perceive our mistakes as bigger than they really are. That feeling when you think you have completely wrecked something is not a good place to be. Two times come to my mind. The first one happened when I was still learning how to drive. We were out on my dad's trapline, hunting and trapping beaver. We had this huge Chevy Suburban that needed to be moved, and I volunteered to do it. I had it in reverse, and my dad was...
"You are too nice!" Denise said. "People take advantage of you because you can't say no to anyone." "Yes, you're right," I said, "It's just hard for me to say, 'No.'" "Who helped a little boy look for his lost turtle last week? Who printed out flyers about the turtle and hung them on telephone poles and stop signs? And where was his lost turtle all along?" Denise asked. "It was under his bed," I confessed. "I have a new neighbor," I said, to change the subject. "He seems very...
I've heard different people on social media platforms do some short skits that go something like this. I was sitting out on the deck, and I was looking at the sky trying to plan my day. Then I saw a squirrel climbing a tree, and then I said how do pine trees get their color? How do those little squirrels sleep at night? How long did I sleep last night? What did I dream about last night? I should really get blue sheets so I can sleep better! When did I do laundry last? I sure l...
I was sad to hear that Crying Wind died. I had hoped to one day meet her. I often said, "I wish I could write like Crying Wind." She was my favorite author. She could make me laugh and cry within the same chapter; sometimes the same page. Her relationships with her children, her friends and her neighbors inspired me to pay closer attention to my own relationships, but, even then, I just didn't have her warm way of caring or her funny sense of humor. She added so much to those...
I own a little Ford Adventurer RV that is 19 feet long and perfectly capable of camping off grid, since it also has an inverter and solar panel. I love taking my little RV and dogs to First Nation Communities to represent Intertribal Life Newspaper. I also very much enjoy driving through a Tim Horton's drive-thru window to order my one-fourth French Vanilla with a shot of espresso coffee! The first sip is always heavenly! My RV has some overhang on both sides, and because of t...
As I was putting together a sermon on the topic of peace, I went back in history to the year 1805 in Alberta, Canada. That was the year when a great Indigenous man was born. He became known as Chief Broken Arm. Why? Because right after he was born, his mother left her baby boy lying in the grass. The desperate mother thought she wouldn't be able to raise him herself. At the same time, a horse race was taking place at that spot and the baby's arm got broken. Broken Arm...
As summer arrives, I remember times at camps and retreats where we did a worship walk. I'll share the idea with you and hope, if you try it, you are as blessed as we were. A worship walk is simply an opportunity to worship our Lord in His outdoor world. God's creation offers a glimpse into His character and nature. He is imaginative, artistic, powerful and fun. He cares for big things like galaxies, the earth's ecological systems, and small things like forest animals,...
This past January I got a new vacuum cleaner. It's a special kind that vacuums and washes the floor at the same time. It's great for taking care of pet hair. Lately I was noticing that a light has been flashing with a message that would say, "Empty dirty water cup." Then the machine would stop working. It was frustrating, and I couldn't truly figure out what was wrong. I would empty the cup, clean everything out, and the light would eventually come on again, and then the...
I'm at the age where I think about the hereafter more than ever. I arrive at the fridge and wonder what I'm here after. Seriously, Heaven is looking sweeter all the time, partly because so many family and friends are there sooner than we thought they'd be. Some believe heaven is a myth, the creation of delusional wishful thinkers. I'm well acquainted with myths. I grew up on them. Here are five of them, the first two my mother used on me. Myth #1: Swimming after eating causes...
When I was five years old, a kind neighbor gave me a snow globe with a figure of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer inside. When I shook it, Rudolph was in a blizzard of snow. I received few gifts when I was a child, and this was a treasure beyond words. I kept it for 50 years. Other possessions came and went but Rudolph was always with me. I'd shake the globe and watch the snow swirl around Rudolph, and for a few minutes, I was a child again. One day I picked up the globe and...
She was the tiniest puppy of the litter. Her brothers and sisters would push her away and mama wouldn't let her eat. One of the kids in the house tried to feed her with a doll bottle, but that didn't work out so well. When I first saw this skinny little "runt of the litter," I wanted her. It didn't matter that she was malnourished, thin and kind of sickly-I still wanted her! After the "rescue operation," and when this impoverished puppy finally made her home at our place,...
QUESTION: Some people use traditional medicine for healing when they are sick, and some go to a medicine man to put curses on people. Is it right for a Christian to go to a medicine man for healing or is it wrong. Since becoming a Christian I have gone for healing because our family needed help to live, but I prayed for the Lord to forgive me if it is wrong. ANSWER: Your question is one that, to answer it as thoroughly as possible, would take the whole of this newspaper and...
In early March of 1972, an 8354 ton freighter, the Vanlene, left the docks of Nagoya, Japan heading for the California coast. On board were 300 Dodge Colts that Mitsubishi had rebadged and were on their way to a new home in America. Lo Chung Hung, the 29-year-old captain, set off from Japan with most of his navigational gear not working. The radar, radio direction finder, deep-sea leader, taffrail log and mechanical log were nonfunctional. Even the depth finder wasn't working...
A good friend of ours has had a lingering cough for two years. At first, it was just a cough-you know the kind. The one that is pesky, but not a big deal. Over time, it got more bothersome, people noticed it and it kept him up at night. He decided to visit his doctor, thinking maybe it wasn't just a tickle in his throat. After he went through all the testing the doctors asked of him, they came back to him with good news-they had an answer! But they also had bad news: It was...
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...
