THUNDER BAY – Ten youngsters from around the region have been honoured for their commitment to their schools and communities.
The 10 children and youth on Friday were recipients of Step Up Hero Awards, recognized for helping others, being a good friend, participating in Indigenous culture and excelling in either the classroom or athletics.
Among the honourees was Neveah Morriseau-Charlie, a 10-year-old student from St. Martin School who has been described as independent and passionate, was honoured for being a role model in her community, teaching pow wow dance steps, advocating for land and water rights and participating in a Feathers of Hope meeting in Sand Point First Nation.
“I feel like we, as young people, we can get back our culture and show (others) our way of life,” she said.
“I feel great and I feel really honoured to be elected for this position in the Step Up campaign.”
Benjamin Fedoruk, a Grade 11 student at Superior Collegiate, is the vice-president of the Regional Youth Multicultural Council, where he helps different minorities in the community while also helping to empower youth.
“I ran the student working group, which is where we get issues in the community from students so they can share their opinions and we can share them with politicians,” the 16-year-old said.
“At Hammarskjold I helped to run a mayoral debate, so it was a question-and-answer kind of thing. Students from across the board asked the mayoral candidates issues that were important to them to see what their different policies were.”
Getting Step Up award is inspirational, Fedoruk said.
“It definitely means a lot to me. I’ve never really been recognized for my work in this way, so it means quite a bit to me,” he said. “It almost makes me feel the adults around here are supporting what I’m doing. So it’s a really big help to hear this.”
Also recognized during the award singers was 13-year-old Caroline Di Felice, eight-year-old Justin Idman, 13-year-old Daanis Pelletier, 11-year-old Jake Perreault, 11-year-old Jake Perreault, 16-year-old Arianna Roberts, eight-year-old Paityn Roth, nine-year-old Shannon Scott and 16-year-old Garrik Waswa.
Blythe Haynen, the community engagement manager at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care said the awards are a culmination of the annual Step Up Campaign in support of child abuse prevention, in conjunction with the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay.
“This year we really focused on empowering children and youth and really supporting them to build their confidence. Today we’re here celebrating 10 amazing youth,” Haynen said.
The awards were presented by Indigenous author Wab Kinew, who presented each recipient with a copy of his new children's book, Go Show the World.
