Martial arts star stops by town
Valerie Tewishaw (left) and Alana Simon (right) are a mother-daughter duo who collaborated on custom moccasins for martial arts legend Georges-St Pierre, who spoke with Kanesatake students last week. Courtesy Alana Simon
Martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre is used to a lively audience when he’s in the ring - but the reception he received from students and staff at the Kanesatake Education Center (KEC) rivalled even the most excited of crowds.
“The kids just went crazy. They went berserk. Everybody was ecstatic to see him,” said community member Kane Montour, who knows St-Pierre personally and was there to support him on the day.
St-Pierre’s visit was organized in association with the Surete du Quebec (SQ), who have a representative on the Truth and Reconciliation Committee with the KEC. The SQ had proposed bringing St-Pierre to the KEC in an effort to inspire students at the beginning of their school year, which KEC education director Watsenniiostha Nelson said was a hit with the students.
“They were all just so excited and happy to see him and meet him, it was really nice to have a celebrity like that come into our school and create that positive atmosphere,” Nelson said.
As part of the visit, the KEC commissioned a pair of moccasins from local artist Alana Simon. At first, Simon wasn’t sure if she could fit the commission into her schedule, but she teamed up with her mother, Valerie Tewishaw to create the moccasins. Tewishaw sewed the moccasins themselves, crafting a double sole and extra cushioning for comfort, whereas Simon did the beadwork, staying up until the small hours of the morning stitching each detail.
The custom mocassins featured martial arts-themed designs. Courtesy Alana Simon
The finished shoes feature two different designs, with one featuring a fighter silhouette and another a grappling glove, an ode to St-Pierre’s sport.
Simon was able to present St-Pierre the gift personally at the KEC event, even taking to the mic and giving him a personal note, sharing how she and her mother have looked up to him throughout their own time practicing martial arts.
“It was surreal seeing him there, I was nervous to present it to him, but he had such a positive attitude, he was very kind, and I think he loved it,” Simon said. “He started opening the shoe box when I started to speak and he seemed so surprised and loved that it was custom to his career, he said he felt so spoiled and said it was an honour.”
Administrators kept St-Pierre’s visit a surprise until the last minute, building suspense for the students, which made for an even more heartwarming moment at the reveal, Montour said.
It was particularly special to see St-Pierre talk with Kanesatake’s youngest about his own experience as a student, opening up and being vulnerable about being bullied in his youth.
“I think him sharing that, if there’s some kids in there who are actually doing the bullying, they might think twice about it, and that’s pretty awesome,” Montour said.
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He said he hopes more public figures will take the time to visit Kanesatake and share their careers with students in the community.
“For me, growing up, I didn’t really have anything like that, so it’s good for some of these kids to see this and to think, ‘Okay, if I work hard, it’ll pay off, if somebody right around the way can do it, then so can I,’” he said.
