Whachay,

One would wonder if spring is here! This past weekend we experienced temperatures more in line with March weather.

While it is not unusual to have late season snow showers in April or even May, this year seems as if winter is still hanging on, delivering yet more cold and winter like weather. The ice on the local lakes is still thick. The sheets of ice are still attached to the shore and have not (as of Sunday April 26) released its hold from the ground.

I remember, years ago, sitting on the shore on a warm spring day when the ice let go of the lake bottom, floating up and having the water that was collecting on the ice surface to run off in a noisy cascade. It caught me by surprise, as I had never before experienced such an event. How many wonders of nature do we miss because we are no longer living as our ancestors did? Nature continues to provide opportunities to see the uniqueness and beauty that nature can deliver each day.

The colours of a warm summer sunset; rain fall during a thunder storm; a cold winter afternoon; a cool refreshing swim in a crystal clear lake; a moving, shifting display of northern lights; the sound of ice forming on a winter day; these are examples of gifts bestown upon all of us every day. Giving thanks to the Creator reinforces the respect for the gifts that each of us has.

On April 22, I was able to attend another wonder. This time it was a wonder of sharing, hard work, creativity and perseverance, Missanabie Cree’s Tracee Smith. Tracee has been working with young people for many years, giving back her gift of dance and vision. Tracee is a professional dancer, a grand daughter of Ken and Helen Nolan and the daughter of Vanessa and Raymond Smith.

Tracee used her gifts as a professional dancer in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto, as well as choreographing shows including the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. Over the last three years, Tracee has used her vision and drive to give back to the Aboriginal youth of Lac La Croix First Nation and Pikangikum First Nation through her charity Outside Looking In.

Through Outside looking In, Tracee worked with the students of the two communities since the beginning of the school year. She traveled to the communities by air and by car to direct and teach the students, preparing them for the opportunity to take centre stage at the largest theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto.

Pikangikum First Nation is located 1.5 hours north of Red Lake and has a population of 2,400 people on reserve.  The community is accessible by air with winter road access for only a few weeks each year.

Lac La Croix First Nation is a community of 250 members living on-reserve. The community is  located 124 kilometres south of Atikokan, on the Ontario/Minnesota border. It is accessible by an all- season gravel road.

The students, ranged in age from 12 years to 20 years, and are in grades 7-12. The students showed what hard work, dedication and commitment means. Initially the students were filled with fear of performing in front of an audience as well as apprehension for traveling to Toronto, as many had never been there before. However, it became clear during the performance how comfortable and fearless they were. Without any previous dance experience, the students demonstrated that reaching a goal is achievable for anybody.

The show itself was enjoyed by the over 700 people who attended it. Seeing the vision come true for Tracee was a gift that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was not only the students who had a life changing experience, the audience felt the positive impact of the evening as well.  It is too bad there is only one Tracee.

Congratulations Tracee and good luck with your future efforts in helping young people realize a dream and build on their gifts. You made us proud.

To see about Tracee and Outside Looking In  go to www.olishow.net.

Okie Mahkan Glenn Nolan