Big Island Lake Cree Nation youth takes centre stage in Toronto

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She wasn’t alone in this personal transformation – alongside her was her cousin 17-year-old Babie Sandfly.

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Big Island Lake Cree Nation youth takes centre stage in Toronto

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Where Adrienne talks about OLI as a place that taught her to be brave and step up, Babie described it as a family she never knew she had; one that helped her come out of her shell, find her voice and begin to imagine a future beyond their small community. 

Next week, the two dancers will represent Big Island Lake Cree Nation on the big stage in Toronto, joining 110 other Indigenous youth from across the country in an annual OLI performance that blends traditional movement with hip hop.  

“The performance is at Toronto’s Bluma Appel Theatre on May 15, and I’m really, really excited to see it,” said Adrienne. 

Babie shares that excitement from the dancers’ side of the stage.  

“This show represents small Indigenous communities and how far they have come; just to take Indigenous kids out to explore and see more options about the world,” she said. 

Once their performance is done, OLI will continue to guide them into adulthood.  

This fall, Adrienne will begin a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience, carrying with her the confidence, communication skills and sense of purpose she credits to OLI. Babie, meanwhile, is finishing high school with a clear picture of her own path, exploring carpentry and the trades through the mentors the program has connected her with. 

Neither sees OLI as something that ends when the music stops. Instead, they describe it as a lifelong support system, a community they can return to for guidance as they leave home, start post-secondary studies and step into new roles.  

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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com