Well Im starting to feel excited and nervous now that elections are 1 week away. There have been many firsts during my candidacy as a school trustee in Ward 5 in the Winnipeg School Division. I remember my first meeting with Sharon Parenteau and Tom Simms in the spring time at the Windmill asked me to consider running for trustee in ward 5, I was nervous as hell. I remember the first time I walked up to someones door to try and convince them to vote for me in the upcoming civic elections, I was extremely nervous and anxious and didnt think the community members would accept me or take me seriously, I have become comfortable in talking to people at their doorsteps now and Ive come to understand that EVERYBODY cares about the education system and all the children that are in it, they want to see more young community based people involved in politics and education. I remember Tom Simms setting up meetings for me to go and visit people and get advice and support from, meeting different, amazing and dedicated people in the community has changed my perspective and understanding on what a community is. I remember receiving my first phone call from a community member supporting me, and another phone call from a hater telling me not to run for school trustee. I remember speaking at my first community forum at the West Central Womens Resource Centre, sharing my platform, lived experiences and ideas. Dont be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and make something happen, it is the only way that you will learn, if you dont reach the goal you had intended on reaching in the first place you will have gained good experience and knowledge either way. I have learned a lot of things about my community that I never understood before especially when it comes to voting and the political process for people in the inner-city. People wonder why there is such a low voter turnout rates in our inner-city communities. Why would people want to vote for candidates when they have never met them and the politicians/candidates have never reached out them to educate them and just build that simple relationship. The decisions that are made at the macro level of politics in Winnipeg dont really work in the favour of communities living in the inner-city. There is a serious disconnect between municipal politicians and inner-city communities and this needs to change, especially for school trustees and their relationships to their communities and schools. No disrespect to incumbents and past politicians/school trustees who have worked progressively to make schools positive and inclusive for everyone, but this is something that I would like to advocate for, that our school board and trustees build a stronger relationship to the communities that they work for. We have the largest urban Aboriginal population out of any city in Canada, why do we not have an Anishinaabe./Ininiw Immersion school in the Winnipeg School Division? It would be my dream to see this come into fruition. Those are just a few thoughts. In the end I am Anishinaabe and the only reason I do this is because I feel that I can help create some positive change for the youth in the school division. Education is the only way out of poverty, Justice Murray Sinclair always says that Education is the key to reconciliation and I am a firm believer in this and I try to live it for the youth so that we can all live together with mutual understanding and respect. We still got 1 week to campaign and I am happy and anxious lol get out there and try make some positive change for our future generations, your family, community and peoples!! get out and vote next week on Wednesday OCTOBER 22!!! SHOUTOUT TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS MAKING IT HAPPEN FOR ALL ELECTORAL CANDIDATES!!! FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN!!!
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 03:05:11 +0000
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