Northern Starfish

Why Playgrounds?!?

April 18, 2013 By Wes Prankard

I’ve had the opportunity to speak to a lot of schools and groups lately, and the one big question I seem to get asked a lot is: “Why Playgrounds?”

I guess I understand the question behind the question, but, the answer isn’t an easy one. Why build playgrounds in remote First Naions communities when there seem to be so many other “important” issues? Some of these issues include:

1) Lack of clean drinking water. 1 in 5 First Nations reserves do not have access to clean drinking water and/or are under a ‘water boil” advisory. There are organizations raising literally billions of dollars to provide clean drinking water to third world countries around the world, while First Nations here at home, suffer with illness and potential disease because of the quality of their water.

2) Education. First Nations students are underfunded between 2 and 4 thousand dollars a year (so in a class of 30, First Nations would receive aproximately $120,000 less every year than my class in Niagara Falls). It’s no wonder the education standards are 3 to 4 years behind non First Nations schools and the dropout rate is so high.

3) Housing. Overcrowding is a huge issue and one that caused Attawapiskat Ontario to declare a state of emergency last year. I visited a 3 bedroom home that had been condemend 4 years ago. The 19 family members were forced to stay in this home because there was no where else to live.

4) Healthcare. A First Nations lady in New Brunswick just won a year long court case trying to get the same level of care for her son as she would if she was off reserve and non-aboriginal. That’s insane! Thank God she won the case and her son can now be treated; but really – why in the world should she have to fight in court to get the same level of care as I would get?

These are just a few examples of some of the issues I am aware – and yes, I know – there are many, many more. So, back to the question. With so many BIG issues facing First Nations people, why are playgrounds important?

If you take a look at the four issues above, you may see a common denominator. In a city like Toronto, Vancouver or even my town of Niagara Falls, none of these issues would be acceptable. We, as Canadian citizens would demand our rights and force changes. So how is it that we continue to allow these sorts of things to continue for First Nations? I’ll leave that for you to answer, but, in that answer lies the answer to “why playgrounds”.

Where I live (Niagara Falls), there are 55 playrounds, 3 of which are in my neighborhood. I think that’s awesome! Anytime my friends and I want to do something, we head to the playground for a game of grounders. Growing up, my parents would always take us to the playground to just run around and have fun.

When obesity in Canadian children is reported at 30%, it just makes sense to encourage outdoor physical activity among children and youth. Other benefits include the development of social skills – in fact – many experts believe that the social skills learned on the playground benefits the country as a whole.

Children who play on a playground develop greater self-confidence and highe self esteem. And – playground play actually helps children’s brains develop as they “learn about the world through motor activities and sensory experiences”, according to the Shasta report.

Playgrounds are important. My city believes that – that’s why we have 55.

So – if playgrounds are important and we agree there are benefits to allowin children to play on playgrounds – how is it that so many First Nations reserves don’t have even one?

This is not about charity. With First Nations youth the fastest growing group in Canada; this is about justice.
I believe First Nations children should have access to clean drinking water.
I believe First Nations children should have access to equitable education.
I believe First Nations children should have access to equitable health care.

And – I believe that there should be at least one playround in every First Nations community

because that’s just fair.

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Featured, Featured Top-Right, Playground Tagged With: Attawapiskat, first nations, Northern Starfish, Playground, playgrounds, Shannen's Dream, Wes Prankard

There Is Only One Race – The Human Race – And This Is Our Revolution

November 24, 2012 By Wes Prankard

The last couple of months have been pretty insane and I am sorry for not updating this site recently.

The penny campaign is still going, so don’t worry if you haven’t been able to get your collection in yet. We’re a long way from the 1.5 billion pennies we need, so we really need your help to build 10 playgrounds and 2 foster homes. For more details, please read more here.

I had the amazing privilege of addressing the General Assembly of First Nations this summer and said something that I truly believe. “What I have been doing for the past 3 years is not charity. What I have been doing for the past 3 years is justice. It’s making something right that should have been right.”

