Buy the Indian gas ... and something else too

Here's the thing: if I lived off the reserve and I saw the price of gas going up around 135.9, I'd be shopping around too.  But this is getting crazy ...

This photo was taken earlier today at the Free Flow on Hwy 2 at Shannonville.  Locals refer to it still as "Bayview Variety" because that's what it used to be called.

Just down the road, inside the village of Shannonville is ... gawd, ... Village Variety.  You just get so used to these places, you forget what they're actually called.  I refer to this one as "the gas station in Shannonville."

At neither of these places should you ever have to wait to get your gas.  Maybe at the Village because they have literally two pumps, but never at Bayview.  So to see lines like in these photos is really very unusual.  I needed gas yesterday afternoon and nearly considered going into Belleville just for the convenience of knowing I'd not have to wait who-knows-how-long.  (Note that I didn't.  Well, what I did is I went to the place on Hwy 49.  It's called Quik Stop, I think ... it's the one where the Subway is ... and got $20 worth there, then went back to Bayview later for the rest.

The lot was nearly empty when I got there, around 8pm last night.  The attendant mentioned that the best time is in the evenings.  Food for thought.)

Speaking of food ...

If you're not from Tyendinaga and you're thinking of taking a drive to the reserve during this local oil crisis, please PLEASE consider buying more than gas -- and/or cigarettes -- when you visit.  I don't want to get all "Tourism Tyendinaga" on ya, but there's GOT to be something here you would enjoy, something that would also support our local economy.

I've taken the liberty of making some suggestions for you right now.

Tota Maz (pronounced "DUH-duh MAHZ" but you gotta say it fast) is a great little restaurant that opened late last year.  If you've been to our annual pow wow in August, you'll recognize some of this food, particularly the Indian Taco, the fry bread, and the corn soup.  Each are "delicacies" (the quotation marks are important) of Native North American Indians, so you have to at least try it.  The corn soup can be lighter, but the fry bread and Indian Taco will sabotage your diet like four chocolate bars.  The homemade bread is a highlight; try the kind called "Three Sisters."  It has a million ingredients and, again, don't ask for a nutrition label.  It's located across from the community centre, about halfway between Hwy 2 and Hwy 49 on York Road.

Another option is Steve's Fish & Chips at the intersection of Hwy 49 (a/k/a Marysville Road from the 401) and York Road.  It's been a couple months since I've been there but, if I recall, you can choose from Haddock and Halibut.  Not terribly pricey, either -- which, incidentally, is the best part about eating locally.  Eating out here, you'll find, is surprisingly affordable.

Further down Hwy 49, heading south, is a couple stores owned by a couple of my cousins.  Everyone around here loves the coffee at Smokin' Coffee Express.  And I mean they love it.  It's mostly a drive-thru, rez-style: you order at the window, and pick-up at the same window.  It's on the other side of the building in this photo.

Just past it is the Nation2Nation shop, where in it you'll find frozen venison steaks and other interesting food-stuffs amid the tobacco.  Last time I was in there I saw a package of corn soup that you can take home and eat in your own kitchen!  (That's a big deal if you don't cook, like me.)

And don't forget about Native Renaissance II, the great big massive gift shop at the corner of Hwy 49 and York Road.  I was just in there a short while ago when I needed some sweetgrass and sage for burning.  The greeting card selection isn't terrible, either.

So, in conclusion: get the gas and the cigarettes, but be sure to support our other local business owners when you visit Tyendinaga.  You'll be missin' out on good things if you don't.  That's all.   Thanks.