Success Stories

Brokenhead Success Story

On April 27, 2010 the community of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation held a FASD walk and community clean up. Visions and Voices Jessica Siddle and Lisa Morriseau were invited to participate in the walk. Each community member was given a shirt for their efforts in the clean up/walk. The t-shirts read "BON" Brokenhead Ojibway Nation FASD Walk-It takes a whole community to raise a healthy child". During the lunch hour there was plenty of networking (visiting) and a delicious lunch of hotdogs and home-made potato salad was served. After the lunch Lisa and Jessica each visited with 3 classrooms of children to talk about their experience living with FASD and encourage the young people to not drink or do drugs when they have children of their own. When school was dismissed for the day Jessica, Lisa and the Visions and Voices team hosted a community meeting with participation from Chief and Council, Southeast Child and Family services staff the Health Unit (NNADAP, CHR’s, Brighter Futures), Sergeant Tommy Prince teachers and staff, Headstart and interested community members. Jessica and Lisa shared their personal DVD’s, shared ideas of how to work with persons whom live with a FASD and answered questions. The weather was warm and sunny and the entire day was fantastic. Meegwech to NNADAP worker Dorothy Monkman for being such a great host when we visited your community.

Lisa describes her experience...

My experience at Brokenhead Ojibway nation was a good one. The people there were very friendly and open to have us there. When we got there we did a walk for FASD, which was great! We walked around the field and had some very interesting and good conservation with the children.

We were invited to talk to the Children and I was privileged to talk three different classes. And then we talked to the Adults of the community and to the Chief and council. It was good to be able to tell them my story, and to try to give them a little hope and understanding about FASD.

In the picture from left to right:
Alisa Barkman (Mennonite Central committee), Lisa Morriseau (Visions and Voices presenter), Jewel Reimer (Mennonite Central committee-Visions and Voices partner), Jessica Siddle (Visions and Voices presenter), Corie Siddle (Jessica’s Mom), Sue Mozdzen(FASD Specialist-Southern First Nations Network of Care-Visions and Voices partner), sitting: Dorothy Monkman (NNADAP worker, community member)