SIX NATIONS — “Voices of Our Athletes” is a new book, written by students from Hagersville Secondary School featuring athletes from Six Nations and New Credit.
The book was unveiled at an official press event on Saturday at the Woodland Cultural Centre.
A total of nineteen students from Hagersville Secondary collaboratively photographed, interviewed and experienced ten athletes to bring the book together.
The book features individuals such as provincial champion boxer Cher Obediah, softball player Jessica Martin, hockey player Serene Porter and the well-known lacrosse player Johnny Powless.
Coordinator Lorrie Gallant said the event “was really successful,” mentioning that over 70 people were in attendance.
“Some people just called and said ‘can we come?’ because they wanted to support it. That was a nice thing to see,” said Gallant.
Gallant said the process to write the book was rewarding for the students and gave the athletes another chance to inspire. “They did works shops with photographer Serene Porter, and freelance writer and journalist Lisa VanEvery and they learned how to do an interview. They learned how to take pictures for the purpose of the banners and the books, and how to take journalistic pictures, portrait pictures and pictures that tell a story. Then after the workshops, we selected ten athletes and we had nineteen students, and they came in for an interview day and photo-shoot. They interviewed them and then they took the interviews back with them, and they wrote their articles.”
This was the second time Gallant collaborated with Hagersville Secondary School for a project, made possible by the Six Nations Community Development Trust Fund.
“I apply for grants from other places, but to me it’s really special when it comes from the trust fund because they’re Six Nations, and this is Six Nations artists, the subject is Six Nations and New Credit athletes and the students are from Hagersville so they’re Six Nations and New Credit too. So, it’s nice to see it come right back around,” said Gallant.
Gallant said, “We also selected some pictures to go up as banners for the Pan Am Games.” Those banners showcasing photography by the students will be featured in the Aboriginal Pavilion at the Pan Am games from July 16- 26 and at the Planet IndigenUs Festival at the Harbour Front Centre from July 31-August 9.
