new blog

http://journey-through-my-life.blogspot.ca/

new chapter. new blog.

I'd like to thank the thousands of people who have read my blog during the past year. I am so grateful to have shared my journey with you. 

I'd like to create a new blog to write about other things, that have stemmed from this beautiful gift VIDEA & CIDA & Women for Change have developed within myself. 

I want to write about things that inspire me, or just thoughts that I have, and take my blogging to a more interactive blog, about what it's like to be in an exciting Time of Change for Indigenous Peoples. 

I may never know who reads, this whether your a first time reader, or have read every post, but thank you. I keep writing because people keep reading. Ill post the link to my new blog after I create. 

It's not the end, Its only the beginning. 

Samson moving forward

When I was under-going my pre-departure training over a year ago, I was staying in a beautiful community, the T'Sou-ke First Nation on Vancouver Island. 

I was in awe of the sense of community, I remember journalling, how I felt so welcome, and was made to feel like a family from the membership in the community. 

I felt like people genuinely cared for each other and were concerned about everyone's well being, It was such a close group and it truly touched my heart. 

I wanted to bring the same idea back to Samson, to encourage the Unity of our Peoples. I had a vision for Samson, and the kind of community I wanted children to grow up in. 

Over the past few months, I have joined up with some amazing ladies from the community to follow through with this vision. 

We started a small group to focus on empowering our youth and building up the family. Our goal was to educate, and empower. 

I can't explain the up most purest form of happiness that I've seen from the Children that we've been able to bring happiness to. It is truly magical. 

In December we hosted a Secret Santa Event for 300 youth. The kids enjoyed an evening skating with Santa  and everyone got a Christmas meal and a toy from Santa himself. 

In February we started the First Annual Winter Celebrations and spent Family Day with hundreds of other families in Samson and had hay rides, got our faces painted, played in and out door activities. 

(I invite you to view our Community Newsletter http://www.samsoncree.com/newsandevents.htm for the full scope of pictures and activities) 

We also started the First Ever "Iskwesis" Girls Skating Program, the program was designed for girls who were not in any other organized sport, to keep active in the Winter and come and skate. We've networked with Sport Central in Edmonton who provided twenty girls with skates and helmets. The program runs every week on Wednesdays. The program started with 7 girls, and now we have over 40 girls who come and skate with us every week. 

Me and Iskwesis Girls

I am grateful for my time in T'Sou-ke for giving me the understanding of what's important in life. Families helping other families. 

I am grateful for the women who love the Samson Community, just as much as I do. I also believe they should be recognized for the amazing work that they do. 

Charmaine Crane- Justice Soosay- Debra Buffalo- Myrna Buffalo & the many more who help us achieve our dream, of making Samson a better place to live. 

FNSC

On February 27 & 28, 2013, I was able to take part in the Second Annual First Nations Sustainability Conference. Not only, was I an Organizer of the event, but also I speaker where I was able to share my story. 

I felt so honored to be among so many amazing people who were all participants of a common theme, to share our Stories of Sustainability amongst First Nations Communities & Buildings. 

As each speaker presented new generational thinking, a piece of their presentations stuck with me. I may not be the most educated in this field, but I am passionate in my learning, and passionate of how I can present some of these ideas into my community. 

Our Keynote guest Wab Kinew, had talked about sustainability not just being one thing, like providing a new sustainable house, but being apart of a web of issues, especially when dealing with First Nations Peoples. You have to fix everything.

 

I was very inspired and felt like I had accomplished a milestone after I spoke, especially combating my fear of public speaking. 

Public speaking, was something I never dreamed or considered when I grew up, It just kind of chose me & I truly believe the Creator has given me a voice to share my story. I took this opportunity to speak, to be able to give youth a voice in terms of Sustainability. 

In First Nations communities, the vast majority of the population is under the age of 30, So I believe that the youth need to be more involved when thinking of the “The Big Picture” and moving forward into the Future. 

I don’t have children yet, but when the Creator blesses me with my own children, I’d like to provide them a life where we learn about living sustainability from an early age, and continue on for generational impacts. 

 Myself & Wab Kinew- Host of 8th Fire

go

it's unbelievable to look back one year ago and where I was. 

and when people ask me to reflect, I don't want to.... It makes me think that it's over, it isnt, This experience of what I am doing now, is just another experience of it all. 

