Education News | Page 17
Nahanni herself is a mix of Cree and Chipewyan ( Dene ). Her middle name , Evelyn , was given to her after the Evelyn Falls in the NWT . Given the meaning of her names and a childhood lived out in Yellowknife , it is little wonder that Nahanni loves to spend time in the outdoors and to hike .
Nahanni feels little connection with her current last name Adams- Lindberg . Adams is the name of the family who raised her mom after she was scooped in the 60s . And Lindberg is the family name of her father , who left when she was very young . “ I still have a close relationship with my dad , but my name has no significance to me ; that is why I want to change it to Rose , which has more meaning .”
Rose was name of the family ’ s first pet dog , adopted when they relocated to Saskatchewan . The significance of the name Rose , says Nahanni , “ is that there are four letters in the word and there are four people in our family . Roses are beautiful but they have some thorns , like we have .”
Rose , the pet , brought their family together through the hardships they experienced after moving away from Yellowknife and through the difficult financial and emotional time while Nahanni ’ s mom , Carol , transitioned from being a journalist with CBC to a full-time artist / writer . Carol had been working on her first novel , Bearskin Diary , on top of her regular job and single parenting while the family lived in Yellowknife . But after a friend who had deferred his dreams until retirement passed away , Carol decided not to put off working on her art .
A year or so after settling down at Regina Beach , Carol left her job with CBC to establish herself as an artist . Nahanni says , “ We ended up getting poorer at first . I know what it is like to grow up without money . But it all paid off in the end .” Nahanni points to the struggles faced by their family as showing , “ what it ’ s like being raised by a single mom from the 60s scoop .” The difference being , “ My mom ensured we grew up with a loving mom , something she never grew up with , a mom . I am living a happy life regardless of the obstacles my family has faced — we always make it out strong .” This outcome aligns with the oft-repeated family mindset of “ Everything is going to work out .” And it has . Carol is now a successful published novelist , poet , playwright , visual artist , and musician and Nahanni is on her way to her chosen profession : teaching .
Growing up in Yellowknife was a great experience for Nahanni : “ I loved it ! I grew up with my brothers , grew up on the back rocks , playing outdoors , in the bush .” Nahanni is the twin sister of her younger brother ( by 11 minutes ) Danny , and