By Sarah Stone

VIDEO: Annual anti-bully walk reduces incidents in Wahpeton

May 25, 2013 | 8:27 AM

It was all good feelings, friendship and pink shirts on the Wahpeton Dakota First Nation on Friday.

At 10 a.m. around 100 members of the community including many children, marched around the First Nation waving signs and chanting in favour of anti-bullying.

“I think the band and community works together in trying to reduce bullying on the reserve here. There’s various types of bullying that happens whether it’s teasing, whether it’s fighting, whether it’s name calling; there’s different types of bullying and we’re not immune from it,” said education co-ordinator Beverly Waditaka.

She said the students at school have been showing strides in tolerance over the past few years. The community could still use a little more awareness she feels, but overall are following suit with the school.

Grade 6 student Lacey Noon participated in the event for the second consecutive year. She said it feels “good” to be a part of the walk, especially because she was bullied when she young.

Lighting it up

P.A.'s Zablocki leads Regina to victory on Day 4 at Esso Cup

18h ago

WORLD SOFTBALL

Group stages officially set for Men's Softball World Cup in P.A.

Apr 24, 2024

Safety first

Safety concerns and tips surrounding discarded needles in P.A.

Apr 23, 2024

Noon believes bullies take part the behaviour because “it makes themselves feel better” and needs to stop.

This is the third year the walk has taken place since elder Rita Parenteau created it. Parenteau passed away and her daughter, Karen, has continued it on in her memory.

“There were things that were happening in our community. The elder that suggested it, my mother … she was a big a supporter and she loved her community and her children and she really wanted to do something,” Karen explained. “It’s really important for me to keep that [going]. It’s something that our elder wanted.”

Karen said it’s extremely important that bully prevention starts early before it becomes a larger issue.

“There’s different bullying all over the place and we’re hoping that we’ll be able to let the kids know about the kind of bullying and it’s not good to do and it can cause and create a lot trauma and it can take lives also,” she said.

“We just want the students, the kids and the band members to get along and to understand that.”

Every year, Karen echoed Waditaka, agreeing the community is becoming a little more aware of the trauma and hurt bullying can cause.

“There’s not as much [bullying] going on. There’s a lot more [people] showing respect and although we still have a little bit, but not as much or anything like that so it’s really good,” she said.

What Karen explained is amazing about the community is the ability for several organizations and people to come together and unify under one goal. She said having the RCMP, council members and elders present and participating in the walk, donning pink shirts and banners is really appreciated and will help with their end goal to abolish bullying.

Wahpeton Dakota First Nation located 15 kilometres northwest of Prince Albert.

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84