Entry 1: Opening Weekend - 2024 May 24-26
It was May 24th, 2024, and the trip south began like it usually does from Moose Factory after break-up season, with a boat taxi to the mainland, Moosonee. After finding out in March that I, along with 11 other youth, have been selected to be the first participants in the first Neemamo Mishkanan (We Canoe Together) program, we were going to Cochrane, ON, for ‘Opening Weekend’. This was an opportunity to not only meet our peers and facilitators that would be on the canoe trip in August, but also to spend time with our Elders who would share stories about the ‘old ways’, an opportunity to participate in a sweat ceremony, eat amazing food, and learn about the initiatives happening in our homelands that combine ‘scientific’ research with ‘traditional’ views.
I walked to the train station with Rae and Syracuse and after getting comfortable on the Polar Bear Express, Rae ensured the other youth travelling south to Cochrane were accounted for. A few of us were travelling from Kapuskasing, and even as far as Barrie to attend Opening Weekend. The 5-hour train ride was boring like every other time I’ve taken the train. The scenery is beautiful, especially in the summertime but it’s so routine now that I almost dread taking the train. However, this was the first time Wi-Fi was installed on the train, so instead of thinking ‘I wonder who is messaging me right now’ for 5 hours, I could just scroll on social media. Reflecting on it now, adding the Wi-Fi to the train removed something I didn’t know I enjoyed about the ride, I’m not sure what it is, but maybe others know that feeling too.
After arriving in Cochrane, we loaded our bags into Kelsie’s truck then made our way across the street to the Best Western Hotel. Kelsie was the Environmental & Protection Youth Engagement Intern for the Moose Cree First Nation Resource Protection department; I remember her being very shy but happy to help with anything. In the lobby of the hotel, I got to meet Claire Farrell, the Lead Programmer for WCS and the Learning from Lake Sturgeon Project, who was informing us about the itinerary and rules. She was a familiar face, as I met her briefly at the Gathering of our People’s (GOOP) festival last year. That’s when Arthur (ahoo) walked in as well, who would be my tent-mate, our drummer and singer, and later, someone I would call my good friend.
In the morning, we shuttled to the Cultural Grounds, about 10 minutes north of Cochrane, then gathered in the Tipi. This is when everyone, the youth and facilitators, got to formally introduce themselves, participate in a smudge ceremony, and enjoy coffee or cedar tea. Other than doing my part in the circle, which was sharing about myself to the group, I don’t remember talking much to others. I’m very shy in nature, but I enjoyed being surrounded by everyone and hearing their stories. It was a very kick-back and relaxing time. We also got to spend time with our Elders, Priscilla, Elizabeth, Miranda, and Bob, who shared stories about the past, describing a time that seemed like centuries ago. It sounded so simple, yet so much work went into just surviving. That is what I love about myself, the culture and history that I descend from, which I am so proud to be, Indigenous. I truly believe ‘resilient’ isn’t just some word to describe our people, instead it’s a trait within our people, and the proof was in the stories I heard that day from our Elders.
We shuttled to the Cochrane Native Friendship Centre for presentations and dinner that late afternoon. Claire shared a bit about how the Learning from Lake Sturgeon Project came about and her work in both the science field and Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS). What I remember most, however, was her expertise in ‘birds’ and the game we played in groups. The goal is as follows: A video of a bird passes the camera quickly, and we must use these bird identifier books to identify the bird, each correct bird your group got, you received a point. Our group lost, but at least we got to learn how to identify different birds by knowing the shape of either their head, tail, and/or colour scheme.
Sean, our trip photographer and ‘fish nerd’ (his words, not mine) did a presentation next. He shared his experience in fisheries, teaching at Charleton University, and storytelling through photography. But what I remember most was this one photo he showed us, it was split in half, with the bottom portion of the lens in the water capturing the travelling fish, and the top portion of the lens capturing the silhouette of trees and night sky. It was an amazing photo, and the story and work that went into capturing such as moment was even greater.
We ended the evening by playing board games and just enjoying each other’s company. I was excited for tomorrow, doing more socializing and the sweat lodge ceremony. My nerves about the journey were settled that night, and I looked forward to the rest of the Opening Weekend.
The next day was the same. However, at the hotel, we gathered in Allison’s room, who I also met very briefly at GOOP last year along with Claire. She was the Administrator Manager for WCS. Before we came out here on Friday, we filled out a form of which gear (clothes, shoes, etc.) we were missing appropriate for water training. She was handing out this gear to us while at the same time managing so much on her computer. I remember her room being such a mess with all our gear. I’m thankful to have been gifted these items, which I would carry until the canoe trip in August.
That evening, we shuttled to Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TTN) territory, just under an hour from Cochrane, to participate in a sweat lodge ceremony hosted by Joanne. I was a bit afraid to participate because I did my first sweat in September 2021 hosted by Kane in Moose Factory. I won’t say much about my experience, as it was very enlightening and personal, but it was also brutal. I was afraid Joanne’s would be the same intensity; however, it was comfortably bearable. To me, when I enter the sweat, I go in thinking nothing but negative thoughts and by the time it’s over, nothing but positive ones remain. This time, I was overwhelmed with feelings of my late brother, Richard, who passed a few months before. I hadn’t seen or spoken to him for nearly a decade, but growing up on Moose Drive, I would visit him so often as he was the ‘cool older brother’. I’m glad to say, after the sweat, I felt so much better and at peace with myself. I’m also proud of Sean, who accepted my invitation to participate in the sweat.
I don’t remember the drive back to Cochrane, as I felt refreshed after the ceremony and was enjoying the feeling. I believe participating in cultural activities and ceremonies nourishes my spiritual side, the side that was dormmate for 21 years of my life. It makes me feel incredibly powerful when it’s fed, the pride I feel to be who I am is limitless, and the proudness to be Indigenous is strongest after such participation ceremonies. I didn’t grow up in the culture, despite being arguably in the heart of our Cree people’s homelands. I believe this stems from my grandfather’s attendance to Fort Geroge Residential School in Quebec, then later, Bishop Horden Hall Residential School in Moose Factory, for the most part, he wasn’t raised traditionally. He grew up in a time where Indigenous wasn’t ‘good enough’, so why would he raise his children and grandchildren to be Indigenous?
Regardless, it’s never too late to rekindle that link between yourself and your culture. I met people who praise it, and those who despise it. I once was this person, who didn’t care about the culture, history, or traditions. But now, it’s a goal of mine to learn what I can, respect it, and most importantly, be proud of it. That is what Neemamo Mishkanan helped me realize as well, our history is forever changing and moving, just like the river I grew up next to, and the rivers my people lived on since time immemorial.
As I sorted through my gear in my hotel room that night, I was eager for Training Week. Tomorrow, we would be bussing to Palmer Rapids, near Ottawa, for whitewater and canoe training, as well as learning Wilderness First Aid. Oddly enough, it would be my first time sleeping in a tent too. Opening Weekend was an important step in establishing bonds between us all, and to further drive home the importance of direct communication between youth and our Elders. However, Training Week would only blow me out of the water compared to Opening Weekend.
