Hi everyone;

What a gorgeous day it was this past Friday, March 24, 2006. The sun was shining as a team of students, along with Mike Huck and John Lyall, dismantled the mossy roof of the shed by the front enterance to Irwin Park and cleaned up the mess as we went.

I really enjoy the unique features of the First Nations Graduation Program and the Fast Forward to Graduation Program. I was commenting to Janet Rieken while we watched the induviduals work together in this endeavor. From ages 19 to the Elderly, everyone worked together putting together their skills, tools, and knowledge. It was not the typical "Teacher-Oriented Enviroment" that you see in the large public school systems. The students and the people volunteering their time in this project come together and work together - it becomes more of the "student-oriented enviroment". The older men shared their vehicles, their tools and skills of different trades they have gathered in their life time and everyone is equal and is respected equally.

While there is laughter, there is conversation about how to get the job done, and also the large concern about keeping eveyone safe. Everyone is looking out for each other. A little rain does not discourage the SPIRIT of the project. There is excitment and talk of next week chores to be completed. Other people also journey into the park to take care of filming and other jobs that need attention.

Work does not stop at the park but is also continued at the school where many exciting preparations are in the works for this beautiful park.

I wonder how the little River Otter Family feels about the hussle around them. I hope that they know how much the students repect them and enjoy the spirit of their liveliness. In my culture, I was taught that the animals and trees and plants are our Spirit brothers and sisters. They are alive and feel just as we do. Find the movie about plants that Stevie Wonder wrote a song about. It shows some amazing experiments and truth to this teaching. Give a tree a hug. Lie on the grass and look at the sky. Sit by the water trickling down the river and listen to nothing else. Watch the River Otter family play, swim, and frolick. It will be medicine for your dreary Spirit and make you realize how insignificate and small we really are. To connect with the outdoors and walk in the rain and feel at peace is a gift that is free to us. It a chance to pull away from all the negativity, disrespect, and violence that media bombards our Spirits daily. We just have to open our eyes and appreciate it the outdoors when the chance is there. The students of this program are lucky to have such an opportunity to have so many opportunities become available to them.

To everyone who is a part of this project, GOOD WORK!!! You will be setting a good example for your future children and their children and their children. I hope that more people can follow in your footsteps. This was the way of my Ojibway people. We worked side by side. The Elders guided the youth as the children learned their teachings and learned about the world around them. Everyone worked as one to make it all happen.

Chi-meegwetch for this awesome opportunity.

Respectfully;

Julie DeVries

Chippewas of Kettle and Stoney Point Reserve in Ontario.

I am over 40 years old.