An unusual series of events took place a few summers ago. Two groups of Indigenous Peoples from two separate nations on the North Pacific coast had dinner together. Not once but twice, in two towns in their two homelands.

It would not be a surprise if you hadn't heard of these events, as the reason for them took place long before there was a Canada and a United States. But it should not be a surprise that there are peoples who remember when there was no such thing as a Canada or a United States.

I grew gently older amongst my people. Our place is a most lovely and profoundly powerful archipelago where memories are not discarded but remain alive and are actively refreshed. We share memories with neighbouring Indigenous Peoples and their places.

This is a story of one such memory.

This is the story of war. (From War of the Blink by Michael Nicoll Yahgulaanas ©2017. Published by Locarno Press.)