Director’s Message

Well. She’s gone, and I’m still a little sad. I remember when I first met Grace Winter. All the newspaper staff had gathered to discuss the future and direction of Wawatay at a strategic planning meeting. She and I stood at a balcony overlooking a beautiful lake on a break. It was then she told me  she’d wanted to work at Wawatay since she was nine. At that time I thought her revelation was odd in a pleasing sort of way because  a) you don’t often find nine-year-olds who already know what they want to do in life, and  b) she never strayed from her goal.

She was quiet when I first met her. I laugh now when I think about it, because she’s not at all a quiet person. She loves to joke and laugh and is fiercely loyal to those lucky enough to call her “friend.” Her other lifelong dream, she later revealed to me, was to start up a magazine for our youth. She went on to make her dream a reality. We have her to thank for the creation of SEVEN Youth Media Network. Congrats girl!

I’ve been there too. I announced to my family one summer that I was going down south to study journalism. One of my siblings was quick to tell me that I would fail. I like a good challenge, so my response was “Oh yeah? Watch me!” I hit some bumps on the way, but I made it to my first newspaper job, young, and a little shaky. I remember the morning after I joined The Daily Press. My first story had made the Front Page! For those of you who don’t know, it’s highly unusual for this to happen. Not bad for a little Cree girl from one of the tiniest reserves in NAN! The point I’m making is: if we all trust our instincts, tune out the naysayers and go for broke, there isn’t much we can’t do! Good luck people! I’m rootin’ for ya! (also, I won’t stop you if you feel compelled to introduce yourself to me and share your story here at SEVEN. I’m pretty friendly that way.)