The Life and Times of Francis Pegahmagabow
If there is an aboriginal Canadian who has overcome more adversity and accomplished as much as Francis Pegahmagabow, I don’t know who it would be.Adrian Hayes chronicles the often troubled life of Pegahmagabow, shedding light on the trials and tribulations that plagued this true Canadian icon in “Pegahmagabow: Life-Long Warrior”.Now employed by Transcontinental Publishing, Hayes, whose journey began with his hometown paper, the Parry Sound North Star, is no stranger to native history. His first book, “Murder and Mayhem at Waubamik: The Shooting of Thomas Jackson” afforded him the opportunity to speak first hand with First Nations people in the Parry Sound area. His inquiry into the most decorated First Peoples soldiers during the First World War lead to this second book and opened the door to the compelling story of Francis Pegahmagabow.Hayes’ extensive academic background, with degrees in both history and journalism, is evident in his meticulous attention to detail and facts. Not satisfied with official government documentation, which clearly was inadequate for the time period, Hayes’ pursuit of Pegahmagabow’s elusive biography led him to many sources, including members of academia and of Pegahmagabow’s own family. Any hope of doing this story justice hinged on Hayes’ ability to garner insights and first person accounts from the people who knew Pegahmagabow intimately. Ultimately, Hayes’ dedication to the quest pays off and leaves the reader with an unbiased and untainted account of a hero scorned.For all of Pegahmagabow’s achievements, his exploits as a Canadian soldier in The First World War is by far the most neglected chapter of this warrior’s story. It is here where Hayes’ research challenges emerge. Inexplicably absent from the war diary of the 1st Battalion, the unit Pegahmagabow served almost entirely with during the war, his legendary role as a scout and sniper almost goes unnoticed. If not for the tales told by comrades, stories of unmatched stealth and a lethal eye with his sniper rifle, Pegahmagabow’s legacy as one of Canada’s most artful soldiers nearly died in the trenches of France. Hayes writes, in regard to Pegahmagabow’s status as a battalion sniper, “It was a task for which men were hand-picked, not only for their sharp eye and marksmanship, but also for their incredible patience.” (p.39). By all accounts, Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow is credited with 378 enemy kills and was awarded the Military Medal and two bars for valor. The world was finally made aware of Pegahmagabow’s contribution when the Canadian War Museum was unveiled in 2005. Sadly, it took the Canadian Armed Forces until 2006 to finally recognize him as a soldier of distinction, officially naming a building at Canadian Forces Base Borden in Pegahmagabow’s honor.The absolute strength of Hayes’ thesis, the argument that not only was Pegahmagabow a forgotten and mistreated Canadian war hero, but that he was, more importantly, a leader and activist for aboriginal Canadians, is highlighted in his recount of Pegahmagabow’s return home from the front. This is embodied in the powerful image Hayes constructs, of Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow, surging with pride as the Prince of Wales pinned several decorations on him. Hayes writes that this was a moment the soldier would never forget “because after wards he ceased being treated as an equal and went back to simply being an Indian.”The third chapter, entitled The Returned Hero, outlines the struggles Pegahmagabow faced upon his return home to Parry Island. With employment scarce and government programs for returning war veterans grossly inadequate, our decorated hero found “that the horrors of life in the trenches quickly submerged distinctions based on class, religion, politics, or race…” but that life back in postwar Canada resembled nothing remotely close to the equality he felt as soldier in the Canadian army. In an attempt to “better his lot”, Pegahmagabow petitioned the government several times for money to help finance his goal of becoming a farmer but was rejected on the grounds that “he would probably squander it”. Pegahmagabow undoubtedly felt entitled to more than was being offered to him, and definitely resented the Big Brother attitude that the Canadian government exhibited, especially after giving four years of his life in service to a country that now dismissed him. This proverbial last straw galvanized Pegahmegahbow’s perseverance to fight for the rights of all aboriginal Canadians.Hayes is articulate yet straight forward in his reporting of the facts and anecdotes that surrounded Pegahmegahbow’s eventual rise to political prominence and leadership within the aboriginal nation. “Pegahmagabow: Life-Long Warrior” is a resounding success on many fronts but none more so than Hayes’ ability to remain apolitical in the presentation of his findings. The reader is mercifully spared the moral lecture frequently associated with a book of this genre, instead being left to draw their own conclusions and judgements about a man worthy of many.
Are You Cut Out For a Career in Culinary Art?
