Katimavik

KATIMAVIK

A life-changing experience for Canadian youth

BY JORDAN ARSENAULT

I am a 22-year-old Katimavik alumni of the Summer/Fall 2018 program in St. Boniface, Manitoba and Nanaimo, BC.

Growing up in Maple Ridge, BC was amazing, with many different things to do within a close distance.I always had an interest in volunteer work. It was solidified as one of my core passions in life when I started volunteering with The Ridge Meadows Home Show every year, and quickly gained a manager position in my department.

Life before Katimavik was quite chaotic.Going from such a solid routine in school tohaving so much freedom can be quite a lot todeal with and is very disorienting.

Working was a bit difficult for me, and I was led to believe it was because of the time schedules and over-exertion while on the job, but I’ve come to realize it was the passion that was missing. I felt proud of my achievements and positions, but I wasn’t happy with the work. I felt that being paid was making it a chore, rather than a hobby, and I know that is just a mindset, but it affected the outcomes of my performance in daily life. I got burnt out, I removed myself from the world, and I shut down entirely for a few months in the winter of 2016 before making a lengthy transition back to being functional.

Fast-forward to the beginning of 2018, where I was gaining my motivation and spending a lot of time planning travels around the country and exploring what Canada has to offer, but I didn’t have the drive to go out and do it. After dealing with depression and anxiety for well over a decade, I was seeing a counsellor at my doctor’s office. She mentioned a lot of great tools and tips, and one day she brought up Katimavik. I struggled with the pronunciation at first, going around telling everyone about “Kat-/i/-mah-vik” until finally watching some homemade videos from previous alumni in the program

Fast-forward to the beginning of 2018, where I was gaining my motivation and spending a lot of time planning travels around the country and exploring what Canada has to offer, but I didn’t have the drive to go out and do it. After dealing with depression and anxiety for well over a decade, I was seeing a counsellor at my doctor’s office. She mentioned a lot of great tools and tips, and one day she brought up Katimavik. I struggled with the pronunciation at first, going around telling everyone about “Kat-/i/-mah-vik” until finally watching some homemade videos from previous alumni in the program on YouTube. I applied not too long after hearing about it, especially with all the people who loved it that I spoke with around town.

About a week later I got a response telling me I was accepted into the program, and I felt ecstatic. As I read more about the program, I realized they had taken on Truth & Reconciliation as a core aspect. I felt the spark inside beginning to grow back as I began to realize the opportunity that now lay in front of me.

I was extremely anxious prior to the actual beginning of the program, as applying was an intense leap after a two-year agoraphobia flare-up. Knowing that the future held new beginnings that would be brought forth throughout this experience kept me sturdy.

I felt honoured by the opportunity to explore more deeply into North American history, colonialism and its effects, as well as having the chance to build a lasting relationship with the survivors of its impacts. Having Indigenous background that I am hoping to explore and embrace more as I grow older also came into play as an amazing learning opportunity over the following six months.

Arriving for the first time in Manitoba, traditional territory of the Cree, Anishanaabe, and Métis, and meeting alumni and other volunteers from across the country was overwhelming in so many ways. But the amount of time it took to go from there to being best friends was a matter of days, if not hours! I was feeling right at home with my new Katima family, and the routine was something I welcomed with open arms. One of the most inspirational aspects of the program was the initial introductions with our partners and the host city. Our early days in the city were spent adventuring around town, getting the lay of the land and meeting the amazing non-profit partners that we would get to work with.

Jordan and his Katimavik group volunteering at the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre

Image contributed by Katimavik

My time with the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre was incredible and I am so glad to have made that connection. It is somewhere to return to along my future travels across the country. Getting to learn the local languages, practice the crafts, and explore the amazing Indigenous library was an experience of a lifetime! Being able to speak with locals and hear their stories while sharing time with them creating beautiful works of art was my muse, and I hope to return one day and take part again with future Katimavik participants and the MICEC staff.

Jordan (left) had the opportunity to explore the country while travelling by train from Winnipeg, MB to Nanaimo, BC with the new friends that he made in the Katimavik program.

Traveling by train across the country was a perfect way to transition mid-way, with a view of the prairies drifting by out the window. Slowly the grassy plains got snowy and transitioned into the Rockies and Coastal Mountains of British Columbia, which was an awe-inspiring sight to watch in realtime. The always-fun ferry ride to Vancouver Island came, and then setting up home in Nanaimo, BC, traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw. While there, I got to work with the Island Crisis Care Society in a couple of their houses as well as in the head office. Being able to connect with like-minded, caring individuals was wonderful. Lending a hand in helping them provide help to so many of those in-need throughout Nanaimo and its surrounding areas was something I truly appreciate being a part of.

As cheesy as it is, I truly believe Katimavik has changed my life for the better. I’m left feeling as though I have received a renewal on life, with another chance to practice jumping out of the nest and taking flight. I now have goals to create my own non-profit now, somewhere down the line, and to reconnect with my lost Indigenous backgrounds. For my entire life I will appreciate these new close friends, my project leaders, and everyone involved in Katimavik. The opportunity to connect with other youth from across the country is very humbling because you get to realize just how much you all have in common and how each of your differences are some of your greatest strengths.

ABOUT KATIMAVIK

Katimavik offers an opportunity for young adults to explore Canada, gain valuable skills, and contribute to positive change through volunteerism.

With over 40 years of experience in developing programs that respond to community needs and support youth development, Katimavik’s mission is to engage and empower youth to become capable and confident citizens and leaders for a better Canada.

Diverse youth aged 17 to 25 years old are invited to participate in the Katimavik National Experience – a fully immersive 6-month program that allows young adults to discover two new regions of Canada while living 3 months in an Englishspeaking community and 3 months in a French-speaking community. This program is funded by the Government of Canada through its Canada Service Corps initiative, and all expenses related to participation in the program are covered.

To learn more about the Katimavik National Experience, please visit: www.katimavik.org.