Worth It

By Glen Asham

 

On November 7^th we attended a Sacred Water Pipe Ceremony at the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council Governance Centre in Fort Qu'Appelle.

 

 

The walk there was cold but worth it in the end.

 

 

The group of people that ran it was nice.

 

 

The Pipe ceremony was pretty cool. I appreciated them inviting us to attend.

Note. This picture was taken before the Pipe Ceremony began out of respect for the ceremony.

 

 

Then we got soup and bannock. It was lit.

 

 

 

The poem that was made from my heart and that will bring a tear to your eye because it’s the truth

by Michael Starr-Desnomie

When I was going to class to see what my teacher had planned I was walking to the junior computer lab. Mrs. Koops introduced me to a teacher who I had never met before in the school. Her name was Ms. Thomson (without a p). She looked new, but everyone is welcomed to Bert Fox.

I shook her hand and smiled, talked about our class and how I’m showing leadership, but mostly Mrs. Koops was saying great stuff about me that made me happy to hear. My teacher brought up my poem that I made on Orange Shirt Day and how it went when I was reading my poem. I choked up but stood my ground and Mrs. Koops tried to come take over for me, but it was my poem and I was going to read it all because it had my name on top so I said to my teacher, I’m reading all of it, but when I teared up at some points, she tried to come take over, but I just needed a second to try calm down and breath then I finished reading it all.

Before Ms. Thomson read my poem she asked me what my poem was called. I said, “Doing the Blanket Exercise on the Land Where All My People Lived.” When she was done reading it I looked at her and I could see her in tears, seeing tears that were rolling down her face. She said it’s beautiful and so true. I told her I didn’t use my mind, I wrote that from heart. She told me you do have a big heart. She was still tearing up so I hugged her, rubbed her back and comforted her, then after I was done hugging her she held my hand and told me, you are so gifted and explained to me that her mom went through the same thing, she went through residential schools but her mom never talks about it.

 

 

 

 

I kept on seeing tears rolling down her face. I wanted to give her a hug to make her feel much better. She said the nicest things to me that I will never forget. I will use those kind words that she said to me in my future and as a leader. I explained to her how I felt and what I thought about when I first did the blanket exercise. I explained to her that we all should be treated equally; we are all the same. It doesn’t matter about your color or what tribe you’re from, even how your culture is, we are all the same on the inside. We all bleed the same color, have the same feelings, we are all the same but we live differently. I give every single person Much Love & Respect. We are all family in my eyes. I’m always here for my family when they’re down so I can help them back up on their feet.

I told Ms. Thomson what my mom always said to me, become a leader not a follower or my little saying, throw me to the wolves and I will return the pack leader. It was amazing hearing all of my teachers say wonderful things about me, always making me smile and happy about myself, making me stay positive. When we were talking about what they think about my poem and I told Ms. Thomson that I went to the Saskatchewan School Board Association to read my poem that went viral across the world that I’m very proud of.

Miss Bev, Michael, Mrs. Koops and Ms. Thomson

One of my favorite teachers came by, Miss Bev. I gave her a hug as well. She’s the teacher that always gave me fudge when I went to all of my classes, and if I was good, but sometimes she forgot to make some for me, when I kept on going to class and being good, but I said to her I think I’m too sweet already, then Miss Bev smiled and gave me a hug and told me I am sweet. All of those teachers that I was talking to – Ms. Thomson, Miss Bev, Mrs. Koops -- made my day and I just felt great all day, well I always do. All of the teachers in Bert Fox are very proud of me and they supported me all the way. With their support they made me who I am and my mom as well, always believed in me and always there for me, to pick me back up, that’s what mother bears do, keep their cubs safe and believe in what they can become, a big strong leader. I’m very proud of myself on becoming a great leader, a voice for my people.

