Latest news with #Muscowpetung
CTV News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Youth fashion show a hit for Muscowpetung First Nation
Body positivity and building confidence were the purpose of a youth fashion show hosted by Muscowpetung First Nation. (MickFavel/CTVNews) Body positivity and building confidence was the purpose of a youth fashion show hosted by Muscowpetung First Nation. Indigenous fashion and art designers took part, providing outfits as well as the makeup and hair needed for those participating. 'Looking at the kids in their gear right now, they are so confident. They are so proud,' said Melissa Tavita, the Chief of Muscowpetung First Nation. A stage was set up complete with lights, music and an emcee. The youth were then able to model outfits for their friends and family in attendance. 'For me, I'd rather take this over some New York or Paris show. We are not invisible anymore. We're here and rising to the occasion,' said Stephanie Gamble, the owner of C. Lysias Designs. Mia Buckles is model who took helped through the event. She said these types of events are a great way to build self esteem within youth. 'It is so important to have this community engagement in First Nations because it builds a lot of confidence,' Buckles said. The fashion show was one of the major events of Muscowpetung First Nation's Treaty Days Celebration. Leadership said getting youth in a positive mindset and to feel better about themselves was the goal of the fashion show. 'That's what we want to teach our kids is to be confident and proud. Give that encouragement where they need it, because a lot of our youth now adays need that encouragement,' said Tavita.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘It's a big relief for every family on the reserve': Muscowpetung opens new daycare
The new Lil Knowledge Seekers Daycare has opened at Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation. Parents are feeling at ease now that a new daycare has opened on Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation. On Monday, the community opened its doors to the new facility – Lil Knowledge Seekers Daycare – inviting families and people for a tour and community barbecue. 'It's a big relief for every family on the reserve and for the working moms, for myself too because I have a little one that will be joining us here at the daycare,' shared Jessica Keepness, a parent and the director of Lil Knowledge Seekers Daycare. 'It's about time. We haven't had a space of our own, and now we have a space that we can call our own.' The daycare will provide a safe environment for toddlers, incorporating cultural activities and teaching Indigenous languages such as Saulteaux and Anishinaabe along the way. 'It's exciting to be able to bring these little things that communities have had for so many years back into our community,' said Chief Melissa Tavita. 'It's exciting for us even though we're kind of late to the game, it still means a whole lot to have this in our community.' Muscowpetung daycare The new Lil Knowledge Seekers Daycare at Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation will incorporate cultural activities and teach Indigenous languages to toddlers. (Sierra D'Souza Butts) For more than a decade, families have been travelling outside of their home community seeking alternatives for childcare. With many parents working on the reserve, Tavita said the new space will fill a gap in the community, while opening up new job opportunities. 'We've been waiting for this for a very long time. Some of our people don't have the means to have daycare in our community,' she shared. 'Now, we're able to provide that for our community. It's something that's important and something that's needed because this is the first step before going into school.' Although the project has been years in the making, due to COVID-19 disruptions and other challenges, leaders shared their enthusiasm for the next generation of Indigenous youth. 'We didn't grow up with this type of facility when we were young,' shared Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Vice-Chief David Pratt. 'Our daycares were kôhkom's yard or hanging out at kôhkom's or whoever's house. Hanging out with their parents, or one parent worked and the other parent did babysitting duties, but now we have a facility that's able to provide and meet the needs of our families so that's important.' In addition to the daycare, a separate building is being planned by the nation's council to provide a culturally rooted space for children - with hopes of someday launching a pre-school.
