THUNDER BAY – Wynona Gagnon is confident the message of hope being presented this weekend at Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s three-day Youth Gathering will spread throughout Ontario’s troubled north.
Gagnon, a youth council member with the Oshkaatisak Council, said the 140 or so in attendance represent thousands of youth across NAN’s 49 communities and have an opportunity to help show a path to a prosperous future, not one that ends in poverty or suicide.
“We think it will be like a rainfall effect, where it hits one person and that person shares the story with another person and that person shares it and so and so forth,” Gagnon said.
“Even though we only have 137 people – which is a lot of people – here at the gathering, it’s going to hit a wide spread of people and not only just youth, but it’s going to hit the older populations, the elders and even some of the children.”
Rather than looking at the negatives plaguing Indigenous communities, organizers like Gagnon say they intend to use the weekend as a chance to focus on the positives, to help attendees find their own inner strengths and build on them.
Gagnon said the thing that stands out most to her is the resiliency of the youth taking part in the gathering and living in NAN communities across Ontario.
“(Despite) all these negative things that keep happening, they’re still able to push through. They’re still able to really be the best versions of themselves that they can be. Although it’s verith high spirits, laughing, talking about things and really enjoying each other’s company,” Gagnon said.
Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum was one of several leaders on hand for Day 1 of the gathering, and said the NAN executive has made it a priority to resurrect the event and host others to help Indigenous youth avoid the struggles that have led to a suicide epidemic across the North, and instead foster belief in a better future.
“As you know, within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory we have the highest rate of suicide, so we need to promote these types of gatherings,” Achneepineskum said. “That was the main thing, to ensure that our young people have an opportunity to come together and to have an opportunity to network and to have their voice heard.”
Breakout sessions include finding your path, hand drum making, walking with our sisters, music as medicine and self care. Entertainment, dog sledding and a closing bonfire are also on the agenda, which wraps up on Sunday.