A Real Nice Talking Circle

by Kaleya McNab

 

This is the day when my classmates and I went to Mr. Mohan’s Native Studies 10 class to do the Kairos Blanket Exercise. His class was very good and listened. They all participated in the KBE, but some of them were shy to read their scrolls, but they still read. I was even shy to read the European parts, even though I did the KBE a bunch of times. I can get shy to read because I don’t want to misread the script or the scrolls. The KBE has a lot of information about the 60’s scoop and residential schools and also talks about how the Europeans brought diseases and smallpox that killed thousands of people and how the Europeans took over land. It is kind of harsh to read the European parts. We even have some people cry while trying to read their scrolls because of how harsh it is. When I first did the KBE I was the narrator with one of my classmates a couple times then I started doing the European parts. We all take turns doing the KBE. After the end of KBE we do a talking circle; we can say whatever comes to our minds; it can be anything, then after we are done doing a talking circle we all shake hands and we say thank you for inviting us and having us.

He's What You Call a Modern Day Hero

by Taish Desnomie

 

Mr. O'Soup and I talking about bullying issues.

 

He's what you call a modern day hero, a role model. He's probably my top role model over Rambo any day. He taught me a lot today. This I didn't know, he came from nothing, to being every kids' hero. We need more people like him. He taught me to follow my dreams, never give up, and to look forward.

Meeting Corey O'Soup, Saskatchewan's Advocate for Children and Youth, was a great experience because we are both in the same work. It gave me a lot of ideas. It gave me hope just to know that there is always a way to get past some of the problems in life.

A few weeks back, I wrote a letter with my classmates to Fort Qu'Appelle Elementary Community School and my class and I delivered it directly to the principal. We showed Ms. Young-Lee, our principal, the letter before we took it over. She had some suggestions and we made edits. Here's what the beginning of the letter said:

"We, the class of oski-pimohtahtamwak otayisīniwiwaw, have been invited to present workshops throughout southern Saskatchewan, most often sharing the Kairos Blanket Exercise. We are developing our leadership potential and our response skills. Because we have lived through many difficult situations ourselves, we want to support students who are dealing with difficult life situations including bullying, racism, suicide, and poverty."

We met with three more people from the elementary school to make some plans, Mrs. Lowe, Miss Tami, and Mrs. Brooks (the new principal). We went for lunch a few times, played some soccer once, and Michael attended one after school program so far. We also prepared a PowerPoint to tell people who we are, and so far we've gone to over half of the classrooms. Every classroom visit takes about twenty minutes because we are talking and the kids are asking questions.

Going to the elementary school is pretty fun; you get to meet some of the new generation of kids. When you're really sitting there talking to them, they really have a chance to open up with their feelings and laugh. It's really cool. You don't get to see that every day. I think it's really great that they all get a chance to look up to older kids and have a voice.

 

Introducing ourselves in an elementary classroom

Meeting Corey was a great experience for me and my classmates. It was really great because he gave me and my classmates lots of insight on what the world is really like today, about youth and women, and people going missing. He really opened up our eyes. He showed us that we could change our own communities and others around us. This kind of work that I'm doing right now, I'm really committed to doing this -- and without my classmates, I wouldn't be doing any of this, and I wouldn't have the help. My respect and everything I do all goes to them because they're my backbone.

 

Being goofy

Saskatchewan's Advocate for Children and Youth Visits oski-pimohtahtamwak otayisīniwiwaw

 

Kaleya McNabb, Lacey Missens, Taish Desnomie, Mr. Corey O'Soup, Malynda Starr-Desnomie, Ms. Tami Janz-Sargees

 

Raimey Pasqua and Michael Starr-Desnomie

 

Mrs. Koops: What was most memorable about meeting Mr. O’Soup?

Michael: He brought some awesome cinnamon rolls. While I was listening to him and taking pictures, he gave me a couple of ideas that I want to do next with this little program. Try to join him as well, try to help kids feel more safe and more welcome. All kids need to go home safely, and they all need to be treated the same as they would be treated by family, loving one another, respecting one another, always being there for them. Bullying is not the way. When people are bullied it pushes them to the limits, even being suicidal. Even the book that he gave us has lots of information about we could do, what we could take action for. I like what he said, we could help him with this work. People will listen to younger people, we’re getting out there in the world. We need to let everybody know about this.

