Here for You

Bert Fox Koops’ Family

Hey Guys,

It is Sunday evening, and I am sitting here thinking about you.  You have impacted so many lives, that it’s very difficult to grasp the impact that you have actually had here.  For a small group of young men and women from Reserves around Fort Qu’Appelle, you rocked this place.  There is no hiding where you come from, your background, your stories, your reality.  You came here with open minds and hearts, but what you brought to the table was something no one could have planned or predicted.

As a team, you were given a fairly comfortable schedule, which included, classroom visits, Blanket Exercises, and Treaty Walks.  The classroom visits were good, but the Blanket Exercises were amazing, beyond any expectation anyone had.   You did eight, you had to double up on three of the days.  How amazing is that!  The impact from those sessions was very telling in the responses of the participants and people passing by.

I wanted you guys to be here more than you will ever know.  Our country is hurting, our world is hurting, and we need young people like you to lead us in a direction of healing.  There were a few of you with voices when you arrived, but when you left here, each and every one of you had a voice.  I believe in each and every one of you, that now you have been given the opportunity to step up and be a leader in your community and beyond.  You can make a difference, each and every one of you.

I love you, and will always be here for you.

Deb Negraiff

Atamiskakewak National Gathering 2018 Education Chair
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Family at Atamiskakewak

Family at Atamiskakewak by Austen (Boss) Elliott

In our time in Moose Jaw we became closer together as a family and as brothers and sisters. We all have something in common that make us family. We all have stories that we can all relate to. In Moose Jaw we met so many great people with very big hearts. I’m very grateful to have met so many wonderful people and so many wonderful kids. Everyone we met had such a wonderful heart, and how they’re able to share their beautiful stories with us. This is Austin Elliott part of oskipimohtamwak otayisiniwiwaw I’m very grateful to be a part of the National Gathering.

 

Imagine Canada

Imagine Canada

by Taish Desnomie

Imagine a Canada were people can be all they can be without having to over think their lifestyles and trying to figure out who they are.

 

Imagine a Canada without suicide where kids can be kids and not have to worry.  We would not have to go to another funeral in sorrow and heart break. 

 

Imagine a Canada without gangs then we wouldn’t have to fight each other over who controls north, east, south, west, none of that would matter.

 

Imagine a Canada without racism where we could all be one without having somebody on the media telling each other they’re not good enough to do this or good enough to do that. Where our skin color doesn’t define who we are but our respect for one another does.

 

Imagine a Canada where young indigenous women can walk down the street at night without having to look over their shoulders in fear, just imagine that for a second and think to yourself what would Canada be like.

 

Imagine if Canada could be an actual place of peace and refuge for new comers. Not only to come here and be put through the same prosecution they have already been through.

 

Imagine if Canada never had an Indian Act and we never had to be on reserves, killing each other, poisoning our sprits with alcohol and drugs then we could be a rich, glowing culture again

 

Just imagine if Canada could help its homeless veterans; then they would have a better time of dealing with their problems fitting in to society not only wondering why they deserve this.

 

Imagine a Canada without the things called 60s scoop, residential schools and intergenerational trauma because of things like racism towards one another, stereo types for each of us. Imagine a Canada like that.

 

Imagine a Canada where everyone’s voice can be heard.

I Found My Voice

I Found My Voice by Lacey Missens

This week we went to Atamiskakewak National Gathering. We had big opportunities the whole week and mine was speaking in front of crowds and “Finding My Voice”. I facilitated a Blanket Exercise. It wasn’t a big crowd but it was a step into something for me, and it meant something to me, to go and speak to people and facilitate the KBE.

At the end of the week we went to a banquet. My class and I were sitting near the front and Kallie and Chris gave everyone an opportunity to go and speak. My class mates started going one by one. My friend spoke and told me to go up; I didn’t really have a choice. I walked up towards the microphone.

And this is what I said. “I’d like to thank Mrs Koops for this and making this class, and my class (I pointed at them), I’m happy to be a part of their lives. I wrote a blog a few months ago about finding my voice and this is the time, I found my voice.”

Thank you.