Thursday Tidbits

Posted on July 8, 2021 under Thursday Tidbits with 2 comments

 

Youth Day – Kangiqsujuaq

Representatives of the Fire Service, Police Department and Social Services meet to plan a Youth Day in Kangiqsujuaq.

 

“On the road again,

Just can’t wait to get on the road again.”

On The Road Again – Willie Nelson

What can I do?

Many of you are feeling distraught about the revelation of mass graves of indigenous children who attended residential schools. There is also a sense of helplessness. After all, what can one person do?

On a macro level, governments and the churches have to address this head on and make things right. At a minimum, they must act on the “calls to action” in the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This will take time. It’s hard to point a huge ocean vessel in a different direction. On a micro level, many Canadians expressed their concerns with muted Canada Day celebrations and plenty of people have taken to social media to express solidarity by posting orange banners with messages of “All Lives Matter”.

We all know that in all likelihood, there will be more revelations of mass graves and more outrage, but it seems that issues like these have a short shelf life. Other crisis will undoubtably emerge taking our attention (and the media’s) away form the residential school tragedy.

What can I do that might make a direct impact of the lives of indigenous people?

I have made no secret that I am turning 70 next month. Rather than lamenting the fact that my body aches, that wrinkles are appearing with regularity and that my eyesight is worsening (the list is considerably longer!), I feel privileged to have lived this long. Many have not enjoyed this luxury like the children who perished in residential homes.

Recently, I was in touch with community leaders in Kangiqsujuaq (where I taught school the past two years) to see if there was something that I might do that was positive and constructive. I received a message from the Fire Chief who informed me that the Fire Service, Police Service and Social Services in the village were teaming up to put on an information and fun day for the youth in the community sometime before school starts up in mid-August.

Covid has affected everyone in some way. It has been particularly hard on our oldest citizens and in many ways, our youngest citizens. Besides the fear of the virus, it has forced people to spend long periods of time away from friends and family. We were lucky in Kangiqsujuaq in that we were able to hold in person classes at school but most other extracurricular activities including group gatherings were cancelled or severely limited.

The event in Kangiqsujuaq will center around safety. There are many issues and challenges faced by young people in northern communities. The hope is to have a day of education and frank discussions with the young people. After all, they are the future leaders of the village.

This is where you come in.

I have committed to raising at least $1,500 to assist the organizers with the purchase of food and treats for the event.

So, here’s my plan. To celebrate my 70^th birthday, I have decided to go for a little stroll. My original plan was to walk 70km to match my age. After some consideration, I have upped that a bit to 75km which is the precise mileage to walk around “The Cape”. I will complete the walk over two days, August 9^th and 10^th. I will dedicate this walk to the youth of Kangiqsujuaq and hopefully draw attention to my fundraiser. Day 1 will be 40km and day 2 will be 35km. I have arranged overnight accommodations just outside of Ballantyne’s Cove. Many thanks to PP and MP for agreeing to put me up and put up with me.

I have set up an account at the East Coast Credit Union (it will always be the Bergengren Credit Union to me) called Len’s Walk, for those of you in Antigonish who want to make a donation in person. For the rest of my friends, you can send me an e-transfer at lenpdmacdonald@gmail.com.

Some quick math. As many of you brilliant mathematicians have already deduced, there is an easy correlation between 75 km and $1,500. It works out to $20 a kilometer. Any size donation will be greatly appreciated and will go directly to the young people of Kangiqsujuaq.

There is another way you might help. Why not lace up your runners and come and walk part of the route with me. I don’t expect that many of you would be keen to do all 75km but maybe one or two kilometers to help me pass the time. When we get closer to the date, I’ll give you more specifics about approximate times and locations.

I know that I always seem to have my hand out for some worthy cause. This one is personal to me, and I am confident that we will be able to raise the funds for this important event.

Thank you.

Have a great weekend.

P.S. I would be delighted if you would share this post with your friends. Tx.

P.P.S. The first person to donate $100 will receive a set (6) of my books.