Community works to raise funds for youth centre

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On June 26, more than 800 people gathered at the Manitou Kihew Arena in Saddle Lake for 'Dinner with Patch Adams', a community initiative to raise money to build the youth facility in the community.

Many of the people in the audience were curious to see the actual Dr. Patch Adams. In 1998, Universal Studios released a film about the life of Hunter D. 'Patch' Adams, which starred Robin Williams. The film told of the beginnings of Gesundheit, a clinic founded by Adams, that employs laughter as a form of medicine.

Adams strode on stage in Saddle Lake dressed in a clown suit, and talked about love and the importance and lack of it in today's society.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be here and I know, if I can take what I found in this community back with me, it would be great. Love is what I would like to offer the world, so I feel like I'm with my family here," said Adams. Today, the doctor travels the world bringing his message of humor and love to thousands.

"We brought Patch Adams to our community to do a speech because he's worked with a lot of youth and he talks about love, and love is what we need when we work together as a community for our youth," said Bernie Makokis, volunteer co-ordinator for the Saddle Lake youth facility.

Ventriloquist Buddy Big Mountain, Carl Quinn and Edmund Bull also provided entertainment.

Makokis said he was overwhelmed at the amount of support the plans for the centre had received, not just from Saddle Lake, but from surrounding communities. The facility's estimated cost is $2.8 million. The community was hoping to raise as much as $70,000 with the dinner.

"What a pleasure and a wonderful crowd who came out and supported this worthwhile project," said Makokis. "I now see how concerned the people are about the youth."

He said the multi-purpose building would offer several programs, have a large gymnasium, which will hold 2,000 people, an area big enough to hold an indoor powwow, as well it will have a weight room, a boys and girls club and a computer room.

"All the youth activities will be held there. It will probably be utilized by surrounding communities, as well as for basketball tournaments and things like that," said Makokis.

"We will be fundraising on a regular basis. We want the youth to feel at home there. For many years we did not have this in the community. We had run down shacks for the kids and there was really nowhere for them to go. We are anticipating good results will come out of this building. It will also create employment in the construction of the centre and also for the people who will run the programs," he said.

Architectural plans are in place and the band has already contributed $500,000 to it. Construction will begin in the fall with an estimation of completion for the spring of 2004.

"Our youth are so very important to us," said Chief Eddie Makokis. "The youth need a facility where it will keep them busy, instead of them getting into trouble. And it is going to be there, I believe, that we are one. No matter who we are, what we need to do is all get together to help our youth so that one day we will be able to walk hand-in-hand with our brothers and sisters of this world."

"There is so much suicide in Aboriginal communities, and a lot of our youth are into drugs or alcohol, and getting into unhealthy situations and they need direction," said Helen Crier, a Saddle Lake council member.

"They need a place to call their own. One of the visions of the chief and council was to focus on the youth and our Elders. We've got programs here on the reserve that focuses on our youth, but we are finding that there are still a lot of things that need to be looked at in this area. A lot of our youth are really motivated and they want to stay on the reserve. They do not want to go out, so we hope a facility like this will keep them home and keep them focused on the programs that will help their future."