First Nations children do not need or want our pity or our charity. Of course there are times when we need to do charitable acts, like bringing humanitarian aid to communities that desperately need help. In fact, that is how my journey began 3 years ago; by helping TrueNorthAid raise money and aid for the community of Attawapiskat. But what I believe First Nations communities need more than occasional emergency relief, is an end to the inequality that creates a need for emergency relief to communities in Canada.

I haven’t met anyone yet who has been able to explain to me how it is fair that a First Nations child receives thousands of dollars less in funding than me and my friends in Niagara Falls (and everywhere else in Canada) for education.

How is it fair that in Niagara Fall, we have 55 playgrounds, when so many First Nations kids have never even seen a playground?

Please explain to me why First Nations kids are not provided the same level of access or funding to decent healthcare.

And why is it, that even though there are more First Nations children in care right now than ever in the history of Canada that they receive less funding per child than non-aboriginal children?

If clean water is a right, then why is it that a majority of First Nations reserves can’t drink their water without boiling it first?

There are so many things like this that I don’t understand – or want to understand. All that matters is that we as Canadians stop this craziness.

When Claudette Colvin (a 15 year old African American) decided that she would not give up her seat on the bus because of the colour of her skin, she didn’t know she would be giving her teacher Rosa Parks the courage and inspiration to do the same. She din’t know that she would be starting a movement that would change the world. All she knew was that discrimination was wrong and she was not going to stand for it (literally).

Shannen Koostachin didn’t know that her dream of becoming a lawyer would mean she would be risking her life. But that is the reality for First Nations kids with a dream. In order to receive a level of education that was at least equivalent to the rest of Ontario’s students, she would have to leave her home and go to high school hundreds of miles away.
She didn’t know that speaking up for her right to an education and a proper school would launch the largest youth-led movement in Canada’s history. But it did.

It is time for a revolution in Canada.

I’m not sure a revolution is something you can plan for. A revolution begins with a spark. Claudette was the spark for the Civil Rights movement. Shannen is the spark for this new movement.

I see this movement being one that no longer recognizes the differences between First Nations and non-aboriginals. This is a revolution that will once and for all tear down the barriers that bring inequality and injustice. This is a movement that will not be politically based, but will keep our governments to the high standard of non-discrimination on any basis. This is not a right thing or a left thing – this is a right or wrong thing. This coming revolution will see the end of “us and them” and see only “we”.

There is only one race – the human race – and this is our revolution.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Featured, Featured Top-Right, Playground, Shannen's Dream Tagged With: Attawapiskat, education, First Nation, Leadership, Northern Starfish, Playground, Shannen's Dream, Wes Prankard

Hockey Rules In Attawapiskat. True Story.

August 17, 2012 By Wes Prankard

If you’ve been following Attawapiskat in the news, then you have probably heard or read Ezra Lavant talk about the hockey arena and the Zamboni.

Ezra Levant got two things right.

Two young boys walk past substandard housing on their way to play hockey in Attawapiskat, Ontario, December 17, 2011. (Frank Gunn/REUTERS

1: the awesome picture
2: the title of his article: “Hockey Rules in Attawapiskat”

Here’s what he said in the Toronto Sun last week:

“Except that, right in the middle of this so-called state of emergency, when people were in leaky houses and tents, the Attawapiskat Indian band — with three chiefs and 18 band councillors on the payroll — made an important financial decision.

They needed a new ice resurfacer for their hockey rink.

They haven’t rebuilt their school up there, since it was torn down because of diesel fumes. They’re living in shacks. (Well, not the chief, of course.)

But forget about such trivial problems. These clowns needed a new ice resurfacer.

You can see a copy of the invoice for it on this page: $96,089 for an Olympia model ice resurfacer.”

The picture he used for the article shows two kids with hockey sticks walking past some homes in pretty bad shape on their way to the arena.

I LOVE this picture!

Nevermind that the “diesel fumes” were the result of a massive 100 thousand litre diesel leak right under the school, where kids attended for 20 years, causing nosebleeds, nausea, headaches and kids passing out in class. (Kids should never have to choose between an education and health). Nevermind that the arena was the project of an Attawapiskat elder who spent 15 years fundraising for it before passing away. Nevermind that the “Olympia Ice Resurfacer” was purchased with money the hockey parents and community members raised through bingos, hotdog days and other fundraisers. When your as angry as Ezra Levant, those details don’t matter.

