The Nuu-chah-nulth Tlupiich Games Committee will host the 2014 Youth Role Model Contest tonight at House of Gathering starting at 5:30 p.m.
Formerly known as the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Princess Pageant, the NTC Youth Role Model celebration is inclusive of all young Nuu-chah-nulth people who are interested in demonstrating strong cultural, positive, healthy lifestyles to the younger generations.
The last Nuu-chah-nulth Princes and Youth Role Model, sisters Jessica and Keanna Hamilton of Hupacasath, were crowned summer 2012.
There was no pageant in 2013 due to low interest and the reigning princess and youth role model agreed to perform their duties for another year.
This year nine contestants have signed up.
The Youth Role Model Celebration will feature introductory speeches from the contestants, as well as a talent show and presentation by each contestant.
The successful senior and junior youth role models will be expected to attend Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council functions as requested.
Contestants for Junior Youth Role Models are:
Bret Watts, 16, is excited to begin Grade 11 at Alberni District Secondary School (ADSS). He talked about how tough it was to transition from middle school to high school with the differences in the two systems.
“I’m proud of myself for doing as well as I did in making the transition,” he said, adding it was difficult but he found his way through it.
Bret is already planning his college future when he hopes to attend Simon Fraser University or the University of Victoria.
“I want to go somewhere further away from home than Nanaimo, but somewhere close enough so that I can come back home anytime I want,” he said.
Bret credits his parents Sterling and Victoria Watts for his educational success. The young go-getter has won a scholarship every year that he’s been in in school since the first grade. That’s 10 scholarships in a row.
He also thanks late Eileen Haggard for always checking on him at school and for pushing him to succeed. Of Miss Bun, as Eileen Haggard was affectionately known, Bret said, “Wherever she is now, I hope she will see I am becoming who she believed I could be.”
He also acknowledges Native Education Worker Richard Samuel for his help and encouragement.
So with the school year ended, it’s no wonder Bret’s favorite pastime is spending more time outdoors with friends. “My friend has his ‘N’ so now we can drive around and enjoy the free time,” he said.
In the evenings Bret works at the local theatre.
Margaret August, 20, is from Ahousaht and is the daughter of Lorna Elliot and Chuck August. She is spending her summer caring for her younger brothers and volunteering at the Port Alberni Friendship Center.
Margaret looks forward to finishing her upgrading so that she can begin taking Early Childhood Education Training. Margaret loves to be around her family and she loves listening to music.
Her volunteer work at the Friendship Center allows her to be around children, which is great because Margaret loves to work with kids.
It was someone at the Port Alberni Friendship Center who first told Margaret about the NTC Youth Role Model Contest and suggested she sign up. If she’s selected as a youth role model, Margaret hopes that she can help children learn why it is important to respect elders and all people.
Evelyn Thomas is a 17-year-old young Tseshaht lady who will be starting Grade 12 in the fall. She dreams of going to UBC and then to medical school to become a pediatrician. Her parents are Pamella Lange and Rick Thomas.
Evelyn likes to play basketball and loves playing music. She plays the saxophone and the clarinet.
Evelyn says she entered the competition when a friend urged her to do it.
“I want to show the younger generation that no matter how hard you push you’ll always achieve something even with a busy schedule,” she said.
Nona Marchand, 19, is the daughter of Wendy Thompson and James Marchand. The young Ditidaht woman will be going into her second year of university studies this fall. She is a UBC student who is excited to begin her first year of the Native Indian Teacher Education Program (NITEP).
When asked what makes her most happy Nona giggles, “My dog makes me smile every day because she’s like my child.”
Nona loves the outdoor activities she can do in the summer like kayaking and hiking. This summer Nona is taking her first kite-boarding lessons.
When asked why she entered the competition Nona replied, “I just thought I could be good role model for aboriginal youth today.”
She said she believes that there are some aboriginal youth who don’t believe in their abilities and may feel restricted.
“It feels like some of our youth feel embarrassed about their culture and I think it’s probably due to bullying in school…kids get bullied for being aboriginal,” she said.
Thompson said she believes in education and healthy living. “If you put in the hard work you can have a life that’s so good,” she said.
“I want people to feel proud of being aboriginal because it is so amazing,” said Nona.
Kevin Titian Jr., 17, Tseshaht, is looking forward to starting Grade 12 in the fall. His parents are Kevin and Emerald Titian.
Kevin loves playing basketball so much that he plays on two different teams. He plays for his high school on the ADSS Armada team, and he also plays for the Nuu-chah-nulth Young Guns.
Kevin first heard about the Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Role Model competition when friends pressured him to sign up. He admits he wasn’t very interested until he went to the first meeting and heard organizers talk about what it was about and what would be expected of the Youth Role Model.
“They made me realize I could be a role model because of how athletic and healthy I am. I don’t drink or smoke so I can show kids out there that there are other teenagers that are healthy and don’t plan on doing anything bad,” he explained. “Basketball is not a not a drug but it is mine and I use it to keep on smiling,” he told Ha-Shilth-Sa.
Leigh-Anne White is a 21-year-old Hupacasath First Nation young mother. Her parents are Jennifer McCarthy and Herman White. She is proud to be the granddaughter of the Willie Tatoosh.
Leigh-Anne took time off of school to raise her now two-year-old son and is looking forward to going back to school to complete grades 11 and 12.
Her favorite pastime is weaving with cedar and she is now making a hat.
She also enjoys culture and spending time with elders.
“I like cultural dancing and singing, being active with community,” she said, adding that she goes to elder’s conferences and gatherings with her grandmother.
“I like being around people and learning and I think it’s a good idea to keep our culture alive,” she said.
Hunter Jimmy, 15, of Ahousaht, Elijah Robinson of Uchucklesaht, and Shaelynne Williams of Ditidaht were not available by press time.