Michael enjoying the best cinnamon rolls ever.

Malynda: He shared with us that when an older person speaks, you hear what they say, but when a younger person speaks, we reflect on it more because we know what they mean. When you get someone your own age, you know they’ll understand. The older generation doesn’t really have the same problems as us.

Mr. O'Soup speaking to us in the classroom.

 

Taish: I think that each kid, each youth, teenager, pre-teen, kindergartener, should just get a piece of paper and write down what they’re feeling, where they are in their lives, where they are coming from, to reach out and talk to somebody, could be anybody, somebody close, mom, dad, teacher, or a friend, and try and find that help to overcome their fears of whatever’s bothering them, to find that courage inside of themselves to know that they’re not alone.

Taish exchanging ideas with Mr. O'Soup.

Mrs. Koops: What was inspiring about our meeting with Mr. O’Soup?

Michael: Everything. Everything that he said. As young leaders like us, we could do something about it because we’re family.

Discussions after we'd finished lunch.

 

Malynda: The whole time he was talking I was inspired and moved by what he was saying. That guy’s going to do some awesome things.

Malynda listening to every word.

 

Mrs. Koops: What are you taking away in your heart, as a youth, after the meeting?

Malynda: When he was talking about social work, I really want to go into social work after high school, he’s trying so hard to make the whole system better and not so twisted as it is right now. With him having the platform that he has, he can really make change in those areas so that makes me feel better and more confident in wanting to pursue Social Work.

Mr. O'Soup sharing his story with us in the classroom.

 

Mrs. Koops: What does it mean to you that he is the first Indigenous Child Advocate in Saskatchewan?

Malynda: Hearing his life story. How humble he is, and just overall how great of a human being he is, making history. I feel so much more uplifted as an Aboriginal person because I see what he’s trying so hard to do. I’m really excited to see where he’ll take us and all the positive affects he’ll have on this province and country. We shouldn’t be restricted that we can only get a certain level of job. He is raising the bar for us, like, we can do it.

Mr. O'Soup gave us all copies of the newly released

Shhh... LISTEN!! We have something to say! Youth Voices from the North

 

Taish said, "Will you sign mine."

 

Everyone else said, "I want mine signed, too."

 

Mr. O'Soup wrote, "Michael, where's my poem?"

Michael ran home and brought back a copy of his poem and gave it to Mr. O'Soup.

 

 

 

 

On Becoming Powerful Speakers

On Becoming Powerful Speakers
by Calen Whiteman

The first day of class I said to Mrs. Koops, “I’m going to be the narrator.” I was talking about the Kairos Blanket Exercise and told her how I was interested in being a leader for other schools and teaching them how this Blanket Exercise works and what it’s about. I told Mrs. Koops that I could be the narrator because I thought I could take this challenge. I could read it; I could nail it. Nobody else spoke up right away, so I decided I would because I’m not shy in front of crowds. I knew the name of the Kairos Blanket Exercise, but I didn’t know what it was about or what it said. My new leadership depended on me understanding my own history, taking some risks, building relationships, and being generous.

My first day back we had a talking circle as a class and Mrs. Koops explained to us how the KBE worked and we had a practice. It meant a lot to me because it was about my culture and how things have been happening so long ago to Indigenous peoples, how our land was being taken from us by the Europeans, the land being bought and sold, over 1000 Indigenous woman going missing and today the number is much higher (Kairos Canada, 2015). It speaks to me because I have had ancestors who have been through these things. My grandpa was a survivor at the Residential School in Lebret. I was told some crazy, scary stories about him being in there. I would explain more but they aren’t my stories to hand out and I don’t like speaking about them to others. I have had more family going through this, but I’ve never heard their stories. It’s important for Canadians to hear about this story; they’re not going to hear enough about it on the news, on YouTube; that’s why I want to take part in being a narrator. It’s a big risk but it’s worth it because it’s a topic that gets dropped. Residential School was a big thing. The apology is not enough. First Nations are still living on poor reserves.