And that’s what I don’t get. Why is he so angry that the parents of this remote First Nations community wanted to give their children a safe place to play in the wintertime?

I have been to Attawapiskat and visited some of the worst homes there. I have seen the black mould that lines some rooms like a carpet. I have seen frost on the inside of walls. I have been in the tent-houses where some families are forced to spend the winter because of the severe shortage of homes. The state of emergency is real and it is not over for Attawapiskat.

In the middle of this crisis, because parents in Attawapiskat love their kids just as much as my parents love me, we see two boys walking down the road toward the arena. Now look closer at the picture, what do you notice?
Do you see the house that looks like a shack behind them? Do you see the snow that covers the ground for more months than it doesn’t? Or, do you, like me, see the huge smiles on their faces.

Before the UN Convention on The Rights of A Child was written, parents everywhere knew that play (sports, recreation, cultural activities) made kids happy. Realizing this, the United Nations declared article 31 of the Convention On the Rights of a Child :

Article 31 of the UN Convention

That every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
That member governments shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.

My friends in Attawapiskat love hockey, just like many of my friends here in Niagara Falls. Why shouldn’t Attawapiskat have an arena and the equipment to have good ice, just like my community? (Our arena in Niagara Falls, by the way, cost almost $40 million dollars to build and cost $2.5 million every year to operate – I’m guessing that a lot of that comes from our taxes). The government didn’t pay for the arena or the Zamboni in Attawapiskat, even though in my opinion they should have, just like they paid for mine.

I hate politics. I hate that people have to waste time in government debating and arguing about what should or shouldn’t be done. I hate that while that debate goes on in Ottawa, newspapers and television shows argue about the same things. I hate it because, while all that debating and arguing is going on, the truth gets lost.

There is a wrong and there is a right. It is time to make things right for Attawapiskat and for all of our First People. With or without politics. With or without the angry news people. With or without the debating. First Nations kids should have access to the same opportunities that I have access to in education, health care and recreation. Anything else is discrimination and just not fair.

“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead.

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Featured Top-Left, Media, News Tagged With: Attawapiskat, Attawapiskat Zamboni, Attawapiskat. state of emergency, education, Ezra Levant, First Nation, Northern Starfish, UN Convention Rights of a Child, Wes Prankard

Got Penny?

April 1, 2012 By Wes Prankard

As part of the new budget the government just announced, the Canadian penny will no longer be produced and will soon disappear from circulation. Before that happens, I would like to offer the penny one last heroic act of awesomeness.

The CBC reported that nobody knows how many pennies are out there, but in 2011 alone, there were 1,100,000,000 pennies produced. That is $1.1 billion dollars in pennies!!

Do you have any idea how much good can be done with that many pennies?

50,000,000 pennies will build 2 homes for foster families in Attawapiskat.

100,000,000 pennies will supply 10 remote communities with playgrounds.

That sounds like a lot of pennies, but think of it this way: all of the pennies are going back to be melted down and taken out of circulation. Way more than 150,000,000. More like billions of pennies that you and I will never see again. The last penny you spend on gum or whatever you spend pennies on, will be the last time that penny will ever be used. That’s sad.

UNLESS

Every time you and I find a penny in our pockets, on the ground or as change back from the store, we give that penny one last chance to be a hero. If enough of us commit to this Great Canadian Penny Drive, I believe that we can make a HUGE difference for First Nations kids this year; 2012 the penny’s last year.

10 playgrounds in 2012? Yes!

2 new homes in Attwapiskat? Yes!

Together, we can do this! Together, we can make a difference! Help me help the penny go out a hero.

Bring your pennies in to any TD Canada Trust
TD Canada Trust for Northern Starfish Acct: 151 5213225

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Featured, Featured Bottom, News Tagged With: Attawapiskat, Canadian Penny, First Nation, foster care, Northern Starfish, Payukotano, Playground, Wes Prankard

#Campout2012

March 27, 2012 By Wes Prankard

In a lot of ways, #Campout2012 was a great success. Our idea was to have 100 kids from across Canada campout for 50 hours raising awareness and funds to meet the housing needs in Attawapiskat, James Bay and eventually all reserves who are suffering through a housing crisis.

