My Journey to Onion Lake and Encounters with the Unexpected
My trip to Edmonton started with a thrilling drive to Lloydminster. The Trans-Canada Highway was a 283 km stretch of ice, shrouded in darkness. I white-knuckled it through near misses and what I thought were Northern Lights, but turned out to be low-lying clouds. There were cars and trucks in the ditch, with me driving in a province that I barely knew. When I finally entered llyodyminister, my GPS tried to send me on a U-turn when I was right by the hotel – thankfully, I trusted my instincts more than my “dumb GPS”!
My first presentation was at a school in Onion Lake, with grades 1 to 3. Walking into the auditorium, I was greeted by bare feet and Tootsie pops. I knew I had to engage these kids or risk losing them completely. To my relief, the 45-minute presentation went well, and the kids were fantastic.
The afternoon session with grades 4 to 8 was another challenge. This audience was tougher, but I managed to keep them engaged and avoid a riot. Afterwards, a few students even stayed back to talk, which was rewarding. These a the students in the first photo above.
Onion Lake, like many Indigenous communities, faces complex social and economic challenges. Substance abuse, poverty, and a lack of opportunity create a cycle that can be difficult to break. This is compounded by systemic issues and historical trauma, leading to apathy and a sense of hopelessness for some. These challenges are evident in the everyday realities of the community, from the presence of gangs and abandoned houses used as drug dens to the stray dogs roaming the streets. It was a stark reminder of the difficulties faced by many Indigenous communities in Canada. I learned upon arrival that the RCMP presence was heightened due to a recent murder, further underscoring the challenges faced by the community.
The next day, with the temperature at a frigid -20 degrees Celsius, I presented at the high school. The students were attentive, with one charismatic student named Cash volunteering for a demonstration. With his theatrical flair and expressive personality, Cash was a natural choice to involve in my presentation. He brought a dynamic presence that helped engage the students. As a girl walked by me she told me the presentation was “awesome”! I always hope my message resonates with these kids and provides some guidance.
The influx of oil money into the community brought with it drugs and gangs, like the Westside Outlaws (associated with the Hells Angels), who prey on vulnerable youth. The history of residential schools in Onion Lake is also a dark chapter. A local man shared how he and others would wear earphones at night in the residential school to block out the horrific sounds. He recounted the story of a six-year-old boy who was tragically dragged down the stairs from the third floor and killed, and whose ghost is now said to haunt the building.The residential school in Onion was St, Anthony’s. It was in operation from 1884 to 1974.
My most challenging presentation was to a gym full of grades 6 to 8 students. Many showed little interest, with some girls testing my boundaries and a group of boys engrossed in their own conversation. The teachers, unfortunately, seemed indifferent and did little to manage the disruptive behavior. However, to my surprise, many kids approached me afterward to shake my hand. Perhaps I had passed their “test.” A boy named Jackson and a girl from the group I thought I’d connected with attended the parent presentation later that day. It’s moments like these that remind me even reaching one person can make a difference.
That evening, I held a presentation for parents focused on bullying, a topic they had requested. Despite this, only ten adults attended with their children. This low turnout served as yet another reminder of the disconnect between the available resources and the community’s willingness to engage with them.
The drive back to Edmonton Airport was harrowing. The Trans-Canada Highway was treacherous, with blowing snow often obscuring the road and passing cars creating blinding whiteouts. Suddenly, a pack of bison emerged from the swirling snow, a stark reminder of the harsh realities of this landscape. It was a scene that drove home the vast difference between this land of unforgiving weather and the more temperate climate of Ontario.
