Stephanie Wesley

River of Tears Powwow to help youth in Thunder Bay

Create: 12/16/2017 - 03:53
Author: 
Stephanie Wesley

Fred Ice is part of a seven-person committee that is spearheading the River of Tears Powwow in Thunder Bay on Dec. 30 as a way to raise awareness of the plight that Indigenous youth face in the city.

Ice said that the theme of the powwow, hosted by Marten Falls First Nation, is ‘honouring the youth.’ The powwow is titled River of Tears, which is what many have referred to the Neebing-McIntyre River in Thunder Bay as after the drowning deaths of youth in the water. There have been several deaths of First Nations youth in the water since 2000.

New racism reporting tools available in Thunder Bay

Create: 07/22/2017 - 02:51
Author: 
Stephanie Wesley

Thunder Bay now has another way to report experiences with racism with the launch of a new racism-reporting tool open to the public.

The City of Thunder Bay’s Anti-Racism and Respect Advisory Committee, in partnership with Diversity Thunder Bay and Lakehead Social Planning, released an online tool for reporting racism experienced or witnessed by the public.

The tool comes hot on the heels of a Statistics Canada report released in June that listed Thunder Bay as the city with the most police-reported hate crimes per capita.

Resilience of Aboriginal women

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:34
Author: 
Stephanie Wesley

So I entered a poetry contest recently, the first time I have ever done so. That last statement would sound hard to believe if you knew me and my affinity for the written word (and writing said written word). I’ve always written stuff.
I’ve written lyrics, short stories, long stories and bad eight grade poetry (my favourite kind of poetry because there are no words as emotional, self-centered, and self-loathing as that of a 13-year-old girl).

Playing with fire

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:32
Author: 
Stephanie Wesley

If old habits die hard, then maybe it will be best to avoid developing certain habits to begin with.
One habit in particular sticks out the most for me – irresponsible alcohol consumption. If you read the label on any bottle of alcohol, it says to “please drink responsibly.” Does anyone really listen to the label? Those three words have little to no affect once the bottle is opened and the drinks start pouring. It’s like images of cancer-ridden lungs and charts of mortality rates on cigarette packs - the warnings are pretty much ignored.

Staying through the teenage journey

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:32
Author: 
Stephanie Wesley

I recently had a worrying conversation with a troubled teen through an online social-networking site.
This young lady resides in a very isolated community where the Internet is the fastest way to reach the outside world. There were public posts made by this girl in which she threatened suicide. This disturbed me immensely, as it should anyone else who would read such posts.

Pic River comic takes Thunder Bay Idol

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:31
Author: 
Stephanie Wesley

Thunder Bay’s Comic Idol was an award Todd Genno didn’t expect to win.
The 27-year-old Pic River First Nation member had not even planned on entering the contest until a few days before the show. Genno jokes that he was “too cheap to pay for a ticket,” so entering the contest allowed him to get into the show and watch his friend Ron Kanutski perform for free.
By the end of the night on April 27, Todd’s frugal act of saving himself the $20 ticket fee earned him a cool $750.

For the children

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:31
Author: 
Stephanie Wesley

My son looks so happy when he is running through the apartment from room to room, some random toy in hand, with a huge smile on his face. He is just a little guy and he is a very happy one.
He lives in a home where pictures of him adorn the walls – his possessions have taken over the place and the TV is always tuned in to Treehouse.
He is the center of this little universe. He is the sun – to his father and me, anyway.
He is our only one.

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