Indigenous Youth Preparing for NAIG 2017
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PM#0382659799 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974 Blending Tradition with Technology 6000 copies distributed July 15, 2017 Vol. 44 No. 7 www.wawataynews.ca Ginoogaming Healing Walk ends journey in Fort William Rick Garrick Anishnawbek youth who grew up Wawatay News in Geraldton. “You keep on push- ing it because we are walking for this The 2017 Healing Walk for all peo- cause for everybody. That is why I feel ple from Ginoogaming to Fort William fulfilled right now, because when I was an extension of the 10-day healing wanted to quit, I kept going so that was walk held last year from Thunder Bay an amazing experience.” to Kenora. Eveleigh joined the walk in Gerald- “This second group walking for ton. seven days ties in with what we did “Thank you to the organizers who last year,” says Fred Thomas, a Lac set this all up and the funding (that Seul citizen who organized last year’s enabled) us to eat every day and to healing walk and participated in this sleep in a safe, dry place,” Eveleigh year’s walk. “It’s a peaceful walk. It has says. “Thank you to the reserves who nothing to do with violence or protests. helped us and encouraged everybody We’re just trying to educate the gen- to come and join.” eral public that this is our way of doing Eveleigh enjoyed walking with the things.” other youth during the walk. The 2017 Healing Walk was focused “It warmed my heart to see (them), on a different issue each day: Drugs/ because lots of youth don’t really want Alcohol Addictions; Cancer; Missing to do stuff like this,” Eveleigh says. Women/Men; Residential School/Day “But the more youth come out, then School Survivors/Descendants; Sui- everybody comes and joins.” cide; Land, Water and Air; and Racism. The walkers passed the communities “It was very uplifting, emotionally, of Longlac, Long Lake #58, Geraldton, spiritually, mentally, (and) physically Jellicoe, Aniimbigoo Zaaging Anish- demanding,” says former regional chief Rick Garrick/Wawatay News nawbek, Beardmore, Bingwi Neyashi Charles Fox, noting that he developed The spirit walkers on the 2017 Healing Walk raised the issue of racism while walking from City Hall in Thunder Bay to Fort Wil- Anishnawbek, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging blisters on his feet on the second last liam on the last day of the June 25-July 1 walk. Anishnawbek, Red Rock Indian Band, day of the walk. “But to honour each Nipigon, Red Rock, Hurkett, Dorion, day with a different theme is good.” Pearl and Pass Lake on the way to The walkers were honoured with ing before we started the walk.” organizer from Long Lake #58, says it rain it was extra hard and our youth Thunder Bay and Fort William. a song and dance at the Fort Wil- Fox says the special walk over the was “very difficult” for the walkers to really pushed themselves because they “We’re walking not only to heal for liam Powwow after completing the Nipigon bridge was an “awesome” walk through two days of rainfall on really wanted to make a mark in show- ourselves, but to heal our communities 320-kilometre walk on July 1. The event to see. the fifth and sixth days, but they per- ing how much they really care for the that are struggling with alcohol and walkers began their journey on June “You had a couple of hundred peo- severed because of the the fifth day’s other youth in the other communities.” drug addictions,” Mendowegan says. 25 in Ginoogaming. ple walking across,” Fox says. “A lot of Suicide issue. About 40 walkers were participat- The Healing Walk organizers look “It’s a good feeling to be here at the people came to join us from the sur- “Our community is one community ing in the walk when they reached the forward to participating in another powwow,” says Cecil Mendowegan, rounding area, so that was nice. And that doesn’t have a high rate of sui- Terry Fox memorial near Thunder Bay healing walk next year. one of the Healing Walk organizers they blocked off the bridge for us to do cides, but we always feel for other com- on the sixth day. “We’re hoping another First Nation from Ginoogaming. “We did quite a that. They stopped traffic both ways, so munities who are going through that,” “The walk was amazing — I learned community steps in next year and does few healing songs along the way. We that was awesome.” Desmoulin says. “So yesterday (day a lot, I overcame a lot,” says Gavin the same thing,” Thomas says. did a smudging ceremony every morn- Judy Desmoulin, a Healing Walk five), when we walked through the