We departed Timmins early this morning. Five of us packed our huge bags into a six seat charter plane. As we walked out on the tarmac light was just started to illuminate the surroundings. We didn’t really see much of Timmins, but we’ll be back on Friday. The communities that we’re visiting only have schools up to grade 8, so children that decided to go to high school have to move away from their isolated reserves, from their families and bravely try to make a life in Timmins, almost an hour flight from their home community. I can’t wait until Friday when we get to meet all the kids from the four communities that are now attending school in Timmins. I’m not sure I could have left home at the age of thirteen, but many of these kids have extended families they can lean on for support.
As our small plane flew over the land enroute to a gas stop in Moosenee I chatted with my travel mates from the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs about what to expect in Weenusk. Hanita, Ayn and Chelsea had lots of background on Weenusk and told me how the community had flooded twenty years ago for the umpteenth time and was ultimately moved further down the coast away from the mouth of the river. Formally called Peawanuk and now renamed Weenusk, it’s unimaginable, that this entire community was uprooted and rebuilt miles down the river. Because of this, most of the buildings and homes are very modern and very recently built.
The community of Weenusk impressed me so much. Everyone seemed so warm and welcoming as well as outgoing and funny. A very well educated community, the elders were very involved with the daily activities of their youth. The community is still very traditional, teaching their young people to hunt and fish off the land and I could see that the kids at the school seemed to be very happy. They only have an elementary school up to grade eight in Weenusk. After that if the kids decide to continue their schooling they have to travel down and live in Timmins to attend high school. I chatted with many grade eights very nervous about leaving home, unsure if they could make it through without missing home too much.
Ivan was our tour guide for the day and he ensured that we saw all that was good in his community. He was amazing even taking us down to the Winusk river to see the incredible rapids where the fish are in abundance.
I visited the elementary school and helped distribute equipment to the kids including hockey sticks, gloves and helmets. The kids, along with Ayn, Chelsea and Hanita helped me take everything out of the packaging as the kids faces started to glow. The excitement was palpable as the kids tried on all their new gear and suddenly as makeshift ball hockey game broke out. Unfortunately, the gymnasium was the was the size of a classroom so as 50 kids tried to play hockey in the neutral zone, I at least was thankful that the vendors provided helmets!
Ivan always had just one more stop for us. From the school we took a trip to his mom’s house, to see his teepee in the backyard and his so called, “Love Shak”. The teepees are used for smoking meet, usually Caribou and Moose, the “Love Shak” I didn’t bother asking what that was used for! From there we went across the street to visit the town’s Zamboni. How they ever got a Zamboni here I’ll never know, but for some reason it was parked, broken down on the front of the neighbor’s lawn. Ivan told us how he floods the local outdoor rink with a long hose, but unfortunately, the boards for the rink are so decrepit they had to take the rink down last year, leaving the kids with no place to play. He promised us he was personally going to ensure the boards were fixed and that the Zamboni was repaired to that the kids could use all the gear we just left the community.
One more stop to listen to a “story teller”. His name was Louis Bird and he was an elder in the community. His smile was infectious, his language impeccable and his stories amazing. As he explained legends and stories about his people, my imagination was activated like never before. I never wanted his stories to end, however, we were already late for the plane. As Ivan drove us to the plane that was parked beside a snowplow, parked beside a truck in the middle of a field, a day felt like a lifetime. The incredible people I met, from the teachers, the community workers, our host Ivan to all the smiling faces on the children, I really have the feeling that this town is on the right track. The equipment will get well used, their dreams will be nurtured and the community will continue to grow stronger together.
Sami Jo
