Neebin and Neebeesh Elliott
hope they can inspire other Indigenous youth
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Neebeesh and Neebin Elliott
say they have always been competitive since they were children,
but have also always been there to support one another. (Submitted
by Geewadin Elliott)
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Twin Anishinaabe boys are heading to Michigan State University
in the fall after successful high school careers at St. Andrew's
College in Ontario.
Originally from Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation on the Bruce Peninsula,
Neebeesh and Neebin Elliott say they have always been competitive
since they were children, but have also always been there to support
one another.
In Ojibway, Neebin means 'summer' and Neebeesh means 'leaves.'
They chose to attend Michigan State because their father did his
bachelor's degree in business at the university and as children
the boys were attended summer and football camps there.
"From a young age I knew that's where I wanted to go," said Neebeesh
Elliott.
He will be studying biology and said there's still a lot of options
available for the direction his studies might take him in.
"I know that I definitely want to do something in the medical field,
so maybe become a doctor or something in the field of sports medicine,"
he said.
Neebeesh said he's also hoping to play on the university's football
team.
Neebin Elliott will be studying computer engineering.
He said one of his long term goals with computer engineering is
to bring coding skills back to their home community.
"I know how powerful it can be and how much of a useful language,"
he said.
School's 1st powwow
The twins are living in Oro-Medonte township at the moment after
the COVID-19 pandemic sent them home early from St. Andrew's, a
private boy's school in Aurora, Ont., just north of Toronto, where
they were boarding.
Neebeesh has attended St. Andrew's since Grade 9, while Neebin
attended a Catholic school for his first year of high school before
joining his brother in Grade 10.
The twins both said their time at the school was overwhelmingly
positive and gave them a lot of opportunities to meet new people,
work on their studies and play tons of sports including football,
track and field and rugby.
Last week the boys finished their studies, both making the honour
roll for having an average of over 85 per cent in their classes.
They said they were able to share elements of their Anishinaabe
heritage with the school as well, leading a prayer circle in Anishinaabemowin
and teaching students how to smudge.
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Neebeesh Elliott will
be studying biology at Michigan State University in the fall
and hopes to play football as well. (Submitted by Geewadin
Elliott)
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Earlier this year, St. Andrew's had its first powwow, which they
said was positively received by staff and students alike. The powwow
took place with help from community members and their father.
"We wanted to go out with something memorable and it's something
that'll bring us back hopefully every year," said Neebin Elliott.
The twins say they hope they can be positive role models for other
Indigenous youth.
Neebeesh said youth shouldn't be afraid to speak up if they see
something wrong or if someone doesn't understand something.
"Don't be afraid to correct them because that's what truth and
reconciliation is about, it's sharing and correcting people, letting
them know the proper things about our culture," he said.
Lasting impact
Greg Reid, executive director of advancement at St. Andrew's, said
the twins have made a lasting impact on the school.
"Unfortunately, we have not had any significant presence of Indigenous
students in the past," said Reid.
"Once the twins were at the school, they started to in a
very, very positive way open up people's awareness of Indigenous
issues."
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From football, to track
and field and even rugby Neebin and Neebeesh Elliott stayed
busy with extracurricular activities. (Submitted by Geewadin
Elliott)
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The students at the school wear uniforms that are made up of a
white shirt, school blazer, tie and pants but the twins customized
their shirts with ribbons.
Reid said their shirts were completely acceptable under the school's
dress code and helped show the other students how important their
cultural identity was to the twins.
A year ago, the school created a bursary that will help pay for
tuition at the school for Indigenous students in the future.
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