National Day of Action
Racine Johnson
“If I were in charge of my community, what would I do to make a difference?”
First of all, I would take a step back from my community and paint a positive vision in my mind, which will make a strong impact to my community of Akwesasne. I will take my magic paint brush to begin my adventure of creating a scene similar to Canada’s as well known aboriginal artist Roy Vickers painting. Sitting down in front of my easel, I begin my creation of all the positive differences I need to put in place.
Secondly, I will take my high school education and part time employment skills to move towards a post-secondary field of Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies, specialization in Finance and Administration, through the University of Western Ontario.
Thirdly, I am now in charge of my community in making a difference, I have chosen to focus and create a strategic plan in the areas of Economic Development, Job Creations, Financial Contributions, Housing Development, and a Health & Wellness Youth Centre.
As the person in charge I will work on developing the Aboriginal Economic Development Team, made up of community businessmen and women to assist me in creating a successful Business Plan. Our main focus will be on recruiting new businesses and agencies to our community, opening doors to a world of opportunities for my community members. Mixing my paint colors of red and yellow together, I get a beautiful color of orange, which reflects positive energy on many employment creation projects.
My color orange begins to shine on my community members; it pulls their attention towards the creation and opportunities of employment. I will provide education career training to build confidence in my people. Jobs will be geared to assist our high school students participating in a Cooperative Education or Life Skills Programs, which will lead them into choices of post secondary careers beneficial to our community. Single parents of both female and male will be given childcare opportunities to return back to school or re-entry back into the workforce. I plan on developing a positive job skills development program that will create employment for our youth, disable individuals, adults and elders.
In cleaning off my paint brush I take a break to visualize and create my communities Financial Contributions established and funds to be generated back into community programs. My elders have taught me to seek out wise advice and not to get let our people get greedy over the all mighty dollar. I will be accountable to my community in providing and developing monthly financial reports to every household.
Our financial contributions will generate funds from areas such as a community owned grocery store and retail shopping centre, bank, arena, funeral home, hotel, restaurant, and hardware store. Other areas of generating funds will be to develop a highly skilled team of proposal writers seeking funds through North American governments, provincial, private corporations and personal contributions. The funds will help us to build our very own Aboriginal hospital with a diabetes center, dialysis clinic, cancer treatment floor, and psychiatric wing. I will also concentrate on developing a trades and apprenticeship school that offers skilled trades and professional services. Funds will also be used to provide low income families with assistants, community social services and activities.
Picking up my paint brush I continue painting with shades of sky blue, grassy green and sunshine yellow to see my true colors of my peoples hard work blossom. I will make changes on behalf of my community to create a Housing Development Program which will provide new homes for single parents/persons, married couples, disabled individuals and elders. In my creative imagination I stop to visualize the importance of well structured homes. To have a good healthy home one must have a solid foundation and work their way up to a good structure, which will last for generations to come. All homeowners will be educated on the Housing Development guidelines required to attend monthly home care seminars and home inspections. I will work with our Housing program to develop community apartment projects for emergency housing. My slogan for success in housing development will be “To dream it, you must build it”.
Dipping and mixing my final colors of creating and imagining my Roy Vickers painting I put the finishing touches to my positive image of how I would make a difference to my community of Akwesasne. A final stroke of my paint brush has created a wonderful Health and Wellness Youth Centre to provide educational and medical services, to our youth. Our centre will test and treat health issues arising in my community, such as sexual diseases, teen pregnancy, obesity, drug and alcohol problems, and victims of child abuse. I will bring qualified medical staff such as doctors, nurses, psychiatrist, therapist, and counselors to work here at the centre. Group presentations to educate the youth will be provided and developed into the goals and objectives of our centre. Included will be the traditional teachings of our elders in assisting in the youth healing process. To finalize my creative artwork, I paint a healthy smile on all the youth’s faces and with a loving touch of my brush I wipe away their tears.
Overall I will take my final painting to my community and tell not only my Mohawk people, but all aboriginals across North America my dream of what I would do if I were in charge of my community in making a difference.
Nia’wen
