Heather Latter
Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong held its annual recognition banquet at Onigaming First Nation earlier this month, lauding the accomplishments of those who benefit from its programs.
Based in Kenora, Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong is the training and employment delivery agency whose purpose is to assist Treaty #3 communities and individuals address their training needs in order to meet employment goals.
The agency offers programs for individual and community-based training, a self-employment program, youth programs, and programs for the disabled.
This year’s recognition banquet was held at the Mikinaak Onigaming School gym (near Nestor Falls), with Gary Smith acting as emcee.
“We try to recognize individuals who have gone through our programming in the past year and have been able to accomplish, first of all, what they set out to when they first approached us for assistance and then, in some cases, have even gone further,” explained Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong executive director Marie Seymour.
She added part of the evening was dedicated to the bursary winners, as well.
“I think it’s a big thing for anyone to be recognized,” Seymour reasoned.
“A lot of people certainly don’t feel comfortable being recognized but once the event is over, you can certainly see [the pride] on their face and the faces of their family and friends.
“And the rest of the community, for example in Onigaming, they could see what some other communities are doing and what other individuals are working towards,” Seymour added.
Those who received recognition certificates included Megan Bob, Estelle Simard, and James Cameron.
Meanwhile, Michelle Botham, Kelly Major, Stephanie Perrault, Pat Yerxa, Maybelline Loon, Roxanne Necanepenace, and Irene Skead received Ozhiitaag “To Prepare” awards.
“Our goal, as mandated by Service Canada, is that we have to create training opportunities that lead to employment and I think we’ve done a very good job of that,” Seymour said.
“And we really do want to focus on our youth to make sure they stay in school and follow that career path that they want to,” she stressed.
The Youth Achievers Bursary Awards saw 15 youth recognized for their achievements.
John Binguis, Megan Cowley, Wade Johnson, Chelsea Capay-Kwandibens, Tehya Handorgan, and Brent Joseph earned awards for Best Overall Combines Academics and Attendance.
Also honoured were Cheyanne Pahpasay (Best Attendance), Damon Perrault, Alina Skead (Excellence in Combined Academics and Sports), Keira Allan, Riel Councillor (Excellence in Combined Academics and Cultural Preservation), Megan Allan (Excellence in Combined Academics and Community Volunteer/Involvement), and Elizabeth Morrisseau (High School Award for Excellence).
Keisha Seymour-Miller (Grade 9-10) and Jordan White (Grade 11-12) were saluted as winners of an essay and speech competition.
“You had to write about the certain things you overcame to get where you are now,” White said of the essay contest.
She wrote about having a one-year-old son who was born with a cleft lip and palate. And even with having to spend some time with him in a Winnipeg hospital, she now will be graduating from Seven Generations High School in June.
“I was excited to hear I’d won,” White enthused. “I think it’s a big achievement to win something like this and to just get my story out there.”
Both White and Seymour-Miller read their essays at the recognition banquet.
“I was very nervous,” White admitted.
“It is a big step for some who are not entirely comfortable with public speaking,” noted Seymour.
“But afterwards, you could tell they were proud.”
White, a Couchiching resident, plans to attend college in the fall to study social work, and would like to live and work in the Fort Frances area down the road.
“I was honoured to be recognized,” echoed Megan Allan, a Grade 9 student at Fort Frances High School.
“It makes me want to keep trying hard.”
Allan earned her award for excellence in academics and community involvement, which means along with her good grades, she also has helped with volleyball at Mine Centre School, has cleaned up her community of Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, and offered assistance with March Break activities.
During high school, Allan wants to play Muskie volleyball and hockey, and her career goal is to become a dentist.
“I want to continue to work to my goal,” she stressed, saying that earning the bursary during the recognition banquet is a great incentive.
The banquet also featured a performance by 2010 Juno Award nominee and Aboriginal People’s Choice winner, Inez Jasper, and the drum group, Lynx Soldier.
“It was an excellent evening,” Seymour said. “It’s great to be able to recognize those who have worked so hard.”
