arts // no. § theotherpress.ca Great wisdom comes 1n small packages > ‘Life’s Little Instruction Book’ review Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor y partner in life, crime, and just about everything else works opposing hours to me. So, we often communicate by leaving little notes and sometimes little gifts on the kitchen table for each other. This table, worn and stained through the years, has held many words of wisdom, love, apology, forgiveness, and just about everything in between. This time, however, the table had waiting for me Life’s Little Instruction Book, written by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. This six by four and a half-inch book—covered in a red and green plaid— is the sweetest thing. According to the introduction, author Jackson Brown wrote it as a going-away present for his college- bound son. Intending for it to only bea couple of rough notes and reminders of how to live one’s best life, Jackson Brown soon found himself spending days on this project of his. Clearly suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life take more time than this well-meaning father thought. The book is an easy quick read. Each listed piece of advice is in numbered bullet form, and there are four to a page. Occasionally, an entire page is devoted to more important ideas, such as “43. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day” and “68. Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.” Some of my favourite suggestions found within the pages of this little book are “1. Compliment three people every day”—we could all stand to be a little more open about the nice things we think and feel. Oftentimes people will keep positives to themselves and only share negatives. Imagine what the world would be like if we did the opposite? “24. Drink champagne for no reason at all’—why wait for a scheduled reason to celebrate. Life is a quick affair that should be cherished for no reason as often as we can. “49. Buy vegetables from truck farmers who advertise with hand- Other Press 1s hiring! lettered signs” —this one is cute and makes me think of supporting local farmers. “326. Remember that winners do what losers don't want to do”—living a happy and rewarding life is hard work, but worth it. “330. Rekindle old friendships”—you can never do any wrong by reaching out and saying hi to someone from your past. If you're looking to feel inspired, for a pick me up, or for some general advice that will leave you feeling warm inside, this is the perfect book. Great for all ages and all walks of life, Life's Little Instruction Book is an excellent keepsake, gift, or daily guide. And as number 332 suggests, “Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.” Got a good scoop? Engaged in the college community? The Other Press is looking for a News Editor. Pay: $117.50 per issue Send your resume, writing samples, or questions over to editor.otherpress@gmail.com ee cC Sr, 2 ‘ H eg Photo of H. Jackson Brown Jr via 21suggestions.com ~ “49. Buy vegetables from truck farmers who advertise with hand-lettered signs’—this one is cute and makes me think of supporting local farmers. The Other Press is hiring! Write for the Udder Press! The Other Press is hiring for Humour Editor. Pay: $113.50 per issue Send your resume, writing samples, OI questions about the position to editor.otherpress@gmail.com Have an idea for a story? Mlifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca life & style // no. 9 e Tinder turns into memory lane e Success tips from a president ¢ How to still have fun during the COVID-19 crisis Bs) Photo of Bill Angelbeck by Craig Allan An opinion on the Wet’suwet en protests » Anthropology faculty member Bill Angelbeck gives his two cents Craig Allan Staff Writer ne of Canada’s biggest issues in this young year so far have been the protests regarding the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and their defense of the land. There has been a lot of talk and action on the topic, but what is it really about? To offer his ideas and experiences on the matter is Bill Angelbeck. Angelbeck is a member of the Anthropology faculty at Douglas College and has done many participant- observational studies with First Nations groups. His opinion is that the Wet’suwet’en protests are an extension of a long-lasting showing of colonial injustice that has gone on for over a century. When asked what the difference is between a hereditary chief (who inherit their title) and an elected chief (who are elected by the people), Angelbeck says that the hereditary chiefs are a “traditional form of governance” and that the elected or “band council” are structured by the Indian Act— and therefore he believes they are more associated with the government's political structure. Because of that, he thinks that the indigenous elected chiefs are there as a way for the government to impose their political system on First Nations groups. As Angelbeck describes it, he says it’s like saying “you know what, we don’t want to deal with the political complexities here, let’s organize under one chief. You elect a chief, have a council. That chief can respond to us.” He says the reason why the hereditary chiefs have so much of a say on this issue is that the Indian Act set up the elected chief system to represent groups on the reserve lands, where hereditary chiefs represent the territory (where the pipeline is going to run through). On the issue that this project will bring jobs to the region, Angelbeck believes that the project will provide jobs, but for a very short amount of time—as there will not be many jobs afterwards in the maintenance of the pipeline. He views the hereditary chiefs as bringing more “long term thinking” to the work and prosperity of the region. For the average person watching these protests, they may view the group as posers who are campaigning for issues other than the Wet’suwet’en one at hand. Angelbeck says that the protests are supporting the Wet’suwet’en, and even if the protests are protesting things like capitalism or environmentalism, he views them as all connected to the same issue of colonization. He views it as a “shared interest.” He personally thinks that the Wet’suwet’en territorial lands where this pipeline will go through are one of the last areas completely untouched by civilization—whether that’s power lines, roads, pipelines, or other artificially-made structures. In the grand scheme, Angelbeck feels we need to move away from the systems of our lives that have been formed by colonization. He says, “if you're not trying to change the colonial structure, you're going to have problems later.” Along with this, he feels that reconciliation needs to be tackled with greater intensity by the government. In regard to the government under Justin Trudeau, Angelbeck says that Trudeau has “not lived up to” the promises of reconciliation. In the end, Angelbeck views the hereditary chiefs protest of the Coastal Mountain Gas pipeline as justified. He believes that the Wetsuwet'en chiefs are doing their duty of representing their role as “steward their lands.” If decolonization is more that just a buzz word, he believes it will require some restructuring of the systems that Canada has in place. In the end, Angelbeck says these kinds of protests and the overall discontent shown by First Nations groups to the Canadian system will remain until indigenous groups feel that they have been properly compensated for their generations of suffering. “This issue will be present until indigenous people see it as reconciled.”