This site is dedicated with love to the memory of my friend and teacher, Wilfred Peltier. Originally of Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Wilfred spent the last years of his life in Ottawa. I first met Wilf in 1994 at Carleton University in Ottawa, where he served as an Elder-In-Residence in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology. He was also an advisor to the Centre for Aboriginal Education, Research and Culture. A Trickster by nature, Wilf loved people, and loved to talk. Best of all, he loved to laugh and tell stories. He and I quickly became friends, and I would visit with him when he was at University every chance I got. We would spend hours gabbing, trading stories, and he would teach me words in Ojibwe and his native Odawa tongue, and always had a tall tale to tell about what he taught me. Ever the storyteller, he taught people about making their own music and dancing to their own beat. He was often a public speaker or guest lecturer on Native Aboriginal affairs and performed sacred pipe ceremonies in schools and at other functions for anyone who was interested in learning about and experiencing Aboriginal spirituality firsthand.
In the last two years of his life, Wilf decided to write a book of stories and personal philosophies drawing on his Native spirituality and heritage. His good friend Jason, myself and others helped out where we could by sitting in on sessions and recording the resulting conversations. Then, shortly after the book in its unpublished form was completed, Wilf passed away on July 20th, 2000, after a brief illness. He is sadly missed. I hope others have an oportunity to learn from him even now that he's gone, through his writings. Wilf's book is currently on hiatus but will be published at a later time.
In August, I had the opportunity to visit Wilf's resting place on the beautiful Wikwemikong Reserve on Manitoulin Island. It was quite an experience. Luigi Bairo, a friend of mine from Italy who is a fan of Wilf's writings is currently in the process of writing a lovely e-book ode to Wilf for the Italian/Anglo audiences out there. A chapter about my trip up to Wiki will be featured within. I will add a link when it becomes available. In the interim, here is a list of some of Wilf's earlier publications, which I strongly recommend, in particular "No Foreign Land". They are listed under the old spelling of his name, "Pelletier" on the Abe Books Website.
