Four local students recognized in ‘Gimaa’s Allyship Poetry Contest’
Published June 7, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Four Halton Region school students who submitted poetry as part of Gimaa’s Allyship Poetry Contest have been recognized and acknowledged for their artistic achievements.
Gimaa (Chief) R. Stacey Laforme of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) partnered with the Oakville Community Foundation’s Community Classroom program to launch the poetry contest in March.
Gimaa Laforme shared his own poem titled “Nii jii” which means “friend” in Anishinaabemowin.
He then invited students in all publicly-funded schools in Halton and MCFN students from kindergarten through Grade 12 to share their own poetry on what friendship or allyship looks like or means to them.
The four winners, Jasmine, Nimkii, Mabel and Nat, were recognized on stage at the Debwewin: Truth of the Land performance on May 24.
That night they read and presented their poetry live and on screen to the in-person and livestream crowd.
Videos
The four winners have also been recognized on the Debwewin: The Oakville Truth project website, the Community Classroom website and in the Debwewin: Truth of the Land printed program.
“I want to sincerely thank all of the youth who participated, and bravely shared their talents with us through their art pieces,” said Gimaa Laforme. “I encourage each of them to continue to use their voice, art can and should change the world! I look forward to hopefully many more of these contests.”
Students who entered the contest were allowed to present their poem in a way they were most comfortable with, including through both oral and written expression, in the form of a poem, rap, spoken word and other creative ways.
The four winners were chosen by a panel of judges. Nearly two dozen students submitted entries.
“We were so impressed by the creativity shown by all the youth in our community who entered the contest,” said Frances Pace, Director of Fundholder and Community Engagement at the Oakville Community Foundation. “Congratulations to our four students who have been recognized for their artistic achievement and thank you to all the students who shared their artistry.”
Gimaa Laforme’s poem can be viewed and read online.
All of the students’ creative pieces are available for viewing on the Debwewin: The Oakville Truth Project website.
