.JPG;w=960)
THUNDER BAY – What Caitlin Wood heard about La Loche, Sask. in the aftermath of a shooting spree that left four people dead was different than how the community was described by her brother.
“He spoke about it with a lot of fondness. He spoke about how strong the community was,” she said. “He loved the exposure of the outdoors and the access to the outdoors up there and loved learning from people. He was taken under a few people’s wing to learn how to fish and how to hunt and do those things.”
Her brother – Adam Wood – was a teacher at Dene High School after graduating from Lakehead University and spending a number of years living in Thunder Bay. The 35-year-old, along with a 21-year-old teacher's aide were killed and seven others were injured when the 17-year-old gunman opened fire in the school after fatally shooting two brothers at a home in the community.
Wood said the ensuing media coverage largely focused on negative aspects of the community, which she believed was a disservice to the people living in the community.
“What we saw in the media was really in conflict with what he shared with us about the community,” she said.
“We knew from the beginning it wasn’t the full story and I think that’s probably why I was aware of how the telling was just one perspective and not reflective of the whole community.”
That inspired Wood to dedicate her Master’s research to giving the youth of La Loche an opportunity to share their voices.
Her project, which she presented to an audience of more than 50 people at Lakehead University on Wednesday night, gave participants the ability to take photographs to demonstrate what their life is like, what is good about their lives, what makes them strong, what needs to change and what childhood should look like.
“It was beautiful. I was hoping for those positive stories and that’s what I received,” Wood said. “It really demonstrated the expertise these youth have, the knowledge they have about their community, their own needs and the ways to move forward.”
In addition to forming the basis of her research project, the photos were compiled into books which were distributed throughout La Loche.
Jazz Moise, who was in Thunder Bay for the presentation, was one of the 11 youth between the ages of 13 and 19 who participated.
“I was really happy having her book being published and having our photos being in it,” Moise said. “She’s showing our perspectives on what life is like in La Loche. It gives everyone a chance to feel happy and having that acknowledgment is really good. We feel special.”
Moise said seeing and reading the media coverage was difficult and there were times he wanted to contact outlets in hopes of correcting their accounts.
“I hope they learn that it’s not a bad place. It’s much more than what people say it is on media. Once you get there, we’re a really welcoming place,” Moise said. “It’s like home for anyone. Most of the new teachers who have come here love it here.”
