Mëmëgwashi Gala

Next edition: June 9, 2016
For valid registration, the registration form must be duly completed.
​Marguerite is a 58-year-old Cree woman who was born in the forest near Matagami. A Val-d’Or resident since 1990, she is much involved in the Friendship Centre’s activities. She is a member of the DO8DEI8IN Elders group; she regularly attends the Centre’s café-meetings, collective kitchens and special events. Marguerite is a family woman and incidentally, it is because of her children that she became sober. Since then, her family expanded and her grandchildren are very important for her. Although she does not see them as often as she would like to, when they come to see her, she takes the opportunity to share with them. She would like above all to see all her grandchildren speak their Cree language, make good decisions and choices in order to have a good life. The message she wishes to share with young people is “Pursue your education and do not quit, even when faced with important difficulties”.

November
Ronnie Trapper
Elder

​Ronald is a Cree, better known as Ronnie in his home community of Waskaganish. Born in Amos, he now lives in Val-d’Or with his wife Margaret. Ronnie actively participates in all the activities offered by the Native Friendship Centre. He considers himself as an ordinary man, having to cope with many difficulties. Being selected as an Elder role model was a big surprise for him. Despite the very hard times he went through, such as medical treatments, two car accidents, coma, an important graft and the whole healing process, Ronnie keeps a positive attitude. His motto is “One day at a time”. His wife and family are very important in everything he does; without them, he would not be the man he is today. For Ronnie, passing on knowledge to young people and doing cross-generational activities is very important to maintain our culture. His message to the younger generation is “Always remain positive, take care of your health, get an education and distinguish good from bad in society”.

October
Pauline Diamond
Graduate

​Pauline is an Algonquin from the Abitibiwinni First Nation community of Pikogan. A mother of six children and grandmother of four grandchildren, Pauline recently completed her studies. In 2008, at the age of 39, she decided to go back to school and graduated from Cégep with a degree in special education in Aboriginal context. She is very proud for having been chosen as a Mëmëgwashi role model following her accomplishment. As an Aboriginal woman, she believes her experience can inspire young Aboriginal persons and send the message that it is never too late to go back to school. It is her spouse’s encouragements and support that helped her persevering and never giving up throughout all these years. For Pauline, her culture is a passion and a way of life that is part of her daily life. Her message of encouragement to young people is “Hang on to your dreams and stay in school”.

September
Quppia Mark
ODABI

Quppia is a young Inuit woman from Ivujivik. Having spent her youth years in her community, she began her life as a young woman in Montréal where she met her spouse with whom she has now been married for five years. She then moved to Abitibi with her husband and son, where she gave birth to their daughter. She has been living in Val-d’Or with her family for two years now. In March 2014, Quppia completed the ODABI training program with a sense of accomplishment. Her training proved to be a remarkable self-development experience. It allowed her to discover many skills that she now profitably employs in her job as a receptionist at the Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre. Quppia devotes her imagination and creativeness to arts and crafts and her dream is to open her own handicrafts shop. The message she wishes to convey to the youth is “Do not lose hope, you too can succeed”.

August
Daphne Etapp
Secondary evel

Daphne is a young, 16-year-old Cree Métis woman from Val-d’Or. She is a secondary V graduate of the Polyvalente le Carrefour. She has been taking hip-hop dance classes for the past 5 years and singing classes for the past 2 years. These courses represent an opportunity to excel as well as to develop her self-confidence. Succeeding in these disciplines has allowed her regaining her self-esteem and motivated her to succeed in school this year. Being, since an early age, a young girl who never lets herself be brought down by obstacles she may be faced with, she keeps moving ahead without worrying about negative circumstances. She keeps a positive attitude and says that, at least, she will have tried. Her constant smile is one of her great strengths and qualities. Daphne wishes to pursue her education at the college level and become a delinquency intervention technician.

July
Austin Robert Diamond
Secondary level

Austin is in Secondary II and has been living in Val d’Or for seven years. This is why we always see him participating in the Friendship Centre’s activities. He regularly attends the Kabadu homework support program and also participates in our youth and family activities.  He is not afraid of challenges because the Robert–Diamond family members are strong and go-getting people. Austin is therefore well supported and he knows he can count on his family members. What he likes the most? Playing hockey! Yes, his dream is to become a professional player. Austin plays several times a week with his friends and when the season is over, he keeps physically fit by playing soccer. He also loves hunting big and small game. He goes with his father whenever he can. For Austin, a healthy life means eating well, being physically active and hunting. This 15-year-old young Cree considers culture and traditions as something important in his life. 