Eveleigh, a Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Indigenous youth preparing for NAIG 2017 Rick Garrick Goodman says the 3K cross-country “We’ve been accepting donations to race time, but it’s also just doing Wawatay News race is the first event he will be partici- from extended family up in Pikangi- what you love,” Anderson-Morriseau pating in. It is scheduled at the Univer- kum and all over,” Suggashie says. says. Two First Nation runners who train sity of Toronto Scarborough on July 17. “Even the kids at school are supportive Anderson-Morriseau says her family on Mt. McKay in Fort William are look- “I’m just going to take care of that too.” and friends have been “very support- ing forward to competing at the North right away,” Goodman says. “And the Fort William’s Kyra Anderson-Mor- ive” of her trip to NAIG. American Indigenous Games (NAIG) rest is all track.” riseau is looking forward to compet- “They’ve been supporting me with 2017 in Toronto. The track races and other Athletics ing in the 100, 200 and 300-metre and every step of the way,” Anderson-Mor- “Last year I went to the Aboriginal events are scheduled from July 19-21 400-metre relay track races at NAIG. riseau says. “Everyone has been doing Summer Games,” says Sandy Lake’s at the York Lions Stadium at York Uni- She qualified for the ATO Athletics U16 everything they can to make sure I get Cory Goodman, who is running in the versity. NAIG is being held from July team at an AWSCO tryout in Thunder there with what I need and everything 1,200 and 2,000-metre track and 3K 16-23 at about 16 venues across the Bay. extra.” cross-country races. “I had fun meet- Toronto area. “It’s very exciting — I’ve never been The NAIG opening ceremony kicks ing new people. I had a great time out Cheryl Suggashie, Goodman’s able to do something this big,” Ander- off at 7:30 p.m. on July 16 with a star- there and hopefully I get to meet more mother, says he also does some longer son-Morriseau says. “I’ve always loved studded lineup of musicians, dramatic people from all over North America (at training runs with his father on Mt. running.” performances and presentations at the NAIG).” McKay and at Kakebeka Falls. Anderson-Morriseau trains by doing Aviva Centre. Goodman qualified for the Aborigi- “He had a hard time at first, but I some runs as well as full-pace runs for NAIG will also feature two week- nal Team Ontario (ATO) Athletics U16 think he has more endurance now,” the three distances she will be compet- long cultural festivals, which will be team at an Aboriginal Sport and Well- submitted photo Suggashie says. ing in. open to the public to showcase a vari- ness Council of Ontario (AWSCO) try- Sandy Lake runner Cory Goodman will Suggashie looks forward to Good- “And we have Mt. McKay, and I run ety of Indigenous artists, traditional out in Thunder Bay. be competing in the 1,200 and 2,000- man’s upcoming races at NAIG. up and down the hill,” Anderson-Mor- learning, vendors, food, cultural per- “It was kind of nervous for me — (I metre track and 3K cross-country races “I’m pretty proud of him, happy that riseau says. “Your first steps (in short formances and nightly entertainment. was) worried that I wasn’t going to at the North American Indigenous he has opportunities like this now,” distance) are supposed to be fast, so More than 5,000 athletes from all make it,” Goodman says. “But I made Games (NAIG) 2017 in Toronto. Suggashie says. “They never had that running up Mt. McKay gives me that 13 provinces and territories in Canada it.” when I was a teenager.” extra push that I need.” and up to 13 regions from the United Goodman began running in January Suggashie adds that Goodman’s Anderson-Morriseau enjoys the States are expected to compete at 2016 after moving to Thunder Bay the “I just run two kilometres a day, family and friends have been “very training aspect of running. NAIG 2017. previous summer. almost every day,” Goodman says. supportive” of his trip to NAIG. “It not only helps you when it comes SERVING NORTHERN ONTARIO & BEYOND Passenger Charter Cargo 2 Wawatay News JULY 15, 2017 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin everyone working together to raise our children Sports We are recruiting Youth Representatives Treaty Three wrestler seeks Are you passionate about helping families and children? Input from youth and young adults/parents is needed. In accordance with Tikinagan’s bylaws, the Board of Directors will appoint two Youth Representatives, one male and one female, to work with the Board. to slam the competition Youth Representatives will serve a two-year term.