By Rosalind Russell – Several teenagers from a school in Montreal are living the Northern Ontario Indigenous lifestyle in Espanola this week.
Jesuit Father Leonard Altilia and guidance counsellor Mike Greczkowski have brought 18 boys, all teens, from the Loyola High School, a Jesuit-run Catholic school in Montreal to the Anishinabe Spiritual Centre for Experience Week.
Father Altilia says the centre has been a yearly excursion which provides the teens with the opportunity learn about Indigenous teachings and history, and take part in activities like snowshoeing, hiking, building shelters, eating moose stew and more.
That also includes fundamentals such as building and lighting a Sacred Fire.
Next year will look a little different, he adds, with the arrival of girls since Loyola will become a coed school.
He says several students are in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, but the Northern Ontario experience provides these students with an opportunity to taste rural living in the natural environment provided by the centre.
Greczkowski adds the boys also leave their mark behind with building outdoor benches with last year’s group building picnic tables and before that, bat houses.
Father Altilia says the teaching system at their school is different, with secondary school beginning in grade seven, so by the time the students get to take part in Experience Week, they have four years under their belt.
He says the excursions changes many of their lives.
Two of the boys spoke about just that.
Adamo, who is 16, says he decided to come to the North because he had heard from fellow students who took part in it before that it was a life-changing experience.
“I only heard good things about how that week had changes their lives, so I thought I want to take this in,” says Adamo. “Snowshoeing for example, that was a whole new experience, the quiet, the winter setting, walking across the lake in unbroken snow, just seeing the beauty of this place is so awe-inspiring. The city is so very different, Being able to enjoy the trees, the clear air, it is just so beautiful.”
Fifteen-year-old Marcus says he also wanted to stay in the North to take in the opportunity to build relationships with his fellow students.
“It’s an opportunity to get to know my classmates outside of the classroom. Some of them who are here, I have never talked to them before. I want to know and understand their culture, as well as the culture of the people here at the centre. It is so different, and really a good experience. I won’t forget it. It’s beautiful here, people who live here are lucky.”
Despite the minus 25 temperatures, their spirits were high, and very competitive.
The teens are divided into two teams; the Eagles and the Bears and compete against each other in different activities throughout the week culminating with the winning team receiving a trophy, but all making memories that will last a lifetime.
Photos by Rosalind Russell
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