June
Tanya Menarich
Secondary level

This young Cree woman from Eastmain has been living in Val d’Or since an early age. She attended our homework support program when she was younger. She is now in Secondary IV and she volunteers to help other students in our Kabadu homework support program. Tanya, who has her whole life and dreams ahead of her, will certainly make her way!  After going through important hardships, she knows that she must be in peace with herself, be positive at all times and achieve her goals. Tanya forges ahead in life because she knows this is what her late parents would have liked her to do. She makes every effort in school because she would like to study to become a doctor. Travelling across the world is part of her dreams and like many people, she would like to be able to change the world in her own way.

May
Marcel Jolly-Diamond
Centre de formation professionnelle de Val-d’Or

Marcel is of Anicinabe origin and was born in Amos. He has been living in Val-d’Or with his family for the past eight years. Marcel is presently completing a course in auto mechanics at the Centre de formation professionnelle de Val-d’Or. Given his persevering character, quitting school was never an option. Getting an education and a diploma has always been part of his goals. He will be able to say “mission accomplished” as he will be graduating this year. Marcel is a role model not only for his younger brother but for all youth as well. He is an inspiration for success and accomplishments because of his perseverance and the fact that he changed his food habits and is now doing more physical activities. Marcel’s dream is to be a mechanic and he wants to exercise this trade when he gets his diploma and perhaps specialise later in heavy machinery. His message to the youth is “Despite the obstacles you may face, never quit and always persevere”. 

April
PAtrick Diamond
Primary

Patrick is a young 11-year-old Anicinabe, originally from Amos. He has lived in Val-d’Or for eight years now and is presently in grade 6 at the Saint-Joseph School. Patrick is one of those children who grew up at the Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre. Indeed, he attended the Abinodjic Miguam Daycare Centre and participated in many of the Friendship Centre’s programs: Head Start, homework support, Little Wolves Club and summer day camp. No doubt that Patrick will continue using the Centre’s different services in the coming years. A very persevering boy, he is not a quitter because he sees his brothers and sisters persisting and succeeding in their studies. They are true role models for him. Being a car buff, he even collects car guides of the year. He is still pondering his career choice: will he be a police officer or a trucker? We are convinced that with all the efforts he will invest in his studies, he will succeed and make the right career choice.

MArch
Maverick Francoeur
Primary

Maverick is a young 8-year-old Métis from Val-d’Or. He is in grade 3 at the Saint-Joseph School. He began his formal education with the Head Start program and today, he attends the Friendship Centre’s Little Wolves Club and the homework support program. Motivated by his passion for music and dance, he enrolled in hip-hop classes this year. He thus develops his talents for dance, with which he was undoubtedly born. So it is no surprise that his idol is the famous Michael Jackson. Maverick is a very sensitive boy and this why his family and friends are very important to him. He is also a real little artist. He loves creating new gadgets with a variety of material such as Lego blocks, paper and pencils and any other objects he can get his hands on. Maverick’s dream is to work at the Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre, like his mother! 

February
Danyka Gravelle
Primary level

Danyka is a young 8-year-old Anicinabe from Val-d’Or. She is currently in grade 3 at the Golden Valley School. In early childhood, Danyka attended the Head Start program. She attends the Little Wolves Club as well as the Val-d’Or Friendship Centre’s summer day camp. Like her parents, Danyka is proud of the efforts she devotes to her studies and the good results she obtains. Her ever-ready smile, consistent cheerfulness, kindness and caring for her younger sister are the qualities that characterise her best. Danyka has been taking figure skating classes for the past two years. This has become one of her greatest passions. She perseveres and never gives up because for her, doing competitions and becoming a professional is part of her dreams. Dance and music are also part of what she loves doing. ‘One Direction’ is her preferred band. When she grows up, she would like to be a veterinarian to satisfy her love for animals.

January
Sérious Moushoom
 Early childhood and Family Services

Sérious is a 5-year-old Anicinabe from Val-d’Or. He graduated from the Early Childhood & Family Service last June. He is presently attending kindergarten at the Saint-Sauveur School. Charlène took him under her wing from birth and she considers him as her own child, and him, as his real mother. Sérious is a daring little boy. Brave and adventurous, he likes trying new things, although, for his mother, these things might be risky. His good-natured smile is certainly what makes him so endearing. An energetic and lively boy, he loves riding his bike and play with Lego blocks. While watching his uncle play hockey, Sérious developed an interest in this sport. Very attentive and respectful of rules, it is not surprising that he wants to become a police officer when he grows up.

Previous editions

2014
Video of
Fanish Wananish and Eliani Kukudji
Video of Jeunes Musiciens du Monde - Kitcisakik
2013