News Room
August, 2007
NCFNG Quebec Region plays an integral role in accommodating First Nations youth
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In August 2007, a group of sixteen youth between the ages of twelve and seventeen from Indian Brook, Nova Scotia were invited to participate in inaugural canoeing competition. The event took place in the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake, located on the south shore of Montreal, Quebec.
A lack of funding to cover travel and accommodation nearly prevented the group from participating in the event. “I was made aware of the obstacle that the group was facing,” says Marcel Tessier of the NCFNG Quebec Region, “because of the Centre’s implication in the community of Kahnawake, we were able to secure accommodations at the Kahnawake Survival School.”
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The Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) is a secondary educational institution that is designed to meet Mohawk needs so they can survive as a people. KSS was willing to provide accommodations in their gymnasium, at no cost to the group.
Due in part to the generosity of the KSS, the team was able to participate in the competition and ultimately went home with 22 medals.
“There was certainly a sense of pride instilled in the athletes,” says Indian Brook Canoe and Kayak Program Manager, Patrick Wilmot, “experiential learning promotes healthy living.”
Learning by doing is a practice that the Centre endorses to empower youth. By achieving greatness, these youth will surely create their own new memories.