Many people get confused when they are on the verge of making a career decision. If you are interested in becoming a culinarian and are wondering whether you can make your mark in this field or not, you should go through the traits of a successful chef given here. This will help you to decide whether you can be successful in this field or not.CreativityA successful culinarian adds his own touch to the different dishes he prepares. Creativity is required not just for preparing a variety of dishes with own innovation but also for their proper presentation. A person who is creative will be able to make his signature dishes. Moreover, he will be able to present them in a manner that the guests cannot resist relishing them.Multi-TaskingThe chefs handle several tasks at one time. Therefore, a person should be good at multitasking to make a mark in this field. Apart from preparing the food, they also have to supervise several cooks and also check if the guests are served in a proper manner. Sometimes, they are also required to mingle with the guests like during live cooking, and other things as well.SpeedMost hotels and restaurants have a maximum turn around time, like 30 minutes, in which the food should be served to the guest. Even if the guest has ordered an exotic dish, it should be served to him really fast. This means, the chef gets just 15-20 minutes to prepare the dishes. To prepare a good food in such a short time, a person has to be very quick.Team WorkA culinarian does not work alone. Usually there is a team that works in the commercial kitchens. A person might have to work under a head chef and he might also have to supervise several subordinates. Only if one is able to work effectively in a team, he will be able to perform his job as chef successfully.PatienceThings can go wrong in the kitchen. Suppose, if there are some special guests at the hotel for the dinner and some staff is missing or if something goes wrong while preparing the food, a chef should be able to remain calm and patient and think properly for how to make things better. In hospitality industry, one cannot afford to lose temper when things are not going as per plans.Management SkillsChefs do not just handle the responsibility to cook great food. They also have the responsibility to handle the teams and ensure that the food business brings in positive returns. Therefore, a person should have good management and business skills to make a mark in culinary arts.Apart from the above, a person should have good knowledge about ingredients, food preparation techniques, different types of cuisines, knowledge of food habits of people of different geographical regions, and so on. This is really necessary to become a good chef and become famous in long run. Lastly and most importantly, a person should complete a degree or diploma in Culinary Arts from a recognised institute to learn things just accurately and rightly.
How your Credit Rating Affects your Credit Card Application
When you apply for a credit card, one of the factors that come most into play in whether or not you are approved is your credit rating. That’s a fact that most people know well, but if you’re wondering exactly how your credit rating actually affects you when you apply for a credit card, read on to learn more.1. Your credit rating may rule you out for many credit card offers.
Right from the top, your credit rating could rule you out of some top credit card UK offers. Every credit card company in the UK has a number of different credit offerings, each designed for a different market segment. The top offers with low APR and high rewards are generally reserved for those with higher income and excellent credit histories.2. A high credit rating will qualify you for more credit card offers than a low credit rating.
The higher your credit rating, the more likely it is that you’ll be approved when you apply for a credit card. If you have excellent credit, have lived in the same place for more than three years, have worked for the same employer for at least two years, and have a history of handling credit responsibly, take the time to scan all the credit card offers at moneyeverything.com to find the one that offers you the most value.3. Your credit rating affects the APR that you are offered.
The ‘typical APR’ that’s listed by most credit card UK companies is the rate that they must offer to at least 2 of every three customers that they approve for that credit card product. When you apply for a credit card, you have one chance in three of being offered a card with a higher APR than that advertised. The lower your credit rating, the greater the chance that you’ll be approved at a higher APR than the typical rate.4. You can affect your credit rating before you apply for a credit card in order to qualify for a lower APR.
If you suspect that your credit rating is in the middle ranges because you’ve missed a few payments here and there, or been late once or twice, there are ways to raise your credit rating BEFORE you apply for a credit card. Pay down the balance on some of your credit cards, or reduce the number of credit cards you already have for best effect.5. It works both ways. Your credit card application can affect your credit rating.
Every time you apply for a credit card or a loan of any sort, it puts a tick against your credit rating. If the number of ticks is excessive, or if you apply for many credit cards all at once, it can lower your credit rating and make it harder for you to get a good credit card with a low APR when you really want it.The best advice you’ll ever get is to check your credit rating BEFORE you apply for a credit card so that you can apply for those credit cards for which you are most likely to be approved. Take the time to research credit cards so that you’re sure of getting the best credit card for your purposes.
Inspiration Resource
Where do you get your inspiration? Are you inspired? If you are inspired and motivated, that is great. Keep doing what you are doing. If you are having difficulty getting inspired, there a few things you can do. The following two tips are provided to help you get started.1. Figure out what you want to do. If you are not inspired, you may not have a clear sense of what it is that you are trying to accomplish. This could range from not having any goals to not having clear objectives for the goals that you are trying to accomplish. In either case, spend some time thinking about what it is that you need to accomplish today, this week, this month, and this year. If you are having difficulty getting inspired during the day, break the day down and analyze it hour by hour if you have to. Find out what it is that you are doing or not doing that needs to change. This analysis alone can inspire and motivate you to get moving.2. Follow the leader. This means finding someone who is effective at doing what you want to accomplish and get their advice. You may know this person personally or you may find them through a book or resources on the web. There are people you can find directly or indirectly that can help you get inspired.Being inspired is about being motivated. If you have motivation, you have found something that inspires you do so. If you are having trouble getting inspired or motivated, the hope is that one or both of the tips will help you get going.