Finding the Right Balance

David Kistabish. Sophie Kistabish
June 29, 2011
Pikogan

"It's too much, unless you have 26-hour days."

David Kistabish, Anishinabe

As heirs of the past, Indigenous youth are at the centre of what’s to come. Between tradition and modernity, they must find their place. There are many challenges: preserving language and culture, affirming their identity, acquiring knowledge, learning skills… There’s also trying to be successful in a school system that doesn’t teach their history and whose calendar doesn’t match the activities of the territory: moose hunting in the fall, trapping in the winter. It’s a heavy burden, and sometimes it’s too much. This is when it’s important to catch your breath and find the courage not to get discouraged. The future is young and it belongs to them.