How well did the community receive the implemented events
Two weeks before National Addictions Awareness Week I called Darcy Linklater, Councillor and asked him for a declaration from the Chief & Council of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. The declaration was typed and signed. I will send a signed copy of the declaration.
It reads as follows:
Now Therefore Be It Resolved That: In the spirit of healing, Chief & Council has declared November 16 – 21, 2010 as Drug and Alcohol Free for the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. As a result of the support to the National Addictions Awareness Week campaign, Chief & Council will not permit alcohol and drugs into the reserve of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and prohibit public intoxication. The Band Constables and R.C.M.P. are to enforce this declaration by instituting check stops effective Monday, November 16, 2010.
This year the community was very anxious to receive the calendar for National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week 2010. The calendar was E-mailed to the principal at the elementary school and the principal at the high school The elementary school is called Otetiskew3in Kiskinwamahto-Wekamik School and their telephone number is (204) 483-2242. The high school is called Nisichawayasihk Neho Ohtinwak Collegiate. The telephone number to the high school is (204) 484-2602. The calendar was distributed to all the organizations in the community.
What successes were achieved from your NAAAW events
On Sunday, November 14, 2010 there was the lighting of the sacred fire. In the afternoon there was a sweat conducted by Marie Ballantyne, a staff member who works at the Nelson House Medicine Lodge. In the evening there was a gospel singing competition at the Family & Community Wellness Centre. There were a total of fifteen people who competed in the gospel singing competition. The first prize went to a male singer who played the guitar and sang at the same time. There were men who took turns playing the guitars while the people took turns singing. The second and third prize went to two females who sang beautiful gospel songs. There were about fifty three (53) people in attendance. The event started at 7:00 p.m. and ended at 9:30 p.m. Pictures were taken of the event.
I asked a local person to lend me there equipment, (sound system,guitars). I ended up having to pay the young man who set up the equipment and sound system. He also dismantled the equipment. He charged $500.00. I told him I would pay him by Wednesday. I used the money I received from the Chief & Council to pay him.
On Monday, the Sobriety march started at the arena and ended at the arena. There were a total of 200 children from the elementary school who participated in the march. There were about eight staff from the elementary school, three staff from the Nelson House Medicine Lodge and two RCMP officers. The RCMP vehicle was at the front to protect the marchers so nobody was hit by on-coming traffic. There were also two vehicles in the back. I forgot my camera so I did not take any pictures of the march. We walked a long way, in a circle, right around one part of the community. The children were tired at the end of the march. We handed out energy bars, juice and cocoa. On Monday evening we had Appreciation Night and Skit Night at the Family & Community Wellness Centre. I talked about the two youth role models and gave each one a small gift. People came up and took the mike and talked about different people that they wanted to acknowledge. People also competed in skits and the people who participated were not shy. They made the audience laugh. There were about seventy five (75) people in attendance for Monday evening’s planned activities. Chief Jerry Primrose showed up with his wife on Monday evening.
On Tuesday and Wednesday there was a Grief & Loss workshop held at the Nelson House Medicine Lodge. The facilitator was Mary Azure Laubman and Margaret Sprowl. Marie Ballantyne, a staff member of the Nelson House Medicine Lodge went to the elementary school on Tuesday, Wednesday to talk to the children about alcohol and drug abuse. The guidance counselor for the elementary school came to the Nelson House Medicine Lodge to pick up Marie Ballantyne to do another day of talks to the children at the elementary school. Andy Daniels, traditional counselor went to the high school on Tuesday and Wednesday to teach the high school students about hand games. I went to the elementary school and took pictures of Marie Ballantyne and the students, teacher and then went to the high school and took pictures of Andy, the students and teachers. On Tuesday evening the tiny tots, children and youth took turns rap dancing. I gave the tiny tots each $20.00. I gave the children prize money for first, ($50.00) second, ($40.00) and third ($35.00) and I gave the youth prize money for first, ($150.00), second, ($100.00), and third, ($75.00). The children love to rap dance and sing rap songs. I also gave a young man $35.00 for doing a rap demonstration dance. There were about one hundred and fifty (150) people at the event. The people cheered and encouraged the dancers.
On Wednesday evening we had the karaoke competition at the Family & Community Wellness Centre. There were about three hundred and fifty people at the event. That was the evening we attracted the biggest crowd. The people like competing in karaoke. There were adult, youth and children who competed. We had to do a cut off of singers who signed up as we would have been there all night. I picked people from the audience to be judges. There were three judges for the karaoke competition. In the adult category, the first place winner received $200.00, the second place
winner received $150.00 and the third place winner received $100.00. In the youth category, the first place winner received $60.00, the second place winner received $50.00 and the third place winner received $40.00. In the children’s category the first place winner received $60.00, the second place winner received $50.00, and the third place winner received $40.00. We had to clean up after the event was over, as the crowd left the building in a mess. We never got back to the treatment centre till close to midnight.
