CERRI’s First Christmas Parade Float: A Personal Reflection

My name is Brody Sam, and I am a youth trainee at the Chisasibi Eeyou Resource and Research Institute (CERRI). My role allows me to take part in creative, hands-on projects that connect CERRI’s work with the community. Being involved in CERRI’s first Christmas parade float gave me the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way while learning through collaboration, patience, and experience.

This past Christmas season, I had the chance to be part of a moment that felt small on the surface but carried a deeper meaning—CERRI’s very first Christmas parade float. What people saw during the parade was the result, but behind it was a journey filled with trial and error, teamwork, setbacks, and determination. For me, it became a reminder that meaningful work often comes from a starting point and seeing it through together, step by step.

We began by gathering as a team to brainstorm ideas and discuss how we wanted CERRI to be represented. Once materials were collected, we slowly started crafting the float together. We officially began on November 21, 2025, and from that point on, progress happened one step at a time.

It was not a fast process, but it was a steady one. When the parade was delayed, it felt discouraging at first, but we chose to use that time to fix, strengthen, and improve the float instead of giving up.

The biggest test came after we thought the float was complete. Overnight, strong winds tore parts of it apart. The roof was blown off, and the CERRI logo flag disappeared. With the parade delayed for several days and no proper shelter, the float continued to suffer damage. We used wrapping paper to try and mimic eelgrass as decoration, in return we lost the eelgrass due to the winds—an element that carried strong meaning, as it reflects real environmental changes we continue to witness. Watching the float come apart was difficult, but it made the experience more real and grounded in the realities

CERRI works to address.

Despite everything, we did not let the challenges define the outcome. The wind was strong, but our determination was stronger. We continued repairing the float, adjusting what we could, and moving forward. Finding and stabilizing the CERRI logo flag felt like a small victory, but it symbolized something bigger: perseverance, resilience, and commitment to finishing what we started.

This experience was also personal for me. Two years ago, I helped craft a float with Cree Mart, a local convenience store, and I participated as a mascot. At that time, I was a snowman. This year with CERRI, I stepped into the mascot role again—this time as a duck. Having that experience helped me feel confident engaging with the community, bringing energy, movement, and joy to the parade. Being a mascot may appear playful, but it is also about connection—meeting people where they are and creating shared moments of happiness.

Looking back, CERRI’s first Christmas parade float was more than a creative project. It was a learning experience, a test of patience, and a reflection of what can happen when people work together with purpose. For me, it reinforced the value of trying something new, embracing challenges, and finding meaning in the process—not just the outcome.

This first float was only a beginning, but it carried a powerful message: even when things fall apart, there is strength in rebuilding together.