AUNDECK OMNI KANING—Last month, friends and family gathered at the Aundeck Omni Kaning (AOK) multi-use complex to root for youths from across Manitoulin as they strutted their stuff down an arctic chill-themed catwalk, showcasing their newfound self-esteem for all to see.
The ‘esteemed extravaganza’ was the culmination of two days of intensive, and fun, workshops led by Dave Jones of Turtle Concepts and his crew and sponsored by Mnaamodzawin Health Services.
“The culmination or next level of making the issues of confidence or self esteem public is to show how confidence looks and acts—we’re now going to show the community how it looks and acts,” Mr. Jones said of the fashion show event. “We’re about real shapes, real shades and real confidence.”
Mr. Jones explained that over the two days, the students would hear the life stories of the Turtle Concepts crew and are encouraged to share their own stories too.
“We are always promoting education as a vehicle for confidence,” he added
Mr. Jones said he left school teaching to launch Turtle Concepts because he saw a real need for the inclusion of self esteem in the school curriculum. “I saw that teachers didn’t get to be the ‘teacher’s pet’ because they didn’t know what they were good at. We teach them how to look, act and respond.”
“We’re about real shapes, real shades and real confidence.”
Mr. Jones shared that as a young man, he was bullied for being proud of who he was. “’Who do you think you are?’ they’d ask me. ‘Trying to act white?’ ‘No,’ I’d respond, ‘I just want to be better than where I come from, and there’s nothing wrong with that’.”
“I would try to put myself in their (the bully’s) mindspace,” he added. “’Why do they act like that?’ I come from a supportive home, they probably don’t.”
The shy group that first gathered together on the Thursday blossomed by Saturday evening as they were introduced to the catwalk and walked with confidence and grace before an adoring crowd. The room was outfitted in shades of blue, white and sparkles fitting for the classy affair. As the music pumped over the speakers, the youths knew they looked good as they posed for the audience, flashing smiles before heading back up the runway.
During the extravaganza, Mr. Jones called 21-year-old Austin Antoine of Zhiibaahaasing to the stage, telling the crowd that would be an apprentice ‘turtle’ and was heading with the Turtle Concepts crew to its next set of workshops in North Bay. Austin said he was excited to be chosen.
runway at the self esteem fashion show held by Turtle Concepts and Mnaamodzawin Health Services.
When asked about the affect of the workshops, Austin told The Expositor, “I see stuff differently, I’m more curious. I see people differently now.”
He noted that he was definitely feeling more confident now and really enjoyed the workshops, and the fashion show.
Austin said that while in North Bay he would be talking to the youths about his own experiences and how far he’s come. He explained that he has aspirations of becoming a professional snowboarder and one day heading to the Winter Olympics.
“It’s very inspiring, the whole thing,” Austin added. “It’s good for the kids, and they really enjoy it—it’s fun too.”
