Actor, hypnotist inspire students
Duo visit Whati as part of indigenous program called Going MILES
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Friday, June 5, 2015
WHATI/LAC LA MARTRE
Carmen Flunkie says she learned a lot during a youth leadership workshop at Mezi Community School earlier this month.
Dakota House, who played Tee Vee Tenia on the television show North of 60, and hypnotist Scott Ward visited Whati during the first week of May.
The pair travel throughout Canada delivering workshops to indigenous youth through a program called Going MILES (Motivate, Inspire, Lead, Empower, Succeed).
The student said House shared a variety of personal stories with students.
"I liked hearing him talking about his life experience," she said.
"I found it interesting when he said he was in a gang and he experienced a near-death experience."
Lessons and messages were geared toward each age group within the school, said principal John Sarapnickas.
"They did small groups and targeted different age groups of students," he said.
Older students learned about the importance of making responsible choices, such as creating healthy friendships.
"They're motivating in a sense to make kids feel better about themselves and who they are," Sarapnickas said.
Grade 8 student Danielle Drybones said she learned about the importance of being self-assured.
"It gives you confidence about growing up," she said.
The workshops also included Ward's hypnosis demonstration, which Flunkie said was one of her favourite parts of the week.
She said she doesn't remember being under hypnosis, but she can recall the feeling of relaxation she experienced.
"It's not scary," she said.
"You feel relaxed and you feel like nothing is bothering you."
Putting students under hypnosis helped to illustrate how the mind can be trained to cope with various situations, Sarapnickas said. Students learned how self-control can be used to prevent feelings like anger or fear from taking over their emotional state.
"The message after that is people don't realize how much they can control their emotions," he said.
"It was demonstrating how much power there is
in the mind and how much you can actually influence and change your view on life and your disposition and mood."
House and Ward delivered evening seminars to the community as well, where residents learned about conflict resolution tools, Sarapnickas said. They also held a hip-hop dance and community-building games.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the Whati community government helped sponsor the visit, Sarapnickas said.
He believes the experience won't soon be forgotten.
"In my opinion, the community and students will remember them for a long time," he said.
