COMMUNITY CENTER DESIGNED WITH COMMUNITY FIRST - March 2025
By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor
"We always knew we needed a new community center," said former District I Representative Sandy Blake. She served in that role as an elected leader for 16 years with a deep connection to the people of her district. From 2000 until 2004, then again from 2008 until 2020, she listened to the people whose vision was a more connected and active community. "I had a District I committee. We talked about what would be good for everyone." That was the beginning of the vision that would develop into the District I Aquatic and Fitness Center after de cades of planning. Now, after the doors have been open for five years, the center has been officially named the Miskwaanak wadookwe Community Center in honor of Sandy Blake.
"It took years of dreaming, planning, discussions, designs, visits to other community centers, and a lot of help from Com munity Development, "Blake said. "I remember the thoughts about building it. We talked about the needs. We knew we wanted classrooms for arts and crafts, rooms for exercise classes, a workout area, a rec room, and of course, we wanted a pool — we needed a pool!"
Blake said her District I Committee had a lot of ideas and also helped with the planning of the Grand Market. “Before any of this was here, we came out here up by the road and set a dish for the Manidoog and let them know what we wanted to do and asked for blessings. We let them know we wanted to do this in a good way. When the center was done, before it opened, we also set a dish inside the building for that, too.“
They wanted a place that was large enough to bring the whole community together to help make the community stronger. The committee had hoped community meetings and funerals would be held at the new center. They wanted a nice kitchen to prepare meals and wanted a safe firepit for ceremonies.
Blake feels the center is being underutilized and is hopeful that will change. Some of her thoughts on bringing people in are to attract them with the pool. She would like to see swimming lessons through Nay Ah Shing and invite other local schools to contract for pool use to add to their physical education curriculum such as swimming lessons as well. She would also like to see more fitness classes — especially water classes that Elders can participate in. “I remember one day I came to the pool. Betty and Shirley were having a class like water aerobics with weights and things in the therapy pool — it felt so good to have an instructor leading a low-impact exercise class. Later, we sat in the therapy pool together to visit. But I didn’t ever hear about that class again and it would be nice if more specific water-type exercise classes would be offered,” she said.
Blake is hopeful there will be opportunities to bring more people to the center and has several ideas for new activities. One example she gave was using the outdoor amphitheater for storytelling or performance art. Other ideas include utilizing the industrial kitchen to prepare light meals for HHS employees and the community, extending the center’s hours, and opening it up for public use. “I just keep thinking about the kids,” Blake said. “We need to keep trying different things.”
Blake has rented the party room and pool for a family birth day party and she said it was a fantastic place for a large family gathering. “I don’t think we will wait for a birthday party before we have another get-together,” she added with a smile.
In her wildest dreams, Blake said she never imagined the center would turn out as beautiful as it is. She gives credit for the design to the Community Development teams of Mike Moilenan and Ryan Jendro. Their attention to detail with a focus on culture woven into the architectural structure is top notch “right down to the sparkles in the floor,” she added. When asked about her years as a District Representative she said she cared about the community so much she felt that is what she needed to do. “People would ask me, ‘Why don’t you run for Chief?’ But I never wanted that job. I was so busy where I was and wanted to stay close to the people. I liked where I was. In hindsight, I feel like I neglected my family at times because I was always working.”
To name the highlights of her public service career, Blake said it was hard to pinpoint just a few things but getting to know community members and being able to help individuals on a closer level was one of the best. “It’s like you know who people are, but getting to know them on a deeper level is another thing," she said.
“Band budgets, working with groups on revising Band laws, or creating new programming were highlights of being a District Representative,” Blake said. “Another project that I am proud to have been a part of accomplishing was the creation of the El der Supplemental Income program. Part of my makeup growing up was always hearing from our then leaders, Art, Doug, and Marge, among others, that we should always put our Elders first and they should be respected and taken care of the best we can because they worked harder with less so we could have better. With that in mind, and knowing some of our Elders were living on limited income, we remedied that. Going forward, I hope that the thread of culture remains strong in our people. Getting this community center built was a big one. Then having this building named after me, it was like oh my God! Every time I drive by or think about It, I just get a lump in my throat and want to cry. I couldn’t believe it. It is so humbling.”
Blake’s granddaughter Bella was out and about with her that afternoon at the center. “I was really happy for her,” Bella said. “She deserves it.” She said the Chief Executive had told her he would like to announce the re-naming of the center at the State of the Band Address. “But I didn’t know what was going to happen that day so when he did start to talk about it, the reality of it started to sink in and it was like something I had never felt before. It was such an honor. I still don’t know how to handle it except it makes me happy and so humbled.”
