Dakotah Woods of Quebec Remparts stresses hard work, dedication and education in cover story feature with Wabun Sun

Dakotah Woods from Chapleau, playing for Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is featured as cover story in the Wabun Sun.

The Wabun Sun is published by the Wabun Tribal Council online and in print with stories and features from its seven First Nations members: Beaverhouse, Brunswick House, Chapleau Ojibwe, Flying Post, Matachewan, Mattagami and Wahgoshig.

I have touched on some of the highlights of Dakotah's interview but you can read it in its entirety at http://wabunsun.com or obtain a print version from Wabun Tribal Council. 

“Playing my first major game for a team like the Remparts was an amazing experience and something that every kid dreams of. As an Aboriginal person and someone from a small northern community this has been an exciting and unbelievable journey,” Dakotah told the Wabun Sun.

Born in Chapleau, Dakotah, who is a member of Brunswick House First Nation. first played in the Chapleau Minor Hockey Association, and his career continued after the family moved to North Bay. He is the son of Isabelle (Saunders) and Gordon Woods.

His mother Isabelle told the magazine that the move, to advance her son's hockey career, was also a chance for her to continue her training and education in the medical field. 

“I feel that Dakotah and I went on a journey together with the family to North Bay to further our opportunities and to live our dreams. He was excelling in hockey and I was also doing my best to complete my training and education in nursing. He was always a dedicated individual and it was never hard to get him to those early morning games, through long days of training or enduring late night road trips. He has worked very hard for what he has achieved and knowing that makes us all very proud of his accomplishments,” said Isabelle. to the Wabun Sun.

My congratulations to Isabelle on completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Nipissing University in 2015

Dakotah's father Gordon commented: “We are so proud of what Dakotah has accomplished these past few years. There have been plenty of sacrifices on his part and for our family as well but we are grateful for the success he has achieved. I have so much pride in his hockey career but I am also happy to have watched him grow from a dedicated boy in hockey to the mature independent man that he has become."

The magazine noted that "Dakotah Woods, a member of Brunswick House FirstN ation, has become a positive role model for the Aboriginal community by achieving the ranks of semi professional hockey with the Quebec Remparts. "

 The article mentioned that his family went to visit him in Quebec City where he now resides, to celebrate his 1 8th birthday this January."He stays in constant touch with his family in Ontario including his older sister Cedar, who recently completed her secondary school education and his younger brother Hunter, who is following in his brothers footsteps and is involved in the Little Native Hockey League in northern Ontario.

 "In terms of his education, Dakotah Woods makes his studies a priority during his regular schedule and hopes to some day follow in his mother's path and develop a career in the medical field. He wants to give other young Aboriginal people the message he learned from his family that hard work and dedication to sports is important but that education should also be prominent.

 “I make myself available to speak to other young people, especially in First Nation communities. I want to share the same teachings I learned from others along my path, that no matter where you are from or what walk of life, if you work hard, keep focused, make good choices and don't allow others to bring you down, anything is possible. It is also at times necessary to make sacrifices to achieve your goals and that means choosing your friends well and being aware of the danger or pitfalls of drugs and alcohol,” commented Dakotah who has a strong connection to his community and its history. 

Wabun Sun noted that his mother Isabelle is the daughter of legendary Chief Joe Saunders and Chief Francis Saunders. Both of Dakotah's grandparents were instrumental in creating positive developments for their community and Chief Joe Saunders was also a founding member of the Wabun Tribal Council.

“My biggest thanks are to my parents for everything they've done for me and to my sister Cedar and my younger brother Hunter, for all their support. There have been so many people who have helped me on my path and I wish I could list them all but that would take a book,” said Dakotah in his interview.

During the off season of hockey, mainly from June to August, Dakotah makes himself available to speak to First Nation youth at public events in workshops or motivational speaking.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Dakotah Woods of Quebec Remparts shares details on importance of finding good hockey stick

Dakotah Woods, who is playing for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, joins our series on finding your good stick with his comments on its importance to success as a hockey player.

Dakotah, from Chapleau, who is also a member of Brunswick House First Nation, took time to do a texting interview on how he decides on his hockey stick.

Dakotah commented that finding the right stick is "pretty important. It's the thing you use most as a hockey player other than our skates."

He explained that the process in selecting a hockey stick depends on a player's preference - by the curve, the flex, the roundedness of the shaft.

"The way I pick my sticks is by talking with one of the stick reps and tell him where I like my kick point in my sticks, my curve, the flex and length. Then you look to grip. See how you like your grip.

"I like a grippy stick with a tarsal pattern. You gotta make sure you get the one that's right for you. One you like.

Dakotah's favorite stick is a "Bauer apx. It's light and has a nice kick point, the blade is strong so my shot doesn't fumble."

After texting with Dakotah, I realized how out of touch with the game I am since coaching my last game in 1987 at the Mrs A.W. Moore Arena at the Chapleau Recreation Centre --- Chapleau All Stars versus NHL All Stars with Guy Lafleur.

