CFL father and son tackle Native issues

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Jed Roberts, a nine-year veteran with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos uses just as much energy wrangling with monster-sized football players on the line of scrimmage as he does teaching Native youth about the importance of self worth and education.

#Roberts, a defensive lineman has traveled to hundreds of schools and community centres across the province making presentations to his younger fans.

Roberts, who has some Sioux blood cursing through his towering frame, said he owes much of his desire to help people to his father.

Jay Roberts, who played for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the1960s as a tight end, helped his team to back-to-back Grey Cups in 1968 and 1969. He also helped his impressionable son to see not only football as a potential career, but also the importance of his Native ancestry.

Jed said his dad used to work for the Metis Association of Ontario and would travel to many settlements.

Before that, Jed said, he didn't know much about Aboriginal culture or the people as he was brought up in a predominantly white society.

"I had no Native awareness," he said.

His Dad agreed.

Born in Ottawa, his son was "basically raised in a city culture," he said.

And despite an admittedly loose relationship with their Sioux ancestry, Jay said he knew he and his son had a lot to offer Aboriginal people.

"We have something to give and always have felt that we have had something to give," said Jay, who now works for the department of Indian Affairs in Ottawa and assists Aboriginal businesses attain government contracts.

"I've always felt that Aboriginal people in Canada who have made it to some degree of success have a role to throw the rope back down," hoping that others will take that rope and climb to their own successes.

Jed, following in his father's footsteps, not only teaches young Native kids to grab that rope, he has taken hold of it himself.

"I do this as much for myself as I do for the kids," he said, explaining that the visits allow him to see more of the Aboriginal culture which he missed when he was growing up. The visits help to fill a void in himself. "It's good for me to experience. There's a lot of lost time."

Roberts has done a lot with his life, including a near-completed Education degree, his football career, raising a family, working at Edmonton's Stan Daniels Centre and talking to thousands of children. Roberts has done all that and done it with a smile. And he has done it while being deaf.

Although he didn't touch on it, his dad said Jed's deafness is just another hurdle his son had overcome which has made him stronger.

"It's always been a motivator for him to overcome things," said Jay.

Jed just hopes to motivate some young minds to stay in school and respect their Aboriginal culture.

"I want to let them know what's important in life and to respect their Elders and stay in school, because that's what my father taught me," said Jed.

And despite his successes, Jed also tells them they don't have to run for touchdowns or sack a quarterback to be positive role models.

"Sometimes they are surprised to hear that they are already a role model - to their little brothers or sisters," Jed said.

Next up for Jed, after his career in football, may be a teaching job. He left school just shy of his Education degree, but is planning to take up where he left off and teach English or History - and of course coach a football team.

But his career isn't quite over yet. He'd like to put a second Grey Cup ring on his finger before he hangs up his helmet for good.

That desire may be another goal spurred by his dad's influence, this time in the form of good-natured ribbing.

"I won two, in `68 and `69, which is still one more than Jed's one," said Jay.