THUNDER BAY – Jenn Sylvester says she loves the fact her daughter Alora’s child-care centre is teaching the three-year-old about her Indigenous background.
It’s one of the reasons she chose the Waabogonee EarlyON Child and Family Centre, a program provided by the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre and housed inside Vance Chapman Public School.
“I feel like it’s extremely important for the youth of today to be exposed to the beauty of the culture,” Sylvester said on Monday at a grand opening ceremony held at the centre.
“I’ve been bringing her since the day she was born and you can just tell that it’s just in her and I’m so proud of her. She loves her culture, and that’s why we do it.”
The site provides free, culturally inspired programming aimed at helping families, caregivers and children from birth through their sixth birthday.
Charlene Baglien, executive director of the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, said the facility has been designed to draw upon family values and to create a welcoming environment for all who use it.
It’s a chance to share and support one another and bring families together.
“We can learn about our Indigenous ways, share our culture. The centre will be a learning centre. It will be a community. It will represent families,” Baglien said.
Learning about their shared past is extremely important, especially for young children.
“You need to understand your culture, know your background, know your roots and know where you come from to be able to express yourself in a healthy way. Children need an opportunity to learn about themselves and if we, as parents and caregivers, aunties and uncles, can share that with them, they have a much better understanding of who they are and can grow as a child and a youth and flourish when they become adults,” Baglien said.
The centre was designed to engage parents and caregivers in conversation while learning about child development, nutrition and play, the centre provides access to elders and a strong connection to the land, taught through traditional songs, crafts, foods and historical perspectives.
“There are animals in here, there are furs, water – everything that we need.”
For more information, visit www.tbifc.ca or phone 807-345-5840.
