Bridge Builder: Cultural identity critical for Clyde Moonias

Life in Thunder Bay isn't easy for Neskantaga First Nation member Clyde Moonias, but strengthening his sense of identity is helping him cope, and reach out to others seeking a sense of belonging.

"When I was 16, it was very challenging trying to be who I was and being someone who I wasn't," the 18-year-old said. "It wasn't until I started learning more about my culture, when I found my identity, [that] now I'm not ashamed to be a First Nations person living in Thunder Bay."

Now Moonias volunteers with various organizations, helping other young people. But he said none of this prevents him from feeling "terrified" in Thunder Bay. 

 "I feel that I can't walk in the street without being asked for something," he said. "I feel terrified to walk from home to the local food store."

'Just be who you are'

Moonias graduated from Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nations High School and is currently enrolled at Lakehead University.

"I have to catch a bus to school everyday and on nights I feel like if I miss the last bus I'm going to have to pay a cab," he said. "Because I refuse to walk home at night because of all the crime that's happening in our city."

The fear isn't based on race, Moonias said, since "no matter who you are, or where you come from, you can be a victim of crime, you can be a victim of hate."

Still, Moonias believes there are simple ways to make everyone feel more at ease in the city.

"Just be who you are, don't be shy," he said. "If you're standing at a bus stop and you see someone, just say hello, make a new friend.

"You can be a victim of a stereotype, or you can break through that stereotype, and be your own person."

Join Clyde Moonias, and six other cross-cultural 'bridge builders' Wednesday evening for a CBC Thunder Bay Community Forum. Building Bridges begins at 7 p.m. at Confederation College.

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