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WEKWEETI/SNARE LAKES
Mario DesForges is a big man. At 7 a.m., waiting for a Cessna flight that likely won't come, bundled in a Canada Goose parka that does little to undermine his imposing presence, DesForges is quiet, and just a little frustrated.

He's been trying to fly into Wekweeti for three days to host a judo camp at the community's school, and on the morning of March 22 the look given him by the Air Tindi attendant isn't promising.

"We'll know in about half an hour," DesForges says, and shrugs. "You don't argue with the weather."

DesForges is a Montrealer with 12 years experience in the North. Based out of Yellowknife, he is the founder of Judo Nunavut, holds a black belt in both judo and jujitsu, and is writing a book about the history of judo in the North. As a coach, he has sent three athletes to international competitions including his daughter, Gabrielle, who is currently fighting at a camp in Germany with teammate and fellow disciple, Mason Storm Bruneau.

DesForges is a sensei in every sense of the word. He's spent his winter flying into remote communities to help bring his passion for judo to students who otherwise might never see a judogi (the traditional uniform combatants wear), much less get the chance to experience the sport themselves.

"These communities, they don't have the infrastructure or even enough kids to have a real hockey team or something," DesForges says. "You'll have maybe 30 kids, but all different ages and sizes, so teams are difficult."

Finally, the desk attendant waves and gives the good news. The weather has cleared and the flight is going. The clouds across DesForges' brow also lift as he grabs his duffel full of Judo NWT shirts and heads for the plane.

"It's a lot of fun," the big man smiles.

"We'll play some games and I'll show them some exercises, some videos about judo and try to teach them a few things," he says with growing excitement.

By the time the Cessna Caravan touches down on the deserted Wekweeti airstrip an hour later, DesForges' entire attitude has changed. He's fairly bouncing with excitement as the pilot unloads his bags.

"Greg (Hopf, executive director of the Aboriginal Sport Circle) and I have been talking about this program for two years," DesForges explains. Securing a budget was the most difficult part, he says. Currently DesForges operates his program with $11,000 a year. But to really compete with programs run by other provinces, he says he'd need something closer to $250,000 a year. That, however, is likely a long way off, so he and the sports circle make do with what they have.

He says the idea for the program came while he was teaching judo in Iqaluit. More than 90 per cent of his students were aboriginal, DesForges says, and he began to realize that there were whole communities of kids he wasn't able to reach.

"We have the same values, the same kids in the 18 communities I now can visit; they just need to be given the same opportunities. It's our responsibility to make sure that happens," he says.

That is more than just a pleasant mantra. As Steve MacFaden, the principal at the Alexis Arrowmaker School says, opportunities like this are rare in Wekweeti.

"They don't get these chances too often," MacFaden says. "Getting in here is quite a challenge. We have no lights on the runway, and flying is a challenge, especially this time of year. We've had 15 visitations cancelled due to weather alone this year."

The Alexis Arrowmaker school has 25 students, from kindergarten to Grade 9. There are only 10 present for the Judo camp because of travel delays some families faced returning from March break. Even so, the ones that are here are eager, staring curiously through the gym's glass doors as DesForges sets up his obstacle courses and video projector.

When everything is set, the kids file into the gym for a slideshow presentation explaining the history of Judo and a video of some of DesForges' older athletes competing. The children are restless, prodding and poking each other as their attention spans wane.

"Hey, stop," DesForges commands, and the kids listen. "Respect and self-control. That's what judo is all about. You have to show respect and self-control."

DesForges explains that the basic tenants of Judo are what makes it such an apt tool, not just for teaching sportsmanship and athletics, but for helping kids build a strong foundation for all aspects of their lives.

"I teach the kids that judo is not a destination, it is a process, a journey," DesForges says.

It can take nearly two years of practice and training for athletes to develop the musculature and co-ordination to fight and throw their opponents safely, DesForges says, and learning to be patient is part of the process.

One of the most important aspects of DesForges' work focuses on disadvantaged youth in the North.

"For a Northern kid, sports is expensive, but how much more expensive to the community is it for kids to get swept up by the revolving door of our justice system? Many of these kids come from dysfunctional homes and are dealing with family trauma," DesForges says.

He tells one story about leaving work one afternoon in Iqaluit and crossing paths with a seven-year-old boy, cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other. DesForges asked where the child lived, and took him home.

"Everyone was drunk in his house. When I told my wife, she said 'you have to do something about this.' Sometimes the only safe places these kids have are at school and at judo practice," DesForges says.

But for as many troubling stories as DesForges tells, he has just as many success stories. One of the newer ones, he hopes, might very well come from Wekweeti.

"That is the fun thing about judo. We never know who can do it. Sometimes the most quiet, shy kids really want it, work really hard and can do it," he says.

DesForges sees that potential in 11-year-old Laylu Judas, a Grade 4 student at Alexis Arrowmaker. Throughout the day she was asking questions, seeking guidance and motivating her classmates.

"I'd seen Judo before on the Internet. I thought it was great. When I heard Mario was coming I was really excited. I'd really like to keep doing it," Judas said.

As well as hosting one-day camps, DesForges also maintains a website where he posts instructional YouTube videos and sets up one-on-one Skype chats with students in remote communities.

"I don't like to just show up one day and leave. I try to stop, take time and make a connection with the kids to keep them included," DesForges says.

That fits just fine with Judas, who says she hopes to make judo a part of her life.

"I like how athletic it is, and it's got its own culture that we can learn. We can follow along with the videos. I'm sad Mario's not coming back tomorrow," Judas says.

The Wekweeti trip is DesForges' last of the series. As the Cessna lifts off that evening, he is already talking about his future plans for the program, enthusiastically rattling off the names of other sanseis to network with and anticipating the promise many of his 1,500 students display.

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