Wawatay News
OCTOBER 24, 2013
15
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Kenora jail prisoner graduates from Wahsa Talk4Healing celebrates Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Wahsa Distance Education Centre’s secondary school program has provided a Kenora District Jail inmate with an opportunity to pursue a college education while in jail. “Two days after I graduated I got accepted into college taking the general arts and science,” said Timothy Brisard, a recent Wahsa graduate from Lake Nipigon First Nation who completed his Grade 11 and 12 courses while in the Kenora District Jail. “After that I am going to be taking the Aboriginal Community Advocacy course. Once I’ve completed that I will be going to bible college to be a minister.” Although Brisard was successful in completing his Wahsa courses over the past one-and-a-half to two years, he said it was difficult due to disturbances in the jail. “There is no privacy and it’s always loud here,” Brisard said. “Sometimes there is a lot of tension here, so for me to focus on my academics, it has been really challenging. I kind of have to go into my own world; in order to get there I have to depend on God for his strength and for his power and just do my own thing.” Brisard completed the courses by viewing copies of interactive Smart Board classes captured on disks for viewing on computers. He also called Wahsa teachers for help with his work whenever required. “I was the first person to do my literacy test at the Kenora District Jail,” Brisard said. “And I was the first person to ever graduate (from secondary
school).” Due to Brisard’s success, the Kenora District Jail has started up a Wahsa program for other prisoners. “He did very well,” said Darrin Head, Wahsa’s principal. “His courses in Grade 11 and 12 were all college preparation courses and he was an A student.” Head said there are now 13 Wahsa students registered at Kenora District Jail. “They have made a room available to us where our students can go on a regular basis and work on their Wahsa courses,” Head said. “And we actually have a tutor now that goes in there for two-and-a-half hours a day, five days a week to help those students.” Head said the students have also been calling their teachers for assistance with their courses. “But it’s nice that they have a place to go and somebody who can work with them on a daily basis,” Head said. Head said the opportunity to pursue their high school diploma while in jail provides the inmates with more opportunities when they finish their sentences. “We’re really excited,” Head said. “We can see a lot of positive things happening.” Wahsa has seen an increase in overall student success levels since switching over to the interactive Smart Board delivery platform in September 2012. “All you need is a computer screen and Internet and you can join the class,” Head said. “They’ll see exactly what is on that computer screen and broadcast. So if you have students in Big Trout, Bearskin,
year of helping women Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Rick Garrick/Wawatay News
Wahsa graduate Timothy Brisard recently enrolled in studies at Confederation College after completing his Grade 11 and 12 studies while in the Kenora District Jail. Sandy Lake, Deer Lake, Thunder Bay, wherever they are, they will all see what the teacher has on the Smart Board in the broadcast studio.” Head said the students can talk back and forth in real time and use their computer mouse to write on their screen, which is then seen by the teacher and other students on the Smart Board screen. “It’s totally interactive, it’s audio, it’s video,” Head said.
”It’s like a classroom where you hear everything that is happening, you can see everything that is happening on the chalkboard, you can add to it and everybody will see it, but you just can’t see each other’s faces. So it’s as close to being there as you can get.” Wahsa first began providing Ontario secondary school courses in 1992 over a radio delivery platform.
Talk4Healing recently celebrated the first anniversary of its free and confidential help line for Aboriginal women across northern Ontario. “Simply put, we help women and their families who need support,” said Robin Haliuk, Talk4Healing coordinator. “As we have been taught through our traditional teachings, the Medicine Wheel provides powerful guidance in four key areas: spiritual, emotional, physical and mental. Talk4Healing follows in the traditional footsteps of our grandmothers and grandfathers by incorporating these teachings into our services, which is precisely what makes this help line so unique and so appropriately suited for Aboriginal women.” A not-for-profit initiative operated by Beendigen in partnership with the Ontario Native Women’s Association, Talk4Healing opened its phone lines in mid-October 2012 and has since helped more than 1,500 Aboriginal women to start their healing journeys by providing a culturally safe and appropriate resource that Aboriginal women and their families can call for help. Previously, many Aboriginal women living in northern Ontario communities had no where to turn to for help as the reality of geographical isolation and lack of services in small northern communities acted as a barrier to healing. “Traditionally, Aboriginal
women have turned to their grandmothers, mothers, sisters and aunts for support, but not all women are comfortable talking about their personal problems with relatives or friends,” Haliuk said. “That’s where Talk4Healing comes in. We have trained Aboriginal counsellors available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, who are empathetic, understanding and ready to address the unique needs (of) Aboriginal women.” Haliuk said many Aboriginal women suffered in silence before Talk4Healing opened its toll-free line at 1-855-554HEAL. “We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from our callers who are so grateful for finally having somewhere to turn when they need help,” Haliuk said. “We typically hear a great sense of relief when our callers realize they are talking to an Aboriginal woman on the other end of the line. Now that Talk4Healing is here, it’s hard to imagine a time when this service didn’t exist. I know we’re making a huge difference in the lives of Aboriginal women and their families in northern Ontario.” Talk4Healing provides culturally sensitive crisis counselling, advice and support; personalized information and referrals; acceptance of Aboriginal women’s issues in a non-judgmental way; help to find the path to personal healing and scheduled telephone counselling sessions in four languages: English, Ojibwa, Oji-Cree and Cree.
Aboriginal Artworks Group of Northern Ontario (AAGNO) Presents The 12th Annual Aboriginal Fine Arts & Crafts Christmas Gift Show & Sale December 3rd – December 7th, 2013 at Victoriaville Center, Thunder Bay, Ontario Come one, come all to see Authentic Aboriginal Fine Artworks of our Northern Ontario’s talented Aboriginal people’s creations. Great People, Great gift idea’s, Great prices, over 180 artisans participating. ON SALE
Tamarack Birds Original Woodland Paintings Original Native Apparel Original Native Jewellery Traditional Leather Works
Traditional Beadwork Wood & Soapstone Carvings Handmade Snowshoes Aboriginal Ornaments Birchbark Baskets
And Much, Much More!!! Tuesday, Dec. 3 Wednesday, Dec. 4 Thursday, Dec. 5 Friday, Dec. 6 Saturday, Dec. 7
TIME
10:00.A.M. - 5:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Come and enjoy yourselves and meet the artisans at this festive season
Merry Christmas
Please Note: Artisans can share a table, limit is 2 artisans per table. $130/table 5 days or $40/day, bring white table cloths For more information please contact John Ferris @ (807) 939-7525 or email: jferus@hotmail.com