Calvin Chapman

Tansi, my name is Calvin Chapman. I am a university student studying at the University College of the North, enrolled as an undergraduate in a five-year Bachelor of Arts in Education program offered in our community of York Landing. I am currently employed as the Director of Education for the George Saunders Memorial School in York Factory First Nation. With my background in education and my passion for my job, I am able to work during regular business hours and maintain my student status in the evenings for this part-time university program. I have been sobered for seven years, free from alcohol and drugs and walk the Mino-Pimatiswin way (The Red Road). I owe my sobriety to our cultural ceremonies as an Indigenous person. The Sundance Ceremony and the Sweat Lodge were crucial experiences that undeniably shaped my transformation. I live a committed, healthy lifestyle that incorporates daily weightlifting and cardio. I prioritize a balanced diet and ensure that I get seven to eight hours of quality sleep every night. My life-changing experience has enabled me to enjoy a more comfortable life filled with luxuries and surrounded by a loving family. Given my age, I am in the best shape of my life, and I only wish I had adopted this lifestyle in my 20s. I encourage anyone with the determination to improve their lifestyle to start now rather than wait until later in life.