By Alicia Sayer
September 28 2009, London ON
I went to the city of London, Ontario to speak to Aboriginal youth (who bus to the city and/or live in London) in a local highschool. The experience brought me back to my time while in high-school as i was given a backgrounder on the youth who attend the school--> the cliques, pre-conceptions, experience etc. of the Aboriginal population. This made the visit that much more important because I distinctively remember the day the same Universities came to speak to me and recruit the Aboriginal youth in Sault Ste. Marie. I wanted to let them know what education had given me, why I believe it's important and that each of us had a dream or goal and education can help us achieve that. More importantly, I let them know that I had similar experiences in high school; I was bussed into the city and experienced similar situation and feelings--both negative and positive.
I had a written a speech prior to attending this event, but when I seen the students, I said to myself, "I can't read to them my memorized speech, I have to be as real as I can be. I'm not going to reach them by reading off a 'ready-made script'". I felt the speech went "okay"; I was diagnosed with social anxiety and this makes me analyze, and at time,s over analyze situations in addition to other characteristics.
Canadace Brunette made the visit much more easier and really helped ease me into the situation. If she was not there, I would have been much more anxious and worried before meeting the youth. I also enjoyed speaking to the ScotiaBank representative and asked for feedback to see if I represented ScotiaBank to their liking for the NARMP program.
What made this visit much more easier was that I knew the University liasons. This is because my sister, Taylor Sayers, was the Aboriginal Recruitment Officer for Algoma University and I went on a University recruitment with her and was able to meet them prior to this.
Overall, this visit went well because of the familiarity of the people, the experiences and the encouragement given. I would gladly travel back to London, ON anytime. The youth had a calm confidence and brought back fond memories of highschool.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
McGill First People's Pow Wow 2009
By Amber Asp-Chief
September 25 2009, Montreal, QC
I enjoyed my visit at the McGill First People's Pow Wow. I liked the welcoming of the organizers. I also liked the audience enthusiasm and interest they had for my presentation. Overall I think my visit went good.
September 25 2009, Montreal, QC
I enjoyed my visit at the McGill First People's Pow Wow. I liked the welcoming of the organizers. I also liked the audience enthusiasm and interest they had for my presentation. Overall I think my visit went good.
Friday, September 18, 2009
School Blast Off! Prince Albert, SK
By Damian Abrahams
September 17 2009 School Blast Off! Prince Albert, SK
I enjoyed my trip to Prince Albert, the divided my community visit into parts, one for the younger students and the other for the other older students. Both presentations went well.
There was one particular student in the older crow who was "gunning me of"(glaring at me like he doesn't like me) initially but as I told my story I noticed that he was more interested in what I've been through.
This, I believe, is what I went there for.
September 17 2009 School Blast Off! Prince Albert, SK
I enjoyed my trip to Prince Albert, the divided my community visit into parts, one for the younger students and the other for the other older students. Both presentations went well.
There was one particular student in the older crow who was "gunning me of"(glaring at me like he doesn't like me) initially but as I told my story I noticed that he was more interested in what I've been through.
This, I believe, is what I went there for.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Summer program celebration and Aboriginal girls hockey camp
By Jessica Yee
August 12-13 Whitefish Lake First Nation, ON
This was my first trip to Whitefish Lake First Nation and coupled with the great weather, it was a wonderful experience! Working with youth means you have to be easily adaptable – and luckily since that’s my work day in and day out – I was ready to roll with the punches. The evening I arrived there was a community BBQ and summer fun activities, and after hanging out with the youth I was able to address them with a few opening remarks about Aboriginal pride and culture being a uniting factor amongst us all – regardless of our reasons of being at summer camp, or what sport we play. I was also happy to see some of the older youth at our table of safe sex info – since summer is definitely a time when people hook up!