A huge thank you goes to the brave campers who joined me in Niagara Falls at Campark Resorts.
Sterling, Avery, Kai, Angel, and Juan. You guys are all heroes. Thank you for making a difference!

Our goal for this campout was to raise $500,000, enough to build 2 homes for foster families in Attawapiskat and around James Bay. You see, when children are place in care, because of the housing crisis, even if there are good, qualified care-givers, they don’t have the room to take kids in. Foster children are then sent away from their homes, away from their communities and away from everything they know. Usually it is hundreds of miles away.

I don’t think that’s fair. That’s why we camped out.

Right now we are about $494,000 short of our goal. So – we are extending the #campout2012 campaign to last the rest of the year. I’m very confident that we will meet our goal by the end of this year. When I promised to build a playground in Attawapiskat and won the $25,000 Pepsi Refresh grant, we were about $75,000 short of our goal. But I made a promise, and that was my biggest motivator. With the help of CRCS Recreation in Sudbury and people from all across Canada, I was able to keep that promise.

With your help and support, I have no doubt that I will be able to keep my promise of funding two homes in Attawapiskat this year.

Enjoy this slide show of our #camput2012 after party from Barnes Management Group.

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Camp Out, Featured, Featured Top-Left Tagged With: Attawapiskat, Attawapiskat. state of emergency, Campout, First Nation, Northern Starfish, Pepsi Refresh Project, Wes Prankard

Let’s Camp Out!

January 18, 2012 By Wes Prankard

Ok, so I know a lot of people have been waiting for this post. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting but we have a ton of details to pull together to make this happen.

This past October, the First Nations community of Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency. People were living in tents and shacks and winter was coming. Many of you donated non-perishable food, clothing, blankets and much needed winter survival items. Thank you! You made a difference.

Right now the government is sending 22 new homes to Attawapiskat. I am so happy that people all over the world have seen and heard about the conditions in Attawapiskat and many First Nations Reserves. I am happy that people care and want to make a difference.

When Chief Spence declared the state of emergency, I knew I had to do something. My friends were in trouble.
You can read all about my first ideas in the post: A State Of Emergency in Attawapiskat
I said in that post that we would raise $500,000 in this year’s Campout to help, but we really didn’t know how to begin helping. Do we build houses? Do we repair houses? Who’s house gets built or repaired? And what about all the other people that need homes?

So, we started talking, and asking and learning.

Here’s what I learned: The housing crisis in Attawapiskat, on James Bay, and in hundreds of other First Nations reserves affects everyone in the community – and especially the kids.

Sometimes, just like where I live, kids have to be moved from their family and into a foster home. The problem on many First Nation reserves is that there is no homes for these kids to go to, and so they are sent hundreds of miles away. Hundreds of miles away from their families and the support of their community.

On March 14th, I am camping out for 50 hours. I am looking for 100 people who will sponsor me for $1.00 for every hour I camp out.
I am also looking for 100 other kids (or adults) who will camp out with me or in their own community, each of them asking 100 people to sponsor them for $1.00 for every hour.

We need to build safe homes in Aboriginal communities, including homes for foster children.

Let’s help build safe houses, so foster children can stay close to home, where they need to be [or, where they belong]

Let’s help build homes so families can work together and heal

Whether you are a camper or a sponsor, together, we can build safe homes, and bring foster children back to their communities, where they belong. Families can then work together, to rehabilitate and heal.

Help us build safe and loving homes.

ATTENTION CAMPERS: if you are interested in joining me in the campout, sign up for information here:

Click Here To Be A Camper

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Camp Out, Featured, Featured Top-Left Tagged With: Attawapiskat, Attawapiskat. state of emergency, First Nation, Northern Starfish, Wes Prankard, Wesley Prankard

State of Emergency in Attawapiskat

November 26, 2011 By Wes Prankard

I just read a Tweet “Attawapiskat being compared to Haiti except it’s 40 degrees colder”

Below, I’ve pasted an article by my friend MP Charlie Angus.
Attawapiskat, is home to my friends (I even have a a few families that call me their southern son) and right now they need our help.