My first time I taught students from the University of Regina they were in their 3^rd and 4^th year in becoming a teacher. We were at the Treaty 4 Gathering. At first I was nervous, but then I pulled it together and realized that no one is going to learn if they’re not being taught. At the end of our first session at Treaty 4 grounds we all sat in a circle and had everyone say something about their experience doing the KBE; a lot of their responses had me shocked because some of them didn’t know about the land that has been taken from Indigenous peoples or the diseases that were brought over to the northern part of Turtle Island. They didn’t know how residential schools affected them and what has happen to people that were in those schools. It’s a heartbreaking subject for me. Most of these U of R students were woman and the part in the exercise on Indigenous woman going missing had some of them looking shocked.

My second time leading the KBE as the narrator and I think I did a good job. They were younger kids, grade 5 and 6. There were about 3 kids that I helped read their scripts and it was great because I was working on my relationship skills while doing this with the little kids. Teaching them at a young age is good to me because they could tell others about it and we can teach more people. It’s an interesting topic when you take the time to realize what happened to Indigenous peoples and how the Europeans broke their promises and Treaties (Kairos Canada, 2015).

Since then, I’ve had opportunity to build relationships with Sacred Heart High School’s teachers, Notre Dame students and teachers, and some other schools that came to the Treaty 4 grounds and participated. It helped me get my voice and to not be shy. It teaches me how to be a leader for others and show them the exercise. One more thing that catches my attention is that we get to teach it to anyone who invites us and wants us to. I’m willing to go around and do this with other schools and possibly bigger places and towns. This is important to me because it is part of my shared history; this happened to my kin. I’ve had family go through it, my grandpa, my kokum, some aunties and uncles were a couple years short of going to residential school before it got shut down. Even thinking of the fact that they could have been in there still hurts me. I want people to know what happened because to some of us it’s really emotional because we had family go through it and we hear about the things that happened to them. I want to bring it up because it’s something people shouldn’t forget about. It feels like people have forgotten because it’s not a big topic anymore. For me it is a big topic because it still impacts me.

I want to make my voice, everybody’s voice, the voices that have been forgotten, the voices that have been through those struggles that have never been heard, I want them all remembered. Especially for the lives and the voices of my ancestors who had to live the hard way when I have it easy in a way. I don’t have to go to Residential Schools. I’m not taken away from my family. I’m not forced out of my culture, to not be traditional. I can live a free and happy life, but why couldn’t they? I want this exercise to help everyone understand that my people have been suffering from these things and till this day still are; it was a dark time back in the day for Indigenous people and it’s a dark subject for the heirs of the family’s and kids that participated in this awful time. So my job in this Kairos Blanket Exercise is to get the message out to everyone that I can be of service to with my class and teacher. I’m hoping I and my friends can get more and more invites from other schools to come show them how the KBE works. We have done it 14 times now and by the time this school year is over I think that we can get at least 40 or more opportunities as we are still working and building on becoming powerful speakers.

My Buddy Taish is Somebody to Go To

by Austin (Boss) Elliott

We are going to the elementary school tomorrow to introduce ourselves, creating what we’re calling Oski-Generation. Hopefully what we do in the elementary school goes as planned, and I hope that everybody participates in what we’re doing as a class.

My buddy Taish is second-guessing himself about it because nobody was paying attention (when we were planning). He wants this to work for the benefit of our class. If this goes as planned then we’ll achieve something from this, either if it’s happiness or being a good leader to our young youth.

If we can be good leaders the youth will learn how to be respectful and encourage others, and to treat people how they would want to be treated. It’s always good to show our youth that anything can happen when they show respect; it will take them places.

As a fellow friend of Taish Desnomie, he inspired me to eat right and workout. He is a great leader to look up to. He shows care to people who are in need, and he never gives up on you. If there is a problem, my buddy Taish is somebody to go to.