Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION
Wilfred Simon has taken a common practice - clipping newspaper and magazine articles, and then displaying them on a wall - and made it into something special.

A dozen years ago, Simon, a community wellness worker, came up with an idea a of collecting clippings about Fort Resolution and displaying them in the Community Wellness Program's drop-in area.

"I thought it would be good to put them on our wall so people could come and look at their pictures," he recalled. "It's a good history thing."

However, he and program co-ordinator Dollie Simon, who also helps collect the articles, didn't immediately put them on the wall.

"I think I put them up about five years ago," Wilfred said.

He estimates there are about 120 articles on the wall and about 180 more which he plans to add to the display.

"Most of them are from News/North," Simon said.

Other clippings come from Northern Journal (formerly The Slave River Journal) in Fort Smith, Up Here magazine, the Akaitcho Territory Government's newsletter and other publications.

Simon said the wall prompts a very positive reaction from people and has become a conversation piece.

"This is a one-of-a-kind wall," he stated.

People look at the articles on the wall and they'll sometimes say, 'Hey, that's me!' Simon noted. "People love it. They come here and look at it."

The wall is also a chance for families to see changes over the years, especially for children.

"They see themselves grow," Simon said, noting there is one photo of his daughter, who is now 15, from when she was eight years old.

In addition, he said there are stories and photos of friends and relatives who have been lost over the years.

"It's our history and it's a way of looking back through pictures," he said. "It's sometimes better looking at pictures than a story."

The wall is also enjoyed by visiting government officials who may know people in Fort Resolution.

Simon said he will continue adding to the display of articles.

"That's why I put it in plastic, so it doesn't fade away," he said, adding the articles will be taken to the Community Wellness Program's new location, which may move to another building from Fort Resolution's office complex sometime this year.

Simon said it's important that almost all the displayed articles are positive about Fort Resolution.

"It's all positive stuff, which is good," he said.

"That's what we need for our healing and our well-being, not always negative."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.