So there’s a couple of things I am thinking about.
My annual campout: For the past two years, I have camped out the first few days of March break to raise awareness and funds for Attawapiskat and other First Nation reserves. When there are families spending the entire winter in tents, the least I can do is spend a couple of days to help.
This year I want to do it BIG. I’m thinking maybe I can get kids camping out right accross Canada. See, I can raise maybe $5,000 on my own, but if I can get even 100 kids doing the same thing; thats half a million dollars to help Attawapiskat. The same amount the government has just promised to help fix some of the homes.
How awesome would it be if a bunch of kids were able to do more than the government?

Right now, there are a lot of people hearing about Attawapiskat for the first time. A lot of them (maybe you) are asking what they can do. Or – even better – they are starting to collect food, clothing and blankets and things to help the people. Right now, my parents and I are looking and talking to a bunch of organizations and will be posting a list and information about where to drop stuff off or where you can send money.
My dad was talking to Rosie (my friend Rob’s mom) Koosyachin. They live in Attawapiskat and do a lot to help the homeless and elders who don’t have much. She said that the most needed items are:
Warm blankets
Parkas
boots
heaters
flour
rice
non perishable food items

We are going to be updating pretty regularly. The best thing to do is watch our Facebook page http://facebook.com/northernstarfish or my Twitter http://twitter.com/northrnstarfish

Remember what I like to say: Think of an idea to change your world then put it into acton. Do something!
Now’s your chance.

Here’s the link to the Huffington Post Article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/11/24/attawapiskat-reserve-housing-funding_n_1112145.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#undefined

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Camp Out, Featured, Featured Bottom Tagged With: Attawapiskat. state of emergency, Charlie Angus, first nations, huffington post, Northern Starfish, Wes Prankard

The Dream of A Playground For Attawapiskat Realized!

August 24, 2011 By Wes Prankard

After a long year of campaigning, fundraising, scratching and clawing, Wes’s dream of a playground in every remote northern community has begun to be realized.

This past week was memorable on so many fronts. The playground was completed the morning of Wes’s 13th birthday. How perfect was that?

We want to extend a very big thank you to Pepsi for all of their support throughout this process. Thank you for believing in a kid’s dream.

CRCS Recreation – you guys went above and beyond! Melissa, Chantal, Joe and Brant; you guys worked so hard and with open hearts, words cannot express the gratitude we have for you all.

AND – all of you who voted, donated, campaigned and put up with our unrelenting harassment… Thank you. Attawapiskat has a playground because of all of you. The joy and hope you have brought to this community will live on for generations.

Plans are already in the works for the next community. Watch for updates – and be a part of another life-changing experience.

Meegwetch (Thank you)

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Featured, Featured Top-Right, Pepsi Refresh Project, Playground Tagged With: Attawapiskat, CRCS Recreation, First Nation, Little Tikes, Northern Starfish, Pepsi Refresh, Playground, Wes Prankard, Wesley Prankard

A Playground For Attawapiskat

August 18, 2011 By Wes Prankard

After a year of planning, voting, fundraising, begging… the playground in Attawapiskat is finally being built.
We arrived on the reserve yesterday to find the big machines busily preparing the site.
I don’t think I can describe the excitement we feel knowing that all our hard work is finally paying off. The dream of a playground in Attawapiskat is finally becoming a reality.
Thank you Pepsi and all who voted in the Pepsi Refresh Project. This would not have been possible without you.
Thank you CRCS Recreation, your generosity, compassion and patience will soon be rewarded with the smiles of Attawapiskat’s children.
And – for all of you who have stood shoulder to shoulder with Wes and the children of Attawapiskat; you are amazing. Thank you.

We’ll keep posting here on NorthernStarfish.org as the week and the build progress – as well as on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/northernstarfish) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/northrnstarfish)

The story of the Starfish is all about making a difference. And together, today, we are.

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