On Thursday afternoon we had a radio talk show with the youth Chief & Council. The youth prepared for the interview by doing research on three topics, alcohol, drugs and gangs. In attendance was Chief Katie Hart, Timothy Thomas and Janice Spence. The staff from the Nelson House Medicine Lodge who interviewed the youth was Ed Azure, Executive Director, Mary Azure Laubman, Treatment Director, Judy Wood, Assistant Treatment Director and Clara Moira Hart, NNADAP Program Coordinator. Natalie Tays, Principal for the high school was also in attendance. The radio interview took place in the local radio station, Cree 98.1 FM. The community members listened in on the radio talk show. There was also a health fair from2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Family & Community Wellness Centre. In the evening there was a fashion show held in the Mezzanine, Gilbert McDonald arena. There were five youth that competed in the fashion show. The first, second and third place winner received $150, $100 and $75.00.
On Friday there was a Suicide Prevention workshop held at the high school. The facilitator was Gail Barrett. Gail Barrett is from Saskatchewan. She works for Prairie Energy Service, Prairie Energy/Now@sasktel.net. The high school principal, Natalie Tays called me and informed me that the Sister Sue had money available to fly Gail Barrett to Thompson, Manitoba. The sisters picked her up at the airport and Gail Barrett stayed with the nuns at their residence. Gail Barrett did the Suicide Prevention workshop at the high school for the youth on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The next day, on Saturday Gail Barrett did the workshop at the Nelson House Medicine Lodge for the adults, from 9:00 to 1:00 p.m.
On Friday evening we had a dance for the children and youth at the Duncan Wood Memorial hall. There were about eighty (80) children and youth in attendance. At first the children and youth just sat around. We got them motivated by telling them we would give them money for different games and dances such as musical chairs, the limbo rock, spot dancing, best dancer and funniest dancer. The dance started at 7:00 p.m. and ended at 10:30 p.m. We also sold chips and pop to the children. On Saturday afternoon, I called the RCMP to help me haul the food and wood outside the Duncan Wood Memorial Hall. We started a fire but no children showed up as it was National Children’s Day and there were a host of events that took place for the children at the Gilbert McDonald arena. We let the fire burn out and we got a ride back to the Nelson House Medicine Lodge. We said a prayer of thanks that the week went well and that is how we ended off the week.
What challenges were experienced from your NAAAW events?
The hip hop was cancelled as the person who I asked to do the hip hop was unable to make it as she was still in Winnipeg. I had a dance on Friday evening for the children and youth.We were unable to have a round dance, feast and give away so we had the Suicide Prevention workshop at the high school and at the Nelson House Medicine Lodge.
There were too many people who wanted to sing in the karaoke competition so next year we are going to have one night of karaoke competition for the adult category and one night for the children and youth. We are also going to have a rap song competition. We found that a lot of youth write their own rap music and that they want to sing the song they wrote.
The children and youth crave attention and they want to show their talents to the community members. The community would like more events to be planned throughout
Indicate how many people of each demographic that attended your NAAAW events
There were elders, adults, youth and children that attended the different events throughout the week.
Share your favorite NAAAW story of the week.
On Friday evening, during the dance, I told my co-worker that I wanted a bag of chips and a pop and that I would owe the kitty $2.00. A child was sitting with us and he said to me, I will buy your pop and drink. I told my co-worker that my boyfriend bought me my pop and drink and we had a chuckle.
This same little boy told me he had a hole in his pocket and he showed me. He asked me to keep his money during the dance. At the end of the evening I told him to put his money in his shoe so that he would not lose his money as he walked home
Examples of resources created for NAAAW 2010.
I asked the Nelson House Medicine Lodge for a donation of $500.00 which I was given. I also asked for a purchase order and I went to WalMart for shop for two gifts for the youth role models and to purchase energy bars and small packs of juice.
I approached the Chief & Council for a donation of $500.00 which they gave me and I asked the Education Authority for a donation. I was given a cheque of $200.00.
I received two cases of small juice packs from the Northern Store in Nelson House.
I was allowed to use the Family & Community Wellness Centre building at no charge. I also used the Mezzanine, Gilbert McDonald arena at no charge. I also used the Duncan Wood Memorial Hall at no charge. I developed a good working relationship with the elementary and high school. I will be working with the guidance counselor at the high school. The guidance counselor at the high school would like to work closely with me and he would like me to go to the high school to do power point presentations on different topics related to adolescents.
Anything else you feel is of value to share about NAAAW or something special that resulted because of NAAAW
The youth are not shy at all to model. I thought that for next year, I would apply for a grant from Culture & Heritage so that the youth can model Aboriginal designed clothing that will be made in the size of the models that will be chosen.
The guidance counselor at the high school would like to work closely with me and he would like me to go to the high school to do power point presentations on different topics related to adolescents.
Where you plan to go from now in relation to promoting addictions awareness following NAAAW.
The staff of the Nelson House Medicine Lodge will have radio talk shows with the youth Chief & Council on an on-going basis and we are definitely going to have planned events throughout the year, as the community members are requesting this to take place.
We are still planning a youth conference for February 2011 and the youth Chief & Council will be involved in the planning.
