Aboriginal youth discovers her roots

When Ashley Reimer was given the choice to work with students on the Innu reserve of Uashat in Sept-Iles, Quebec, she jumped at the opportunity. Little did she expect that connecting with these youth would spur her on a path to discover her own Aboriginal roots.
"I've always had an interest in Aboriginal people, but until I went to Sept-Iles, I wasn't really ready to find out about it," said Reimer, who turns 20 this March.
Reimer lives with her mother, Charlene Reimer and Charlene's boyfriend Jimmy White on a ranch just outside of Onoway, near Edmonton. Reimer, who is Métis, knows almost nothing about her birth father, whom she hasn't seen since she was six.
And although the Alexis Nation is close to Onoway and some First Nations students attend Onoway High School, from which Reimer graduated in 2006, Reimer points out that they were all in the minority. That changed when she went to Uashat.
"A lot of the kids I worked with (in Uashat) were the same age as me, but I didn't have any difficulties with them," said Reimer.
Reimer and her working partner Stefan connected with their wards by "hanging out with them," encouraging them to write journals and Reimer used her artistic talents to help them paint an abstract mural in their school.
Indeed, Reimer connected so well with the Innu community that she plans to return in April to spend two more months there. "I felt as if I was more enriched by my experience in Sept-Iles. The Innu community showed kindness and shared their culture with me."
Reimer appreciated that connection. "It's interesting to be around native people all the time. It's a very different feeling."
She even participated in a sweat lodge. "It was a very important experience for me, very emotional and helped me with some problems. The sweat lodge was one of the highlights of my experiences in Sept-Iles and gave me great inner peace after I had finished it."
Reimer's voyage of discovery began just before graduation when she talked to her guidance counselor about future plans. The counselor put her in touch with Canada World Youth.
"I wanted to travel and learn about new cultures, but in something with more structure." CWY seemed the perfect fit. Reimer was one of nine Canadians to make the cut and become part of the Brazil/Quebec team.
Her time in Quebec was the second part of her six-month commitment in 2007. The first three months she spent in the city of Tramandi, Brazil.
She and her Brazilian counterpart, Juliana, lived with a host family in a small three-bedroom house in a favella (poor area) along the shore. Reimer took the bus each day where she joined up with work partner Stefan interacting with young children in two schools.
In the evenings, Reimer and her fellow Canadians would go down town, walk around and talk about their experiences.
The most difficult adjustment for her in Brazil was the poverty. "The poverty was constant. There is a large gap between the rich and the poor."
What was also constant ­ whether in Brazil or Quebec ­ was the isolation that resulted in not knowing the language. In Brazil, a few people spoke English but Reimer didn't speak Portuguese.
In Quebec, Reimer's host mother spoke English, but the students spoke French or Innu.
"I learned to be more aware of my actions. And although language was a barrier, I learned I can still have strong communications with people," said Reimer.
Reimer does not hesitate in recommending Canada World Youth to others.
"It was a very unique experience. Instead of traveling alone, you get more of a feel of the culture because you live with a family and with another person who is part of that culture."
After returning from Sept-Iles, Reimer plans to pursue her studies with Norquest College, taking a program to work with those who have been abused or are addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Ashley Reimer told Sweetgrass that her interest in the program was "based on Aboriginal focus and culture."
Anyone interested in finding out more about Canada World Youth, which takes youth from ages 17-21 years, is encouraged to check out the Web site www.canadaworldyouth.org or to e-mail Reimer at scarlentine@hotmail.com. Youth spend three months in a country in Asia, South America or Africa before returning to Canada to carry out similar work in a Canadian community.
The organization is presently recruiting for 2008 participants.