I am only looking forward, and for all the doors to be walked through. 

2012-2013

http://www.ponokanews.com/community/185472891.html

Ponoka News had done an interview in regards to how I felt being featured in Dave Douglas's "Leading the Way Book" and a follow up on some of the projects I've been working on :) 

The Generation that Refuses to Give Up

The #idlenomore movement in Response to the passing of Bill C-45, makes me prouder than ever to be an Indigenous Women in a generation that is determined to make and demand change.

I was looking through my twitter, and following some updates of the #idlenomore, and It hit me, it was literally one of those comedic “light bulb” moments you see in cartoons.

The last week I was in Zambia, Women for Change was advocating and educating Women from every part of the country. The Women were coming together to stand up for their Basic Human Rights, and also Women’s Rights they've never been granted before.

While I was there, The Zambian Government released the first draft of a New Constitution (the last Constitution was from Colonial Times which was surpressed on Zambians)

Many Women’s groups, and NGO’s unified to put together a massive conference to unite Women to Educate ALL women, regardless of the tribe they were from, which Indigenous Language they spoke, how wealthy or non wealthy they were, there was no discrimination. Just Women to Women.

All of the Women came together, not only to get Educated about the Constitution, but to forward their recommendations for the Second draft. When the Conference was over, ALL the women, were unified in their stance in regards to the constitution.

This loops back to the relationship we have with our Brothers and Sisters across the World. Our Sisters in Zambia, took all the knowledge they learned at that conference, back home to Educate all the other women who could not attend.

 There was a day in Zambia, I asked the Creator why he sent me here, and I got one answer, “He sent you here to show you something”  Now I know what that something was. An example of how to mobilize and educate the people.

This relates to us here in Canada, because here we are, Chief Spence in her 21^st day of her Hunger Strike, and there are still many First Nations who may not fully understand what the movement is about. It is very complex to understand, there are many layers to peel back to fully grasp it’s complexity. You need to know what the treaties are, Indigenous Rights, and Human Rights, and how the Bill got to where it is today in terms of the Justice system.

I'm a fourth year University Student, and I still am researching about it,I know in my own community, there is a high percentage of the adult population that have literacy troubles, How do you expect them to fully understand, when we need to back up, and educate about the treaties first, before we explain how the Bill will be hindering protection of the land, or about the Sustainability of our Water.

I think about the Women’s Constitution Conference and how women from all walks of life, had united together to fight for their rights as Women. I never mention a problem, without ever having a solution to offer.

First Nations need to move forward with one unified response.The Conservative government will not listen, if all of our Chiefs have different responses, or critiques of the movement, we'll be disregarded once again, claiming, we don't know what we want.

  This is the Generation that refuses to give up

I think about the African Proverb:

 “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you have never spent a night with a mosquito”

#idlenmore

@ashleydennehy

alberta sweetgrass

Thank you to Alberta Sweetgrass for featuring me in your newspaper! 

http://www.ammsa.com/publications/alberta-sweetgrass/college-student-focus-efforts-back-home

So blessed to be able to inspire others! 

SETF Awards!

I Just wanted to post a photo from when I spoke at the Samson Education Trust Fund Awards last weekend . I am so very honored to have been asked to speak, and I was grateful for another opportunity to grow and become a better Speaker. 

Thank you to my Dad & Mom for supporting me through out the Internship, as well as having my Sisters Jennifer, Jessica, Allyson & Heather, as well as Barb to come and be my little cheer leaders. Thanks Heather for being the photographer and video editor! 

Also, thank you to every one in attendance, including Mayor Stephan Mandell from Edmonton, for all of the amazing positive comments. I am so very blessed to have all of your support. 

Some days, I can't beleive, how many doors this Internship has opened for me. 

"I MAY BE BENT, BUT NOT BROKEN, EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON, BECAUSE IF THE CREATOR BRINGS YOU TO IT, HE WILL BRING YOU THROUGH IT" 

Leading the Way

Dave Douglas has featured me in his leadership Book.

 

So very blessed, to be featured in a book.

 

Here is the link for viewing, or for purchase.

 

Enjoy, Book name is "Leading the Way"

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ACMUQ7S

 

 

 

been awhile..

