Canadian Roots Exchange explores Manitoulin Island
By Kelly Crawford
M’CHIGEENG FIRST NATION – Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE) participants spent a week visiting Manitoulin Island as part of an intimate cultural experience.
“What I found at Manitoulin was balance and my own position in how to be a voice. I no longer feel frustrated, more so focused and with a feeling that my thesis and path is the right one,” says Lene Trunjer, a Danish exchange student, who was very inspired by the experience on Manitoulin Island through the Canadian Roots Exchange.
CRE offers participants an in-depth and totally hands-on experience in Aboriginal communities, organizations, and schools. Participants are immersed within the historical and contemporary contexts that shape everyday Indigenous lives.
“I also found inspiration from the teachers/role models/people we met, and their commitment to help the youth finding identity and roots,” adds Trunjer who was one of 16 participants. “Talking about where you come from and how past experience can help you being rooted in yourself was for me also a personal reflection. It was important for me to hear because I too search for my own roots and to see my path more clearly. The engagement the teachers/role models/people had for their community was admirable and inspirational and made me think a lot about how I see my own world.”
Trunjer is from Naestved, Denmark and attends both McMaster University and Copenhagen University in a Masters program focusing on the Art of Comparative Literature. She has plans to finish next June with writing a thesis in First Nation literature with a political and contemporary view.
Trunjer believes getting out of the classroom is key.
“I would say that it was important for me to get out of the classroom and be with other people for a week. I will recommend the CRE-exchange to anyone who is occupied with how we see culture. I found it compelling how listening to teachings and hearing other peoples’ stories helped me to see people and finding reconciliation. My week at Manitoulin proved for me how powerful ‘being together’ can be when we stand together. The people at M’Chigeeng and the other First Nation communities were very welcoming and it felt like being part of an extended family, which was really nice and it made me grow.”
Lynzii Taibossigai, M’Chigeeng First Nation, led the Manitoulin Exchange.
“I was very nervous and I didn’t realize why until a day or two before. Everything was set, coordinated and good to go. But I was still tense. It was because this was my home, M’Chigeeng, it was more personal. It was awesome though!” says Taibossigai. “I had so much support from my family, from prepping some of our meals to sharing stories, and also support from community members. They met local youth and young adults who volunteered to take them hiking on the M’Chigeeng Hollywood sign…which they absolutely loved! It was so wonderful to be doing a job that I absolutely love right here at home.”
Taibossigai began her journey with Canadian Roots in 2012.
“We attended a three-day training session outside of Toronto and shared personally through sharing circles what reconciliation meant to us, whether we were Anishinaabe or an immigrant to Canada. It was pretty intensive! Then we were set off to our regions and mandated to coordinate two to three events related to increasing the awareness and education of Canada’s First Peoples. My Sudbury team delivered one event with a group of youth participants from Canada World Youth,” explains Taibossigai.
The Manitoulin Exchange included visits to the Debajehmujig Theatre Group, Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute and the Spanish Indian Residential School. The communities of M’Chigeeng First Nation, Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, Sheshegwaning First Nation, and Whitefish River First Nation welcomed the group in various capacities.
“We visit with Elders, other local youth, local knowledge keepers. We have tea and of course food! It’s great,” says Taibossigai. “We need more visiting. There is a high emphasis on balance throughout the programs, including within our participants… half are Indigenous and half are not. I have been the Program Leader for four exchange programs now and love it!”
The Canadian Roots Exchange is currently looking for participants to join the Algonquin & Silver Lake Pow Wow Exchange Program. This exchange takes place August 19– 25, 2014 in beautiful Algonquin Territory. For more information please visit www.canadianroots.ca or email: info@canadianroots.ca .