AUNDECK OMNI KANING—Noojmowin Teg Health Centre’s Nelson Wood took his job of confiscating cellphones at the door of the Poweroff and Play (Good Life Conference) event held at the Four Directions Multiuse Complex in Audeck Omni Kaning (AOK) pretty seriously, even if it meant some long faces on a couple of teenagers (and maybe one or two adults). But it was all in a very good cause as families were taking a break from the electronic superhighway to reconnect with each other and the land.
“It was a great event for families to get together with their children,” said Anishinaabek Nation Grand Council Chief Pat Madahbee, who is the proud official community champion of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge. “I was there with my partner’s two grandchildren and we had a great time.” So did he surrender his cellphone? “You bet,” he laughed. “It was great, a nice peaceful day. Good thing too, because I was kept pretty busy trying to keep up with those kids.”
The initiative, a collaboration between Noojmowin Teg’s Healthy Living, Kids and Youth Program (that would be Mr. Wood’s role) and Daniel Bourgault’s local Healthy Kids Community Challenge.
“This is something I have believed in for quite a while,” said Mr. Wood. “Finding a way for families to reconnect face-to-face instead of through a computer or cellphone screen.”
The goal of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge is to support the well-being of children to “help create communities where it’s easy for children to lead healthier lives.”
photos by Vance Wood
“We set up a 24-hour challenge where families were encouraged to come on out for an indoor camping experience (with tents set up in the main gymnasium at the Four Directions Multiuse Centre in AOK) and the turnout was pretty good,” said Mr. Wood. “There were a couple of the teen girls when I was going around in the schools to promote the event who looked a little nervous at the idea, but the younger ones jumped right in.”
When it came down the moment of truth, Mr. Wood said that “there were a couple of Grade 7 and 8s who looked at each other, but when the event was over, everyone put up their hands when they were asked if they would participate again next year.” Turns out powering off can be a lot of fun.
There wasn’t really much time to fret about the lack of screentime, as the participants were kept busy with a whirlwind schedule of events.
“I even got to make a little leather medicine pouch,” said Grand Council Chief Madahbee.
While about 60 people participated in the sleepover, there were more than 100 who took part in the daytime events on Saturday.
“There was pretty much a perfect balance of events for young people and for adults,” said Mr. Wood, and of course a balance that included both. “It was enjoyable for all.”
Each participant received a backpack filled with tools for family events to take with them and Mr. Wood has been reaching out to participants to distribute a late-arriving pile of family games, courtesy of a $2,000 donation from Hasbro Quebec.
