By MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION – The Expositor
Dakota Tremblay would have told people a week ago she had a lot of doubts about her ability to climb more than 20 feet on a big-rung swinging ladder.But on Saturday, with other people’s assistance, she also suspended herself on a rope, while depending on someone else to lower her gently to the floor.
Despite her trepidation, the 13-year-old Ojibway native from Batchewana First Nation near Sault Ste. Marie made the climb to the top of a large barn at the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation Camp outside St. George, swallowed hard as she hung for a while with nothing under her, then descended to her relief and exhilaration.
“I felt like I was floating in the air. It was uncomfortable,” she said.
“I was light-headed. I was scared because I feared they would let go. But they didn’t. It taught me that I can trust other people that I don’t even know.”
Dakota was one of 50 native youths, aged 11 to 15, who are participating in a unique five-day leadership camp. It’s part of a five-year partnership between the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation and Ted Nolan Foundation.
The youths, many of whom had never left their reserve, are learning leadership skills, teamwork and independence through an agenda of wilderness adventure activities and listening to aboriginal leaders explain the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, which instructs them on how to treat others.
Nolan, a former NHL coach of the year and native of Sault Ste. Marie First Nation, is vice-president of hockey operations for the AHL Rochester Americans. He established the charitable foundation in 2004 to promote healthy lifestyles among First Nations youth.
The foundation combines the traditions, values and wisdom of the First Nations with the latest in training skills from corporate, educational, health, sports and recreation to encourage aboriginal youth to pursue academic growth and foster healthy lifestyles.
The goal is to increase the size of the event by 50 youths per year.
Beside Dakota, Christian Shawana, 13, of the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, conceded he also was nervous before scaling the ladder.
“I felt good when I was done because I made it to the top and I faced my fears,” he said.
Twelve-year-old Ali Petingalo enjoyed helping others, while they were playing certain games.
“It taught me that we need to help everyone, not just yourself, and to be kind.”
