Do you believe in a world where everyone is proud of who they are? Where leaders encourage, empower and take action with others?
Do you believe in the power of community?
Every day, 15-year-old River helps build this reality for his classmates, his teammates, his family and his friends.
River stands in front of his school’s mural.
A grade 10 student at Frank Hurt Secondary School, River is the captain and one of the founders of the first Aboriginal Boys Basketball Team in the Surrey School District. He is also a wide-receiver on his school’s football team and a member of the Community Connections Coop, where he mentors a local grade seven student.
When asked about his role as captain of the basketball team, he responds that his focus is less on being “captain” and more on being a leader, on and off of the court.
“I feel as a person you should be a leader everywhere you go,” he says. “And being a captain means supporting people and doing things with them. You don’t just tell someone to do something and then watch them. You achieve things together. I encourage my teammates and they encourage me.”
It’s one of the reasons the team has made a pact to help each other keep on track with their school work and graduation.
“Sixty-six percent of Native people don’t graduate,” he says. “We can beat the statistics. That’s what I want to do.”
In support of this mission, River will often text message his peers to encourage them to come to school or go to their homes in the morning to wake them up.
“Helping other people feels like something that everyone should just do. It’s fun. It makes them more confident and it makes me feel better about myself.”
Seeing his peers believe in themselves and be true to their culture is crucially important to River.
“A lot of people, a lot of Native people, don’t like who they are. It bothers me. I don’t want anyone around me, anyone at all, to not believe in themselves. I want people to see the good things from their ancestry and their culture.”
River is Cree from the Mistawasis First Nation. He likes to spend time with his father, learning about their history and traditions.
He admits it was very hard at the beginning to hear about the atrocities committed against first peoples.
“At first, when my dad taught me this, I was angry. But he told me that people are a product of what happened to them, so there is no point in being angry. So I’ve decided to teach people what happened and pass the knowledge from my dad to other people. That is what’s important.”
It’s the reason why he talks with his friends and classmates about truth and reconciliation and looks for ways to build positive connections in his community.
“It’s like our basketball team,” he says. “We’re all from different nations. There are brothers who play on the team, but we’re all from different places. That’s important. It’s empowering.”
River believes that the more we connect with others, the greater our shared understanding of the places we call home.
“When you feel comfortable being exactly who you are, no matter where you are or who is around, the better it will be for everyone. Not just locally, but everywhere.”
He credits his own community for helping him every day.
“Without my team, without my community, my parents, I wouldn’t be who I am right now. They build me up and help me, so that I can help others. It’s the most important part.”
The support he receives from Robert Taddei, his school’s Aboriginal Advocate Teacher, is another reason he is committed to helping others.
“We went to Mr. Taddei with the idea for the basketball team,” says River. “He helped push the idea forward, made it happen and is one of our coaches. He really cares about us and is a model for me. He shows me how to do things on my own. I feel like this is what I should do for other people.”
When asked about what excites him most about the future, River is quick to mention sports, but also his interest in politics.
“My dad teaches me a lot about politics. I’m looking forward to being able to take part. I want to become our first Native Prime Minister.”
With his commitment to encouraging, supporting, and acting with others, this young leader is well on his way.
From advocating for the creation of the Aboriginal Boys Basketball Team, to mentoring a younger student, to encouraging his friends to make it to school each day, River is an inspiring example of how small acts can add up to a big community impact.
May is Acts of Local Love Month. We are excited to be profiling individuals from across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley who – just like River – show their local love every day. River is taking the 31-day Acts of Local Love Challenge. Will you join him?
Show your local love. Take part in the Acts of Local Love Challenge today.
Topics : Building strong communities, Kids and Youth, Local love, Surrey
