Staying active is fun with the North Bay Indigenous Hub

By Kelly Anne Smith

NORTH BAY— Thanks to the North Bay Indigenous Hub, this year’s March break had kids keeping fit and learning hockey tips from former professional hockey players.

The North Bay Indigenous Hub Executive Director Lauree Linklater-Pizzale of Moose Cree First Nation said there were 63 registrations with the legendary former National Hockey League (NHL) player and coach Ted Nolan who runs the 3Nolans First Nation Hockey School skills and development camp with his sons Jordan and Brandon Nolan. Linklater-Pizzale says physical activity is a key part of programming at the Hub.

“The physical wellness worker here is Kieran Peltier. Together, we sit down and look at ways we can engage the different populations in the community. One of the things that is missing on a provincial level is that there hasn’t been Little NHL for the past three years. And we wanted to make it fun so we hosted this camp. To see the kids smile again and having Indigenous leaders in that kind of role is very impactful for our youth,” she notes. “It’s knowing that impact of seeing people make it at that level and take their wellness to another level – a competitive level. That’s always in reach for our people, too.”

Anishinaabe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Peltier focuses on physical health working with the primary care unit and in community-based programming.

Peltier called himself lucky to be one of the instructors with the 3Nolans. He says it was wonderful to get a close-up view of the growth that went on and on the connections that were made.

“Each group had four sessions. The last one was a scrimmage. So, we had three skill development sessions. We started off from working on the fundamentals of hockey. Taking our stride, learning how to c-cut crossover that we build our game upon. It was handling the puck then it was handling the puck with speed. Then it was decision-making and stick handling. And then, we were incorporating shooting.”

Peltier says that by the end of the weekend, it was amazing to see the development from the kids.

“We even had parents emailing us, explaining that they noticed the difference throughout the weekend,” he shares. “It’s nice to be part of a hockey school where you can give feedback. I myself had been in hockey schools where they are just coaches out there running the drills. There is no correction… But there was a lot of correction that happened at this school and I think the kids are all better off for it with the 3Nolans… the 3Nolans are approachable, personable, real and awesome with the kids.”

Linklater-Pizzale says it’s important for the children to have that sense of belonging. The aim was to create connection, purpose and inclusion while organizing the hockey camp.

“They are all Indigenous, going out, doing the same thing, having fun. They are more comfortable and confident being around their own people, too.”

Peltier agrees on the importance of gathering.

“One of the things we talked about a lot when we were all together is how nice it was to be back together with our own people… We wanted to create identity and belonging.”

The North Bay Indigenous Hub is creating programs for the summer seasons and new ones for next winter says Peltier.

“By nature of our work, I always take a holistic approach. Anything that we can do that improves physical health but also impacts their holistic health through the Medicine Wheel. We’re targeting mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, and support people on their journey to mino-bimaadiziwin — living the good life,” he explains. “That is any form of sport or physical activity or exercise programs that we can put on or anything that has to do with culture with our traditions… We’ve done the hockey school. We want to do traplines. We want to do snowshoeing, canoeing, hiking— things of that nature where we can get out on the land. And we are looking into doing martial arts, like a self-defence class for youth.”

The North Bay Indigenous Hub is also planning a 5-10km road race this summer in North Bay and partner with the city.

“We do any and all things that we can to promote good physical health and wellness and good overall health,” says Peltier.

For information, connect on the North Bay Indigenous Hub Facebook page.