Happy New Ears NAN Youth! ….I mean New Year!

Jocely Formsma Contributor

The holidays are a great time for reflection on the year that has passed.  I hope you were able to learn from everything that has taken place this past year.  December 21st was the winter solstice – the longest night of the year, the day with the least amount of light.  Similar to some times in our lives it may feel like we won’t see light again, we must remember that the days ahead can only get brighter.

The NAN Youth Council has marked a new beginning:  2010 was the end of the NAN Decade for Youth Development so the NAN Decade for Youth Council sought a new name.  We will now be known as “Oshkaatisuk: The Nishnawbe Aski Nation Young Peoples Council.” This is a name that will carry us through the next 10 years and beyond!

The logo was donated by Patrick Cheechoo.

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation Seven Sacred Teachings Conference wrapped up in Thunder Bay at the end of January. Thank you to everyone who participated and volunteered and we hope to see you again next year!

I always love the new year because it brings new opportunities.  You can think about the year ahead and make plans for all kinds of things that you want to do.  Read more books, plan a trip to somewhere you have never been, or start getting in shape!  By the way I hope that some of you signed up for the SEVEN Fitness Challenge! This was the first time SEVEN has done something like this and they might be doing this again sometime so keep an eye out! The program began in January and the final weight in for this program is February 26th, 2010!

No matter where you are, you can always work toward something you want to do – the hardest part is getting started.  Once you’ve started though, I find it’s always easier to keep the momentum going.  Personally, there are several things on my ‘to-do’ list this year, but I think I would like to start off by getting back into shape, and learning to play guitar.  

So, look forward to the New Year with hopes and plans ahead because you are what you do, not what you have done.  Every day is an opportunity to be the person you want to be.