Youth role models reaching out to peers across region

Three First Nations youth from Thunder Bay have a message: Get inspired!
The trio are reaching out to other youth across northwestern Ontario about bullying, substance abuse, family relationships and how to deal with anger.
“I’ve met so many kids and we’ve had talent shows with a lot of talented people,” said Sara Kanutski, a 12-year-old singer who has been presenting youth role model workshops with singer Natasha Fisher and deejay Classic Roots since this past March. “They’re just great to be around.”
Fisher was impressed with the response from the youth in her father’s home community of Long Lake #58.
“Their energy there is just so crazy,” Fisher said. “They were constantly dancing and when they got excited they just yelled and screamed. It was awesome.”
Fisher and Kanutski usually sing during the workshops while Classic Roots performs his hip-hop music.
“We sing and we promote drug-free and healthy living to First Nations and to towns,” Fisher said. “We inspire them to do what they want to do.”
Kanutski and her father Ron Kanutski raved about a six-year-old singer from Geraldton who sang a Selena Gomez song during the talent show portion of a recent three-day workshop.
“She sings and she dances and she’s really outgoing,” Kanutski said. “She has great stage presence.”
Kanutski encouraged the six-year-old singer and other youth to aim for their dreams.
“It’s great to help people out, to see what their dream is.”
Although Kanutski and Fisher have been missing school while presenting the workshops, they have been keeping up by doing assignments on the road.
“It’s a lot of work, but I’m doing it for what I dream,” Kanutski said.
She has been striving to become an international singer since she was nine.
“I’m hoping to establish ... a fan base in Thunder Bay.”
Classic Roots enjoys working with youth in the communities, teaching them how to deejay and break-dancing techniques.
“We’ve been doing some healing teachings and some performances,” Classic Roots said. “At the end of the workshop, I turn on the music and have an exciting, jumping dance (where) people go wild.”
Ron Kanutski said the youth presenters also provide advice to youth on how to deal with different situations.
“One of their biggest messages is to be drug and alcohol free,” he said. The youth are also encouraged to focus on living out their dreams, following their passions, gifts and striving to do their best. “I find their message is more powerful than mine because they can relate to young people.”
Kanutski said talented First Nations youth also lack outlets to showcase their skills.
“They just don’t get seen and they don’t get acknowledged,” he said. “I want to make changes with that: I want young people to be found, I want them to be recognized and I want them to pursue their dreams.”
While many youth are currently recording their own tracks and making their own beats, he said they don’t know what to do next to get their name out in front of a listening audience.
To address his concern, Kanutski is looking for a space in Thunder Bay where youth can perform their music in front of an audience in a drug and alcohol-free atmosphere.
“I’d like to reinstitute some of the dances they had here years ago,” Ron Kanutski said. “I remember there was a lot less substance abuse back then because youth were busy, even the young adults started to attend. It started to become a really happening place.”