Retired OPP officer brings First Nations cultural camp to Thunder Bay, Ont.
Nearly two dozen First Nations kids in Thunder Bay, Ont. are learning about their culture, history and traditions at the Meno Bimaadiziwin summer camp at Lakehead University this week.
Unique partnership brings 'leading a good life' camp to Thunder Bay for the first time
CBC News ·
Sammi Cheechoo (centre) takes a turn at a game of animal tag on Tuesday afternoon as part of the Meno-Bimaadiziwin summer camp for First Nations kids taking place at Lakehead University. (Jody Porter/CBC)
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Superior Morning5:35Meno Bimaadiziwin — Leading a Good Life
We take you to a very special summer camp aimed at helping First Nations students become leaders in their schools
Nearly two dozen First Nations kids in Thunder Bay, Ont., are learning about their culture, history and traditions at the Meno Bimaadiziwin — Leading a Good Life summer camp at Lakehead University this week.
Retired Ontario Provincial Police officer George Couchie is the creator of "Walking the Path," a course that teaches the Ojibwe culture. (Jody Porter/CBC)Lakehead Public Schools partnered with the Ontario Provincial Police, Thunder Bay Police, the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre and Lakehead University to bring the camp to the city for the first time this year.
It's modelled on an aboriginal youth camp designed by Nipissing First Nation member George Couchie when he was an officer with the provincial police.
"Once you lose your culture, there's a void inside of you and that void might be filled by alcohol and drugs," Couchie said.
Sammi Cheechoo, 12, says when she grows up she wants to be a leader who passes along the cultural teachings she's learning at the Meno-Bimaadiziwin summer camp, to others. (Jody Porter/CBC)The legacy of residential schools caused that void, but it can be filled by teaching a new generation about their language, traditions and history, he said.
Each day of the week-long camp begins with language lessons and cultural teachings around a drum and sacred items.
"It really builds a sense of community," said Nicole Walter Rowan, a program coordinator with Lakehead Public Schools.
On the second day of the camp, Sammi Cheechoo, 12, said she was already inspired by what she is learning.
Dawson Dombrowsky, 11, says the camp fires and swimming are his favourite parts of the Meno-Bimaadiziwin camp so far. (Jody Porter/CBC)"They're teaching us really cool stuff, like about residential school," Cheechoo said. "And I can take it to school with me and teach other people how to be a leader like how they're teaching us."