The next day I was thrilled to work with the Aboriginal girls hockey camp – and I was able to meet some pretty fierce hockey players who were bursting with energy – but also able to talk very frankly about the sexism they have to face being young women who play hockey in a generally male-dominated field, amongst other sports. We worked through several self-esteem building exercises and discussed at length what strong Aboriginal women are doing in our communities, along with claiming our power as young Aboriginal women today and what that means both on the rink or in the school yard. Later that day I stayed to talk to the parents of these strong young women about how much I enjoyed meeting and working with them – and made a small presentation about honouring oneself and each other.
August 12-13 Whitefish Lake First Nation, ON
This was my first trip to Whitefish Lake First Nation and coupled with the great weather, it was a wonderful experience! Working with youth means you have to be easily adaptable – and luckily since that’s my work day in and day out – I was ready to roll with the punches. The evening I arrived there was a community BBQ and summer fun activities, and after hanging out with the youth I was able to address them with a few opening remarks about Aboriginal pride and culture being a uniting factor amongst us all – regardless of our reasons of being at summer camp, or what sport we play. I was also happy to see some of the older youth at our table of safe sex info – since summer is definitely a time when people hook up!
The next day I was thrilled to work with the Aboriginal girls hockey camp – and I was able to meet some pretty fierce hockey players who were bursting with energy – but also able to talk very frankly about the sexism they have to face being young women who play hockey in a generally male-dominated field, amongst other sports. We worked through several self-esteem building exercises and discussed at length what strong Aboriginal women are doing in our communities, along with claiming our power as young Aboriginal women today and what that means both on the rink or in the school yard. Later that day I stayed to talk to the parents of these strong young women about how much I enjoyed meeting and working with them – and made a small presentation about honouring oneself and each other.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Akwesasne Freedom School camp
By Jessica Yee
September 3 2009 Akwesasne, ON
This has been my favourite Role Model visit so far – but I have to admit I’m hugely biased on this one because I got to work with the youth in my mom’s home community of Akwesasne. I have long been a supporter and fan of all the students who have attended the Akwesasne Freedom School, which is a fully culturally integrated school program whose calendar runs in accordance with our 13 longhouse ceremonies throughout the seasons, and something I have always wished I could have attended had I not lived in the city of Toronto.
I already knew the students were going to be amazing – and the visit itself was no less amazing in fact right from the get-go since I was actually picked up at the train station by Parks Canada folks who, interestingly enough, informed me they were fully supportive of our community’s work to retain ownership of lands around the St. Lawrence river. This visit was for the Freedom School’s summer camp which took place at the 1000 Island Park in Gananoque. We gathered in one of the camp recreation centres and got down to business right away workshopping through the themes of respecting and protecting your body and space, and how traditionally that relates to practicing safe sex today.
I am incredibly proud to be Kanionke:haka (Mohawk) and I left the 1000 Islands park even prouder, since I also got to hear from several of the young women about their interests in becoming midwives and carrying on the long-standing tradition of midwifery in our communities.
September 3 2009 Akwesasne, ON
This has been my favourite Role Model visit so far – but I have to admit I’m hugely biased on this one because I got to work with the youth in my mom’s home community of Akwesasne. I have long been a supporter and fan of all the students who have attended the Akwesasne Freedom School, which is a fully culturally integrated school program whose calendar runs in accordance with our 13 longhouse ceremonies throughout the seasons, and something I have always wished I could have attended had I not lived in the city of Toronto.
I already knew the students were going to be amazing – and the visit itself was no less amazing in fact right from the get-go since I was actually picked up at the train station by Parks Canada folks who, interestingly enough, informed me they were fully supportive of our community’s work to retain ownership of lands around the St. Lawrence river. This visit was for the Freedom School’s summer camp which took place at the 1000 Island Park in Gananoque. We gathered in one of the camp recreation centres and got down to business right away workshopping through the themes of respecting and protecting your body and space, and how traditionally that relates to practicing safe sex today.
I am incredibly proud to be Kanionke:haka (Mohawk) and I left the 1000 Islands park even prouder, since I also got to hear from several of the young women about their interests in becoming midwives and carrying on the long-standing tradition of midwifery in our communities.
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