Koostachin adjusts to urban life

When Craig Koostachin moved to Timmins in 2008, he had to overcome numerous challenges to adjust to urban life.
The Attawapiskat First Nation member grew up in several communities along the James Bay coast, including Fort Albany and Moose Factory, where he spoke primarily Cree and took part in traditional activities.
So Koostachin experienced culture shock when he moved with his family to the city as a 14-year-old.
“I didn’t know how to talk to people,” he said. “And I had a problem with speaking English most of the time. I was mumbling a lot.”
Koostachin also experienced racism, whether it was remarks from non-Native students about First Nations living off taxpayers or suggestions he should cut his long hair.
“Sometimes I get bothered by the Timmins Police because of the way I dress,” Koostachin said.
“Because they’re looking for a Native man with long hair.”
Despite feeling overwhelmed by the cultural changes, Koostachin persevered. As a student at O’Gorman High School, Koostachin joined a dramatic arts class to help him break out of his shell. It also helped him to “get better pronunciation” when speaking English.
When Koostachin was in Grade 11, he joined his high school’s Link Leadership program, where he helped incoming Grade 9 students to adapt to high school. Koostachin focused on helping students coming from northern communities such as Peawanuck and Fort Albany adjust to city life.
“My job was to show them what to do and how to deal with stereotypes and racism,” Koostachin said. “And I just show them the ropes and guide them.”
The program had Koostachin undergo leadership training through a variety of courses. For two days that winter, he organized a drum circle and snowshoe trip for a group of 45 students from Ottawa involved in the program, and he taught them about Aboriginal culture.
“And these kids were all bundled up and I said, ‘You guys are gonna sweat in there,’” Koostachin said of the snowshoe trip. “Sure enough, they got cold and I had to make a fire.”
Koostachin, who joined the program again in Grade 12, gained personal growth through the program.
“I’d say I became stronger because you get benefits,” he said. “For me it was about communication and sharing and leadership skills.”
That same school year, Koostachin wanted to learn about radio production, and so through his high school’s cooperative education course, he found a placement at the local Wawatay Radio Network office where he learned how to produce commercials for the station.
“We had good people who taught me and took me under their wing,” he said.
Since September 2010, Koostachin has volunteered for more than 300 hours at the station.
It was while he had his placement that Koostachin discovered that the Timmins Native Friendship Centre had a youth hour radio show at the station every Friday. Koostachin joined other youth in the program and when the rest of the youth stopped showing up, he took it upon himself to continue the show and teach himself to operate the switchboard.
During the program, he shares his personal stories and interviews others who overcame their own challenges.
“My mandate is to motivate, inspire and educate people,” Koostachin said. “I use positive stories here and there and send messages to the James Bay youth out there and help them.”
Hosting a radio program had its challenges but like he has throughout his life, Koostachin kept at it and is now more comfortable talking into the microphone.
“With my experience I’ve become more open and willing to speak,” he said. “Sometimes I don’t hesitate to speak. I used to be slow and have more dead air.”
During a recent show, Koostachin told listeners that he has rediscovered a love for photography. As a child, his parents gave him a film camera and he recalled taking a lot of photos but stopped. When he received an iPhone last year, he used its camera to take photos.
“I never considered myself a photographer,” he said. “I just liked taking pictures.”
An Ottawa teacher in the Link Leadership program noticed Koostachin’s abilities and asked if he had a DSLR camera, to which Koostachin said he could not afford one.
A month later, “out of nowhere, I got (a DSLR camera) in the mail saying this is for you,” Koostachin said.
With only a little photography knowledge gained from part of a high school course, Koostachin was determined to learn and bought $200 worth of photography books.
But being a broadcaster or a photojournalist is not Koostachin’s first career choice. The 18-year-old plans on becoming a filmmaker.
“It was in December 2004, after watching The Producers that inspired me to become a filmmaker,” he said, adding that watching films was how he learned English as a child.
“I was always watching movies and it was hidden right under my nose.“
Koostachin said friends always ask him to edit a short movie for them or to be the camera operator. He believes his photography skills should translate well in the trade.
“I love editing my pictures to look like movie stills,” he said. “I’m good at envisioning how to tell these stories with images. It would be a suitable job.”
Koostachin plans on going to film school in southern Ontario once he finishes another year in high school.
Koostachin has come a long way since moving to the city. When he lived up north, he used to get into a lot of fights.
“Since I moved here, I haven’t gotten into any physical (altercations),” he said. “I disciplined myself through dramatic arts and I put the negativity in my life and release it through the things I do.”
The youth radio show hosted by Koostachin can be heard every Friday at 3:30 p.m. on Wawatay Radio Network.