November 19, 2010
Nippissing University  - Aiming Higher Program, Conference and Celebration.

On November 19th, 2010 Debajehmujig was invited to participate in a unique post secondary preparation program for Aboriginal high school students in North Bay. Doug Dokis, Director of Nippissing University’s Aiming Higher Program, brought together Dallas Arcand, Derik Starlight and Don Burnstick along with Debajehmujig’s  - Best Medicine Troupe for a two day youth engagement conference that celebrates the leadership accomplishments and commitment to post secondary education of Aboriginal high school students during grade 11 and grade 12 in North Bay. The Aiming Higher Program utilizes senior Aboriginal high school students to support and assist younger Aboriginal students in their social and academic journey that starts in grade 9.

Some new students in North Bay have left small Northern communities that do not have a high school. They must leave their own families and billet with host families in the city. The change in community and life ways at such a young age that accompanies entry into high school, can be overwhelming for many students and their educational outcomes can be curtailed as a result. Nippissing University is taking a leadership role in addressing these issues through this program and the results are inspiring. Aboriginal youth in the Aiming Higher Program have significantly improved educational outcomes for themselves as well as those they support and assist through their activities and programs. The youth from the Aiming Higher Program were our Masters of Ceremony, our guides, our technical assistants and our coordinators during the conference gathering. They looked after the needs of each of the artists so that we could all make our most spirited contribution to the event.

Debajehmujig’s Best Medicine Troupe created a new work “Michael’s Journey”, featuring Teddy Syrette, Rob Schryer , Taz McLeod, Serina Merling, Isaac Kakegamik, and Allindsay Kakegamik. The new work was facilitated and directed by Bruce Naokwegijig and Matthew Manitowabi who lead the group to create this work as an interactive Forum Theatre piece. The group generated a “story spine”, basic characters and relationships in specific environments that highlighted principals of leadership in the Aiming Higher Program. The story spine generated four separate story strands or threads that were later selected by the audience at specific choice points during the performance.

Michael’s Journey was a comedic and energetic work that showed the emotional and social challenges faced by young people as they complete one phase of their education and identity at the end of secondary school and must then transition to greater autonomy and independence in a very foreign social and academic context.

Our experience with the Aiming Higher Program at Nippissing U. was a highlight of our fall season in Northern Arts Education. We were warmly welcomed by over 200 enthusiastic high school students in a really beautiful academic environment, that were filled with a generous spirit and wonderful sense of humor. Gchi Miigwech to Doug Dokis and the Aiming Higher Program. We are honored to be included in this important work for First Nations youth.