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Recently, the Youth Warriors opened their social with a traditional smudge to heal the mind, body and spirit. The activity for the day consisted of an archery lesson conducted by Eli Fox of UCCMM coming in with equipment and targets for the boys to practice their skills. Jesse Beaudin of Manitoulin Streams has had a consistent stewardship influence on this group, and has been successful at wrangling up local kids to participate. On April 23 2018 Jesse was invited to LCPS to facilitate a climate change talk to students for the school's Earth Day celebrations. As a part of their education initiative at LCPS, speakers were invited to demonstrate green projects and programs across Manitoulin. Jesse highlighted the efforts Manitoulin Streams has done to protect and restore natural habitat and address Climate Change.  On April 20, 2018 CMPS invited Jesse to facilitate a station for their school Earth Day celebration. Jesse and Andre Leblanc managed a station surrounding a small fire just outside of the school property where students would temporally alternate through each station following an activity. Jesse discussed the good work of Manitoulin Streams, explained the sacred medicines of the Ojibwe people, and brewed cedar tea for students to try, most for the first time. One of the first days of actual spring weather, Kagawong picked a great day for islanders to be out and about for the Green Living Event. Many vendors attended to share their knowledge about healthier lifestyle options and greener living. Our table was visited by many locals and Jesse Beaudin of Manitoulin Streams gave a wonderful talk on stream restoration and climate change. Many locals were very interested in viewing the details of further stream restoration on the Kagawong river that will take place this summer upstream from our restoration site a few years ago. The only thing that would have made this day more spectacular would be if Chocolate Works had been open, but alas, only weeks left before their spring opening. Children of Lakeview and CMPS offer tobacco to the water and land, a traditional offering lead by Elder Lewis Debassige, prior to release of salmon. Yesterday we accompanied Grade 5 and grade 1 classes from CMPS of Mindemoya, in M’Chigeeng where we also met up with Grade 5 class from Lakeview School to release salmon raised in the micro-hatchery at CMPS. There were about 80 fry released into M’Chigeeng Creek. This was very exciting as this release was done in the location of the restoration work carried out annually by the Lakeview Grade 8 class. Many thanks to Ian Anderson from the Gore Bay Fish & Game Club for leading this initiative and Elder Lewis Debassige for including a spiritual presence at this event. The children had a lot of fun in the spring snow, still abundant, and were able to see the salmon swim off in their new home. |
