Even though I signed off on this blog when I left Nunavut, a recent event in Resolute has brought me back there in heart and mind. On August 20 a First Air flight carrying passengers and freight crashed in the community. On board were people returning to work in Resolute, First Air Crew, a university student coming to work on a project and 2 little girls from my former school. The two were sisters. Gabrielle miraculously survived the crash but her sister Cheyanne, who was 6 years old and going into grade two this year did not. This is so hard to write about. I am certain that anyone who has flown in the Arctic could place themselves on that plane. I was devastated to hear about the girls. They were so tight, such a unit, it's impossible to imagine one without the other. Every morning when I arrived at school, the first thing I did was open the back door for the students. The first two through the door were Cheyanne and Gabrielle. They would come running in, breathless, laughing, red-cheeked. Impatient to get the day going. They adored school.They would wiggle out of snowsuits on the floor, stuff their clothes in their cubbies and run to get the games and toys for our breakfast time. Cheyanne was a fashionista and as soon as the snow suit came off she would stand silently, hands on hips, head cocked to one side, eyes sparkling and challenging. I should say wordless, but hardly silent. My job then was to exclaim over the outfit, hairstyle, and shoes of the day. Then she would bestow the dazzling smile and twirl away.
During the day I would make any excuse to drop into Eileen's classroom to visit. There were just 6 kids in that classroom and they could charm the cold and darkness out of any high arctic day. I loved their reading time when they would sit on the miniature red couch and chairs and read to one another, their rhythm band practice for the Christmas concert, and snack time when they laughed and joked and ate apples and oranges. Cheyanne was always the center of everything. She was such an itsy bitsy girl, her hugs landed somewhere around my knees. My heart is broken for that little town, Cheyanne's family and for the school. My thoughts are with them and with my friend Eileen who was Cheyanne's teacher for the past 2 years. Cheyanne and her sister were like her Nunavut grandchildren.
I have many pictures of Cheyanne, so here are a few. She was a strong, smart, beautiful little girl who lived a great big life in a tiny amount of time and will always have a place in my heart. I'm sure there's a bright new star in the arctic sky.
I took portraits of all the kids in the school for a Mother's Day project. This is Cheyanne's.
Cheynanne's kindergarten graduation picture with her mom, Brenda.
Gabrielle and Cheyanne posing in our after-school program.
A couple of Cheyanne's fashion statements.
I didn't know Cheyanne, but I stay at the South Camp now and then and have seen her and her sister running around and playing. I was so sad to hear of her death, thanks for posting your memories and photos.
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