Some time has passed since I've reintegrated back into life in Canada. I feel like I am at the point in my journey where I am able to fully talk about my experiences in Zambia. 

It was incredibly difficult to try to comprehend everything I've been through in the past year. When I first came home, and all the questions, were questions, I could not answer. 

Indeed, it was extremely emotional, I was tested beyond what I thought I was capable of, in terms of my fears of going into the unknown. 

I have tried many times to sit down, and write my stories, but my stories were all over the place, and it was to emotional to write about a place I had grown to love and call home.

As an Indigenous person, I have this connection to my family, my peoples, and my land, that is indescribable. It was so hard for me to be away, from all of the familiar. It was difficult to communicate to home, because it was unbearable to hear how life was moving on without me in Canada. 

I learned that I will always have two or maybe even three homes, and multiple families. I have brothers and sisters in Zambia and Fiji and all over Canada. 

The biggest gift this internship could have given me, was to bring me closer to my faith and my culture. I put my trust in the Creator to guide me and show me what I needed to see, and to create friendships with other Indigenous cultures around the world. 

I just wanted to update you on some of the things I have been up to since my last update, I have been fundraising to provide clean water for school children in Zambia and for the Women for Change Organization where I interned. If you are interested in donating, I have a bake sale scheduled for November for the Samson Community.

and, I have been asked to be a guest speaker, at the Second Annual First Nations Sustainability Conference along side Wab Kinew, host of the 8th Fire Series in February 2013 in Edmonton. If you are interested in attending or supporting, please email me at dennehya@mymail.macewan.ca 

and, the Samson Education Trust Fund has asked me to speak at the annual awards nights to honor our community members in their educational journey next month. 

The best part of it all, has been the large number of youth who have reached out to me, in terms of advice for exploring the world, and pursuing their education. 

spideys and other random thoughts

I'm not sure if I wrote about this before, but I think of this Zambia-Africa experience, as a ripple effect.

Think of a pond, and this internship as a Rock.

All of these opportunities rippling out as an effect of the rock being dropped in a pond, is kind of what I am experiencing now.

I am so blessed with the doors that have opened for me. I feel I am now a catalyst in empowering youth in my community.

I had to laugh, going through my journals of when I was in Africa. Usually I am very emotionally affected when I read them. Sometimes I laugh, and sometimes I cry.

There is something amazing that happened to me every day when I was there. Living with four other interns, it was always a fun- adventerous time. I read a journal entry last night, where we tarantala trapping, and there was one in our kitchen! The biggest and fastest one I seen in Zambia, and we made a video to document us trying to catch it. I remember being so afraid, and my friends laughing at me for being such a scaredy cat.
 
Made me laugh, and feel nastalgic, and I really think about how great it was as an experience. I highly recommend for all ages to step out of your comfort zone, and leap into new challenges. Even when your scared. The Creator will never give you anything you can't handle.

This quote brought me strength every day in difficult situations...

 

"There may not be good days, but there is good in every day"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the note of spiders, I remember my most scaredy cat moment....I had come home from using the Internet cafe at Arcades Mall, and to my surprise, I was the only one home. I was exhausted, it was a long day in the office, and I came in my room and turned the light on, releived to find we had electricty that day.

On the corner of my eye, I seen some legs sticking out from under the bed.

My heart skipped about 8 beats. I knew exactly what these legs were from.

I set my back pack down, while keeping my distance, I looked closer, Sure enough, these hairy thick spotted legs were from...you guessed, a tarantala.

Instantly I was panicked, because I was the only one home, and the legs were poking out from under my bed. I started sweating and couldn't move. I could see it under the bed, but I felt itchy, like they were crawling on me. Even tho it wasn't moving.

What was I going to do? I was the only one home and I needed to sleep. My amigos were out and about. I called my roomies, to come home, I said I had a "situation" and they needed to help me. So Shay Shay and Coco Speed home as fast as they can to save me.

Thankfully the Creator answered my prayers, and Nathan my other roomie came back to save the day. Tarantala= Gonzo! I still apologize to the Creator for all the spideys who had to perish while I was in Zambia.

My co-workers in Zambia could never fully understand why I was so afraid of spiders. They would laugh, and tell me, I needed more exposure to them so I wouldn'd be afraid anymore. Not this girl. Incurable fear of Arachnids.

