BATTLE WITH THE BOTTLE
Tootoo shares his story with teens
Former NHL player Jordin Tootoo paused for a round of applause and cheers from the more than 2,000 grade-school students gathered at the Walking Together Symposium Thursday.
He had just told them that, as of Dec. 27, he has been sober for eight years — and counting.
Tootoo, 36, recently retired from professional hockey. He was one of the keynote speakers at the symposium, aimed at promoting positive mental health. He told the Grades 6-12 students that, after his older brother Terence died of suicide in 2002, his drinking escalated.
“I lost my role model, a guy that I counted on,” he said. Seven years into his career, he was drinking constantly until he was offered a chance to enter treatment, which he called “the best gift ever given” to him.
Tootoo shared the story of his upbringing by two parents who misused alcohol. They weren’t encouraged to communicate as children and used alcohol to suppress their feelings, he said.
The theme of the event, hosted by the Saskatoon Tribal Council, was walking together so no one feels like they’re alone, explained STC Chief Mark Arcand.
He said mental wellness is an important topic no matter a person’s race, age or gender.
He said the STC wants to look at providing services youth can turn to when they need to talk to someone.
Arcand said Tootoo is a good Indigenous role model, noting he was the first Inuit player in the NHL and understands some of his experiences were similar to situations young First Nations people continue to face.
“We really encourage people to hear his story, because it’s real. And when it’s real, he makes an impact in kids’ lives,” Arcand said.
In an interview, Tootoo said sharing his story has been part of his own healing process — it brings him inner peace to “let go of the weight” on his shoulders.
He said he wanted to tell the youth that it’s OK to be open and honest and have conversations about their feelings.
“For me to tell my story and show them that even professional athletes go through a lot of struggles, and it doesn’t matter where you come from, everyone fights a fight you know nothing about — it’s about being kind to one another and to show the young kids that silence is not the answer.”