Third World Canada: tales from KI Youth

Six youth from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug are currently on an Ontario tour, showing the film 3rd World Canada about suicide in the community and talking to audiences about living conditions in a remote First Nation.
Elton Beardy is one of the youth on the tour. Before he left for the kickoff event in Toronto, Wawatay sat down with Beardy to talk about the tour and his message for the people of Ontario.
Elton Beardy (EB): The tour is for a film called 3rd World Canada, and it deals with the issue of suicides in First Nations communities, particularly my community KI, and the issues of one family and how suicide has affected the children and the community.
The tour is about raising awareness of all these issues that First Nations peoples face in our communities, and hoping to create dialogue with Canadians. It is for Aboriginal peoples to talk with non-Aboriginal peoples and educate them to hopefully create change, to be able to work through reconciliation, and work through hope, so that we can create a better future for ourselves.
Wawatay (WWT): At what point did you decide to be involved in this tour, and why did you make that decision?
EB: Initially I didn’t know what the film was. I was just here in Thunder Bay and a friend told me there was going to be a film screening about my community. What drew me to it, it was about a girl that I knew, who I grew up with. She was my cousin. It was my relatives in the film, and of course my community.
That was in September 2010. We went to Lakehead University where the screening was being held, and watched the film. I didn’t know what to expect. It was packed. And the way the community responded to it at the end of the film, through what I saw, the emotions and what people said, as well as what the presenters spoke about, it really sparked a want for change for myself personally, but also for my community. And Andree (the filmmaker) really appreciated that, after I spoke to say why this film matters to me. She had me attend the Ottawa premiere in December, where I participated as a community member along with our drum group over there, and I got to speak at these events. That afternoon we sat around her kitchen table in her apartment in Ottawa and we talked about this tour, about what this tour will be and what we hoped it will do. Initially it was just a fun idea that we talked about over coffee, and I never thought it would take off like it has. So I’m excited, I’m excited to go.
WWT: What did you see in that Ottawa premiere from the audience that convinced you that tour could accomplish what you want it to accomplish?
EB: I saw a lot that evening. It was an amazing experience, a life-changing experience. I feel that week was where things changed for me personally, just through what I saw there. We had about 600 people there, well over what we were expecting. When I looked there out in the audience, you could see how it affected them.
As well for me it was really healing and encouraging to have our drum group there with us, the first drum in over a century. And seeing all of my old friends, some of my family members there, and hearing the positive response we got from our community members about how they feel about the experiences in the film, it really changed me. Looking back I can definitely say that this film could change things for the better, and perhaps act as a catalyst for change in people as well. Not just as nations, but as individuals.
WWT: For you personally, what message are you bringing with you to people in the south?
EB: The message I really want to give them is that there is still hope for change. And that in relations between the First peoples with non First Nations, there can still be harmony. That what happened in the past we can move forward from. And no matter where we are at, if we can educate ourselves about each other, about what we face on a daily basis, then we can create dialogue with each other and come to a common understanding and a common goal for positive change. Not only for us, but for our children. It’s important that we think about the next generations to come.
A lot of our traditional teachings stress that though we sit in separate pieces of the medicine wheel, we’re all united in that circle. That everyone is welcomed and accepted in that circle. That you have to do everything you can to help each other to walk in a good way. I want these people to know that this way is still there, the way for us is still there. It will take a lot of work, but it is still possible.
WWT: When I was talking to Andree about the tour, she brought up how powerful it was to have the community drum there. You mentioned it earlier. What does it mean to you and to your community to have the drum with you on the tour?
EB: It means a lot more than what we as people can perceive. That drum not only represents the voices of our community members, but it also represents the spirits of our ancestors and the creator. It is important that we let people know it represents a lot more than just a community, but life itself.
For me it was at the drum that I’ve gotten to know myself, that I’ve gotten to know what it’s like to walk in a good way, to speak in a good way, to sing in a good way. And a lot of what our people, our youth in particular, don’t know is what this drum can do for them. Our community is predominantly Christian, and a lot of them don’t understand what this way of life means. So this drum speaks on our behalf, to bring not only other Canadians but its own people in a call to understand, in a call for changes in the community. That’s what this drum means coming on the tour with us. It’s a huge step. The weight of responsibility that we have as carriers, as singers, as speakers with this drum with us is a lot more than what we can imagine it to be. That is why we have to do this in a good way.
WWT: I’d like to get your thoughts on the fact that on this tour it is youth voices being brought out. What does that signify to have the youth voices representing the community?
EB: It represents a time of change. It represents a new season. It’s an important time for us as nations, as indigenous peoples of North America that now our children, our youth will be the ones who take the future of our peoples, the future of our traditions, the future of our culture, our language, our faith forward. And it’s an important time not only for us but for all youth around the world, where we have to choose for ourselves where we go.
A lot of what we do does matter. A lot of what we have to do for each other relies on the strength of our youth, on the strength of our children, so that they are able to learn to live in a good way. Not only for themselves but for all people around the world, for all colours, all nations, all cultures. It is not only for ourselves that we do these things, but it is for others. That is how it is in our traditions. It is for others that we do things. And it must be sustainable for seven generations, for our children and their children thereafter.
WWT: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
EB: Speaking as a native person living in an urban environment, it’s important that we teach youth about these traditions. The issue of suicide, when somebody takes their life, it affects the entire community. That pain will be with everybody, not only the family but the entire community. It will always be there. And if we do not bring forward reminders that there is a path for them to heal, they will wander. They will not understand. That pain will affect them in more ways than we can realize. And that creates a cycle.
We cannot afford to take our children for granted, to take this opportunity for granted. We cannot to just let them go. As I said before it’s a time to choose where we go, what we do and how our lifetimes will be spent. And what we’ll leave our children. And this goes for everybody. It’s important. Not only this tour, but what we do afterwards will be the most important. Will we let these sparks fade, or will we let it burn? Will our voices cry out in unison, or will they fade? What I want people to ask themselves is, what do you choose?