With all respect to the awesome players on the teams I coached at the Midget and Intermediate A level when I did hockey in Chapleau between 1970 and 1987, I doubt if any of us could have provided the detailed explanation on selecting the "good stick' that Dakotah did.

Dakotah's hockey career started in Chapleau minor hockey, continued in North Bay for one season ,then on to Sudbury for three seasons, two with Nickel City Suns and one with  Sudbury Wolves, bantam team, and then with the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. This is his first season with the Remparts at the major junior level.

He is the son of Isabelle (Saunders) and Gordon Woods.... thanks again Gordie for your help.

And, thanks Dakotah for being part of the finding your good stick series. All the best!!!!

Vince Crichton active in Chapleau life but devoted to preservation of this beautiful rugged land and the animals that roamed it

After graduating from Grade 13 at Chapleau High School, it appeared that Vince Crichton may have followed a career as a banker or a plumber or a theatre operator, but such was not to be as he seems to have already chosen his lifestyle and country where he would live -- "The woods where the weird shadows slant."

Although Vince would spend most of his life in the Chapleau area, the line from Robert Service's famous poem 'The Spell of the Yukon' perhaps sums up his love of the forests and wildlife. In an article paying tribute to Vince in 1977 in the Chapleau Sentinel, it is noted that Vince "devoted his life to the preservation of this beautiful rugged land and the animals that roamed it.

"Through his work, he was able to oversee what he loved the most -- the austere, vigorous northern country, the sphere of his reality."

Vince was born in Sunderland, England, and as a boy of seven, arrived in Chapleau in 1913 with his mother Helen, brother George, and sisters Vera and Anne, where his father Walter Vincent Harvey had established a plumbing business in 1911. Rita, Edith, Joe and Charlie, also his brothers and sisters were born in Chapleau. His father also took over the motion picture theatre.

By 1917, land had been purchased in Mulligan's Bay and as his son Dr. Vince Crichton writes in Chapleau Trails, a camp was built, which is still in the Crichton family. Dr. Vince noted that the camp was built by his grandfather, his father and brother George, George Hunt (my grandfather) and Ernie Quelch.

My grandmother, Edith Hunt, and Vince's grandmother were sisters.

After completing high school Vince worked with his father in the plumbing and theatre businesses and was also employed by the Royal Bank, but by 1933 he was appointed game warden with the department of games and fisheries, later the department of lands and forests, then ministry of natural resources.

Dr. Vince relates an interesting anecdote told to him by his Uncle George. While Vince was helping his mother raise the family after the death of his father in 1932, he "poached, trapped and hunted food for the family as there was no money. Eventually he had to stop when the government made him the game warden."

In 1935, Vince married Dora Morris, (no relation) the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Morris who also lived in Chapleau. Vince and Dora bought a house on Queen Street, next to Dora's parents.

The Crichton family home was on the corner of Birch and Aberdeen streets, the big red brick house.

Many of us will recall reading 'Young Bush Pilot' by Jack Hambleton where Vince is mentioned. Hambleton writes about Vince catching poachers including the legendary Grey Owl to fixing fire pumps based on his experience as plumber to chief ranger Ernie Morin wondering where he was and then seeing him emerging from the fog in front of the point -- "at the outboard motor at the stern of the larger canoe was the unmistakable form of the big overseer." If you can get a copy of Young Bush Pilot, its is a great read.

In 1948 Vince was appointed inspector of the Chapleau District which included the Chapleau Game Preserve. In 1955 he was chosen by the Ontario government to work for a year at Winisk on the Hudson Bay coast on polar bear, blue geese, caribou and seals.

Despite his work and travels, Vince was also actively involved in the life of Chapleau. He enjoyed curling and baseball, and was catcher on teams for many years. Later he umpired ball games, sharing duties with J.M. 'Jack' Shoup. He also liked playing his horn and was a member of the Chapleau Town Band, playing the E Flat Bass Horn until 1976. He would also take out his mouth organ to liven up many a gathering with lively music.

Vince also served as chair of the museum board, and on the library and hospital boards and was a resource person to the Cubs and Scouts. With his friend Alcide Small he donated a trophy to Chapleau schools for a competition on conservation issues. Vince was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.

A history buff, Vince wrote 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario' a valuable contribution to the life and times in his beloved north country.

Among the honours conferred on him was being named as a member of the Hudson's Bay Society. There were only 500 members worldwide.He was accepted into the society for his work in locating Brunswick House an old Hudson's Bay Post.

When Vince retired in 1969 as fish and wildlife supervisor, a mark of the esteem in which he was held was the presentation to him of a boat and motor by the people of Chapleau.

Dr. Vince Crichton will give his annual lecture this year on ungulates specifically “The World of the Moose and The Man Who Would Be Moose" at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Chapleau on July 31 at seven p.m.

Photos courtesy of Dr Vince Crichton

Dora and Vince Crichton

Dora and Vince Crichton with grandchildren Susan and Scott.