BUILDING COMMUNITY ONE EVENT AT A TIME
Sledding events create engagement and are a place to belong
By MAAJIITAAZIIBIIKWE, MARY SAM
Building a community is an important step in healing our community. Preparing children to be active and engaged while playing, laughing, and working together was a theme for the District I Legislative Office, who hosted two back-to-back weekends of snow tubing and sledding on the south side of the new community center. When children feel seen, they feel like they belong. Belonging opens the door for children to work and laugh together. With this increased connection to community, our healing expands and we provide hope for the next generation.
About 500 kids and their families enjoyed tubing, sledding, and the warming tent where hot chocolate, snacks, and a light meal were served. Rosy cheeks, runny noses, chilly fingers, and toes at times did not stop the community from gathering.
District I staff set the tone for a great day, which included a message to all 15 event volunteers to “just have fun today.” Having fun while providing teachable moments was subtly woven into each day.
Through simple sledding events, kids (and adults) learned a great deal. Participants needed to be patient, as there were not enough tubes or sleds for the hundreds who arrived. This turned out to be one of those lessons. Children needed to learn to wait their turn and let younger kids, or those that were afraid, try in their own time. They needed to share sleds and climb the hill if they wanted to get to the top first rather than waiting for a lift from the volunteer snowmobile sled drivers. They had to make choices about working in teams, or going solo. Some built confidence, whether it was trying a tube, a snowmobile ride for the first time, or talking to someone they didn’t know, or even learning to ask for help. In these moments, they practiced relationship. They learned, practiced, and worked together — all skills that will help them at home, at school, and in the workplace.
“Today was about community, family, fun, and laughter, and building a sense of belonging, no matter who you are, where you work, what you believe, or where you are from," said District I Representative Virgil Wind. "Prior to hosting so many of these awesome events, something was missing. Our kids weren’t playing. Our families are longing for opportunities to gather and build relationships. Our staff and many volunteers play a huge role helping our kids, helping our families, and our community heal. Days like these are some of the best days! Children are assets to our community, and when we invest in them, invest in us, we will heal.”
Kids rallied to talk Rep. Wind into grabbing a garbage bag and sliding down the hill. Witnessing a crowd of kids take turns to push him down the hill, all chanting, hollering, and laughing when they completed their mission, was inspiring to witness.
“Engagement is key to success," said District I Office Manager Darla Roache. "Virgil knows how to be with and play with kids and expect them to be their best selves. We saw this today, last weekend, and at many of the great events we have been hosting.”
Witnessing our kids invite classmates and neighbors, Indigenous or not, to our community and have fun together is creating a pathway to increased engagement, pride, and improved relations around the lake.
