Thank you, Ms. Davidson.
Two years ago, I was about 310 pounds. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I was grossly obese. I came to the Aboriginal Sport Circle, and I had to start my healing journey. I remember the day: it was in March 2004. I got down on my knees and I prayed. That's what our people did, and that's what our people need to do—get back to the things that were us. So I prayed. I had to deal with sexual abuse, drugs and alcohol, suicide. Everything in my community I had to deal with—that was me. As a 12-year-old child, I'm driving my parents' car, getting my brother to his hockey games, because of drugs and alcohol. I had to deal with the emotional side of things.
My elders taught me that the spiritual side of things is the eagle, and the emotional side of things is the bear. The bear is very heavy, like emotions. Once I started to get this, my mind started to change. I started to grasp who I was. That 300 pounds wasn't me. I was carrying it around because of all of the things I had to deal with. My mind started to change, and the weight started to come off.
The mental aspect is the turtle, and sometimes the changing of our minds is slow. But it took place. The physical side is the wolf. I started to become faster. Right now I'm the healthiest I've been since I was maybe two. It's amazing what we can do when we try to achieve that holistic side of ourselves.
It's about utilizing our elders. Our elders were a big part of our communities. Now they're becoming distant. The youth were so important. They were a source of guidance to us. I talked to a friend of mine this weekend who had a difficult decision to make. She was babysitting her niece and nephew. I told her not to ask them the question, but to just let them speak, because they'd give her the answer.
Holistically, we have to take an inclusive look at every aspect of our lives—family, spirituality, emotions, mentality, and physicalness. We need to get back to that, but a lot of times our people stop there. We have to thank the Creator--Chi-Miigwetch--for giving us this opportunity. Holistic living has provided me with a healthier lifestyle. I can live longer. I know I will continue to fight for these kids, our aboriginal youth and every person in Canada, to make sure they're holistically finding who they are. Sport and recreation is one aspect of this. The Victoria Playhouse, which I've been to a number of times, is very important as well.
Our culture is great. We need to practise our culture. That's who we were made to be, and we need to honour it. Once we start honouring who we are, we become whole.