Two staff members with Tikinagan Child and Family Services have received an OPP commendation from Commissioner, Thomas Carrique.
The honour for Whyderman Black and Julie Suggashie is for their years of volunteer service in helping keep youth and adults safe in Pikangikum First Nation.
The award is in recognition of the community support and assistance to the OPP, Pikangikum Police and community peacekeeper service in urgent missing persons investigations involving youth throughout the years.
OPP say many of the incidents were critical in nature, involving people who threatened self-harm or death, making the guidance provided by Black and Suggashie vital in resolving situations.
Black says, “Helping out in my community was a big step in stepping up and assisting. I’ve been doing it for years. Usually, I get calls from OPP that they need help with a certain person. I coordinate the searches, finding out who they are in contact with last and where they were last seen.”
He adds, “I wanted to send a message to all youth. It is important to save a life and to let them know that the person is there to help them.”
Suggashie says, “This (commendation) is about showing the youth that we care for them and that they can look at us as role models. There’s actually people out there that really care about them. They can come to us and we can talk to them one-on-one and support them.”
Both Black and Suggashie have worked for Tikinagan for a total of six years.
