Taking back tradition
Boozhoo, my name is Mariah Jourdain. I’m 20 years old, and I’m from Lac La Croix First Nation. I was enrolled in the nursing program at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay for two and a half years. In September 2008, I will be transferring to Shingwauk University in Sault Ste. Marie to take Anishinaabe Studies. I am starting to see the deeper value of an education, and how I can specifically use an Anishinaabe Studies degree to help our people.
Growing up, I had close relationships with my mother and father. My family always emphasized the importance of an education and getting good grades was effortless for me. My parents were strict, but also very loving, and they worked hard. After I was born, they stopped drinking so it wasn’t in the household. My great-grandmother, my Donko, came to live with us in Thunder Bay. She was a very traditional woman. She never touched alcohol or drugs or spoke badly about anyone. She didn’t tell any of my relatives how to live a good life; she exemplified it.
Things began to change for me after my first year of high school. I was in the Pre-International Baccalaureate Program, an enriched high school program that would have given me a great advantage in applying to universities. Then my parents separated, and by the time I was 16 my life as I knew it was completely different. My Donko was in an Elders’ home, my parents, my siblings, and my nephews had all moved out of Thunder Bay, and I dropped out of the Pre-IB program. I lived on my own for a while with my cousin and after that I boarded with other relatives. I began to party a lot with my friends. I skipped school and my grades suffered. I still managed to pass, but my grades were a far cry from what they used to be. I stopped dancing at powwows and I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. I started to realize that I wasn’t happy. I needed to be responsible and make the effort to get my old life back.
My life began to take a different direction when I moved to Wisconsin to live with my dad and finish high school. I became refocused on my education and began to excel academically once again. My days consisted of school, powwows and basketball. I was happy. With my high ACT scores and my class rank, I was set to attend a prestigious school in the States. Instead, I chose to come back to Thunder Bay and go into nursing.
At Lakehead University, I enrolled in the Native Nurses Entry Program. It was a great experience and they went above and beyond to get the students ready for the regular nursing program. Finding housing wasn’t difficult for me, but supporting myself with limited student allowance was challenging. Looking back, I realize that I wasn’t satisfied in the nursing program. I always felt like I could be doing something more. Then I learned about Shingwauk University and the new Anishinaabe Studies program running for the first time in September 2008. Upon completion of my degree, I hope to further my education. If we can become learned, we can take our knowledge and skills back to our communities and make positive changes. The future is in our hands. We can make a difference for those who come after us. We need to respect the land, each other and ourselves. Whether it be through gaining an education, or taking back our language and traditions, we can become a strong nation.
Today, I go to sweats and ceremonies with my dad, step mom and my nephews. I spend my weekends in the summer on the powwow trail with my mom. I am proud to say that I am drug and alcohol free. I know that living this lifestyle doesn’t make me better than anyone. I try very hard to stay on the path I am on right now. All I know is that I wouldn’t be happier living any other way. I want to be able to show the younger ones in my family that they can be strong and also live in a good way. But I’m not here to preach to them, I want them to see it for themselves whenever they are ready. When they need some help, I am here.
Growing up, I had close relationships with my mother and father. My family always emphasized the importance of an education and getting good grades was effortless for me. My parents were strict, but also very loving, and they worked hard. After I was born, they stopped drinking so it wasn’t in the household. My great-grandmother, my Donko, came to live with us in Thunder Bay. She was a very traditional woman. She never touched alcohol or drugs or spoke badly about anyone. She didn’t tell any of my relatives how to live a good life; she exemplified it.
Things began to change for me after my first year of high school. I was in the Pre-International Baccalaureate Program, an enriched high school program that would have given me a great advantage in applying to universities. Then my parents separated, and by the time I was 16 my life as I knew it was completely different. My Donko was in an Elders’ home, my parents, my siblings, and my nephews had all moved out of Thunder Bay, and I dropped out of the Pre-IB program. I lived on my own for a while with my cousin and after that I boarded with other relatives. I began to party a lot with my friends. I skipped school and my grades suffered. I still managed to pass, but my grades were a far cry from what they used to be. I stopped dancing at powwows and I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. I started to realize that I wasn’t happy. I needed to be responsible and make the effort to get my old life back.
My life began to take a different direction when I moved to Wisconsin to live with my dad and finish high school. I became refocused on my education and began to excel academically once again. My days consisted of school, powwows and basketball. I was happy. With my high ACT scores and my class rank, I was set to attend a prestigious school in the States. Instead, I chose to come back to Thunder Bay and go into nursing.
At Lakehead University, I enrolled in the Native Nurses Entry Program. It was a great experience and they went above and beyond to get the students ready for the regular nursing program. Finding housing wasn’t difficult for me, but supporting myself with limited student allowance was challenging. Looking back, I realize that I wasn’t satisfied in the nursing program. I always felt like I could be doing something more. Then I learned about Shingwauk University and the new Anishinaabe Studies program running for the first time in September 2008. Upon completion of my degree, I hope to further my education. If we can become learned, we can take our knowledge and skills back to our communities and make positive changes. The future is in our hands. We can make a difference for those who come after us. We need to respect the land, each other and ourselves. Whether it be through gaining an education, or taking back our language and traditions, we can become a strong nation.
Today, I go to sweats and ceremonies with my dad, step mom and my nephews. I spend my weekends in the summer on the powwow trail with my mom. I am proud to say that I am drug and alcohol free. I know that living this lifestyle doesn’t make me better than anyone. I try very hard to stay on the path I am on right now. All I know is that I wouldn’t be happier living any other way. I want to be able to show the younger ones in my family that they can be strong and also live in a good way. But I’m not here to preach to them, I want them to see it for themselves whenever they are ready. When they need some help, I am here.
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