FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION — Whether it's helping to save a life or helping a younger person to read, young leaders from Thunder Bay and the surrounding area were saluted for their efforts in their communities on Friday.
Ten inspiring youth were recipients of the Dilico Anishinabek Family Care’s Step Up Kids Awards, which were handed out during Dilico’s Pow Wow at the Fort William First Nation Community Centre.
“This was part of our annual Step Up campaign and it was to seek out amazing youth and individuals in our community and to recognize them for their outstanding achievements and contributions,” said Sarah Pelletier, who is the assistant director for child welfare at Dilico.
It was the first time since 2018 that Dilico gave out awards as part of their annual Step Up campaign.
“We want to get people to recognize how important our kids and youth are in this community,” Pelletier said.
St. Patrick’s High School student Clayton Waboose was one of the award recipients on Friday.
The 17-year-old was saluted for his work as an Indigenous student trustee for the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board and for his role helping to save a young person’s life last year.
“I’m very proud of the people that I’ve been able to help and of that people that have been able to help, some of them being my school educators and some of the people in my community,” Waboose said.
“I wouldn’t be able to receive this award without the people that are around me. My family, my community, the educators that I’ve met … it feels really good.
“I think Indigenous advocacy is something that I’ll always have in me. I plan to go into the medical field after I graduate, so maybe it’ll be just in a different perspective than what I’m doing right now.”
The recipients received their awards in the dreamer, leader, helper and changemaker categories.
Madisyn Hebert, who is a student at Pope John Paul II School, was honoured for her work as a reading coach at the school, being a published illustrator in two books and for her role as a coach with the Dynamite Cheer All Stars.
“I’m just proud to be here today and this award means a lot to me,” Hebert said.
Jocelyn Schaaf, Eleanor Makkinga, Gracie Peacock, Jayla Crane, Brentley Collins, Daniel Scobie-Robinson, Charlee Zuefle and Alexandra Kakegamic joined Hebert and Waboose on the stage on Friday.
“We’re celebrating the ones that are here to receive their awards today," said Pelletier, "but we're also here to recognize all the youth and children in our communities and across the region. It's so important to recognize how amazing our youth are.”
