Thunder Bay can listen to the young voices of La Loche

 Photo of one young person with his arm around another young person.

This photo was taken by one of the participants in Caitlin Wood’s research project, to depict friendship in response to the question What makes you strong?

March 23, 2018 – Thunder Bay, ON

Thunder Bay has a chance to hear from the young people of La Loche Saskatchewan, a community that was changed forever by a tragic shooting in 2016. 

One of the four people who lost their life was Adam Wood, a graduate of Lakehead University who had recently left Thunder Bay to start teaching career in the community. 

In a statement, the Wood family said:

“Rather than looking for someone to blame, or coming up with outsider opinions of reasons why this occurred, we must stop and listen to the voices of La Loche. The leaders and members of the community know what types of support and changes are needed. Our responsibility as a nation is to listen and respond to create lasting systemic change.”

On Wednesday, March 28, Adam’s sister, Caitlin Wood, will present her Master’s research dedicated to giving the youth of La Loche a chance to be heard.

Her project demonstrates how research can be both deeply meaningful and a means to individual and community healing. Caitlin provided young people in the community with cameras to take photographs that reflect the positive influences in their lives, what changes they want to see, and what they feel childhood should look like. 

Consistent with the spirit and methodology of her project, Caitlin has brought along Jazz Moise, a participant in the research and a student from La Loche, as a co-presenter.

This presentation will take place in the School of Nursing, room SN 1015, from 7 to 9:30 pm on Wednesday, March 28. Following the presentation, the floor will be open for a discussion on how to best listen and respond to the voices of Indigenous youth.

This evening is made possible by generous contributions from the Outdoor Recreation Students’ Society, Lakehead University’s Senate Research Council, the School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism, Grassroots Church, Lakehead University’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Aboriginal Initiatives, and Roots to Harvest. 

For further information contact: Julie Rosenthal, Assistant Professor, School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism, Lakehead University 807 620-8767 or jrosenth@lakeheadu.ca

 

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

 

Lakehead University has approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies. Maclean’s 2018 University Rankings place Lakehead University among Canada's Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, as well as first in Total Research Dollars, second for Citations, and third for Scholarships and Bursaries. In 2017, Research Infosource named Lakehead Research University of the Year in its category for the third consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.