I have about 40 other stories like this, where spiders threw my whole homeostasis off, but I had amazing room mates who always were understanding. Some of my roomies were afraid of rats, this is where I could show off, because I wasn't afraid of rats. We were a great team despite everything we been through together.

I know these special people who I got to live with in Zambia including Rohan our on the ground program coordinator added to the experience and the success of all of staying the entire four months.

These interns will always have a special place in my heart, because I will never forget Zambia, and the people who made the experience what it is. To my roomies, I thank you! Without you, I would have gone home the first day at the YWCA where we were chasing out toonie size spideys. Love our crazy team. Ro, Coco, Shay Shay, Rexx & Nate Bomb.

youth symposium

Today, was my First Public Speaking in my community about my Africa Internship.

I presented to many youth from the Four Nations in Post Secondary, as well as high school, about my experience and how it had changed me as a person, and how I found my purpose in life.

My hope was for for one person to be inspired by my efforts to make changes in our own community, as well as the international community.

Thank you to Lenora, Ember, and Darlene for allowing me to have this opportunity. Special Thank you to Levi who made my presentation possible. Hai Hai

Wetaskiwin Times Story

Thanks again Nicole for writing the story on my internship in Zambia. The response from so many people is amazing! Couldn't have done it without your help!

http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3597641

opened doors

I just want to thank everyone for continuing to read my blog, I think I have had more readers now, then when I was in Africa.

I feel so blessed for the doors that have opened for me since returning home, I have been asked to be a guest speaker at a Four Nations youth symposium with the theme being 'Education is our Buffalo" on August 14, 2012.

I am extremely honored, my Community would ask me to speak, throughout my educational journey, I never thought that I would be speaking to over 200 high school and post secondary students.

My focus now in the Samson Community is to encourage Volunteerism to be the Change you want to see in your own Communities.

Stay tuned from news articles from the Wetaskiwin News and a story featured in the Alberta Sweetgrass Newspaper. Yipee!

TEAM ZAMBIA!

The Real Zambia!

Trust me you want to watch this youtube clip! Directed by Courtenay Louie!

TEAM ZAMBIA! THREE AMIGOS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmuyVII5QFw&feature=player_embedded

Ponoka News!

Thanks Amelia at Ponoka News for writing such a great story on my internship! You rock!

http://www.ponokanews.com/community/163730226.html

Canada...Yay!

It's been a personal triump for me to get out of this little "slump" I was in after returning home to the mother land.

For awhile there, I was hesitant about opportunities, and afraid to talk about my internship, due to the fear of being misunderstood.

It is very complex to explain what I did in Zambia, in the operational areas and in the office in Lusaka.

I would love to publish my journals into a book to talk about the day to day, because sometimes a little detail in my day, was what impacted me more than the "big" things.

I can't tell all my journal entries on my blog, but I am thinking all my daily therapuetic writing I did while I was there, that I'd love to write a book.

I wrote four journals of daily experiences I had in Zambia. I was always writing, because I never wanted to forget this experience that has shaped the future of my life to come.

Please watch for the story in the Ponoka News paper about my internship!

GSC

Well I started the Global Solidarity Challenge today, Not as easy as it sounds, especially when I am sacraficing my morning coffees!

I have spent 0.99 Cents and it isnt even lunch time.

Morning breakfast- Egg Sandwhich (0.19 for one egg) and (0.25 for two pieces fo toast) My Coffee (0.23) was brewed in a pot and NOT bought  at Tim Hortons like usual. = $0.92

My morning snack, was a bannana and it was $0.07.

I need to do some better planning because my budget totaly for today is $0.99 and my budget is $1.25

Thanks to my mom and sister for donating $50.00 each for the cause. Global Solidarity here we come! If anyone is interested in donating, please email me :)
Xoxo
Ash

Mustard Seed

To my favorite lovelys.

First, Thank you for reading, especially now that I am home. So happy to see so many friendly faces and hearing everyone's encouraging words to keep exploring the globe and continuing to make a difference.

Secondly, I Absolutely fell in love with this blog. So happy to see people helping in our own back yard.

This blog is amazing! and I am very happy to share it all with you! next time you need an inspirational lift, read just one post. I promise it will make your day.

http://theseed-blog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Xoxo
Ash