As I sit in my bed at the nursing station in Kashechewan, ON we’re waiting to go to the local talent show being hosted at 8pm. It’s only 7pm and once again I am completely beat. My smiling muscles hurt!
We spent the day in the community of Attawapiskat, ON. From the minute we woke up until just now, I’ve been on the go. After a night at the Kataquapit Inn, Freida and I along with our three travelling partners from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs were picked up by Joseph, Ruby and Celine and carted around the community. A much bigger community than Weenusk, Kashechewan has approximately 2000 people. Driving around what hits me is the amount of kids walking the streets. Houses are pre-fabricated and are order into the community based on need, but according to our driver there are never enough houses and people are put on waiting lists. Some houses have as many as 30 people living in them and they certainly aren’t that big.
We met with the school and community leaders explaining what Jumpstart was all about. Explaining that Jumpstart wants to help them help their youth participate in sports and recreation. We got to show them the activity kits that will be delivered to their community as well as hand off the 12 sets of hockey gear that Canadian Tire vendors have donated. Christmas in November! Stella, the local youth wellness worker who has been funded by Canadian Tire Jumpstart was all smiles as she will be tasked with ensuring the equipment gets used as well as figuring out what else is needed in the community.
From the meeting we went to lunch where we were treated with a local specialty of moose stew and bannock that one of the local women had cooked for us. As we ate, we chatted with local teachers as they explained how their community worked and what was most needed to curb the crime rate amongst their youth and how to engage them in physical activity. Only a couple teachers were of Cree decent, most were southerners of all different cultural backgrounds lured up to Attawapiskat by the peaceful way of life and all seemed to have fallen in love with the land and its people.
From lunch, we headed on a tour of the community including a stop at the local arena where DeBeers was hosting a tradeshow about their diamond mine situated a couple hours away that employs some of the local people. The indoor arena looked alright from the outside; however, in conversations with some locals, the arena is rarely open. The intention is to open the rink in September, however, there are always delays, whether the ice system is broken or the lights are out or something else, it seems that there is just never enough money to get all the repairs done and open the rink so it goes un-used. The ice pad sits lonely waiting for kids. Yet all the kids in the community seem to love hockey. They all tell me stories about their hockey exploits and seem to be bubbling over with anticipation of the rink opening. They ask me if I know when it will open and all I can say is, “I hope soon.”
We headed back over to the high school where I had no idea what to expect. As we set up, the gymnasium started to fill. Just like high school kids anywhere I could see the cliques forming, the kids looking at me with mistrust and wondering who this “white woman” was coming to their school. As I began my speech there were mumblings, kids whispering to each other and parkas loudly shifting. But suddenly the gym stopped as I pulled out my Olympic Gold Medal. The kids never took their eyes off the medal and gradually the whispers turned to silence. The gym door was open and as I continued my speech more and more people from the community started to pile in the gym. The paramedics, the nurses and the police officers lined the walls. A fully dressed firefighter even entered the gym. The elementary school kids started to filter over. I guess like any small town word travels fast. By the end of the my speech the gym was packed!
The second portion of the presentation included a ball hockey game. We had decided on teachers versus students. As I ran around the gym I felt like a kid again. I forgot about the fact that I didn’t know a soul or really speak the same language but through sport was able to participate in the community. Smiles and laughter were contagious and despite my team of teachers getting booed every time we put the ball in the net, I had a great time. About mid way through the game I looked around and realized there were no girls playing. We can’t have that! Immediately, I suggested next goal wins so that we could start an all-girls game. As I picked girls from the crowd to come play, they were shy, they didn’t seem to want to be part of the game. But as soon as the ball dropped, the girls forgot about their inhibitions and just started to play. It was so amazing to see.
I had to leave the game just as it got into the second frame as we had to catch a flight bound for our next community. I was sad to leave, but the smiles on the kids faces will last in my memory forever. Not only did we leave equipment behind, I think we left something much better; hope.
...Sami
