Future Leaders Program goes a long way for youth

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The Alberta Sports, Parks, Recreation and Wildlife Foundation is walking around with its chest puffed out just a little more this fall thanks to what it bills as a successful conclusion to this year's Future Leaders Program.

The 1998 program was in more than a dozen Aboriginal communities in Alberta. Programs included sports, recreation and outdoor adventures for Aboriginal youth during the summer months.

A September golf-meet at the Westridge Golf Club was held for organizers and the community staff workers.

The programs help to develop confidence, sports and leadership in our youth. It also provides much-needed summer employment to post-secondary students.

Foundation Chairman Orest Korbut hailed the project as "a successful completion."

He said these types of programs are never easy and could not have been the success they were had it not been for corporate sponsorship.

The encouragement, support and guidance of special projects co-ordinator Jack Monaghan and project co-ordinator Eddie Gillis was praised at the reception.

Gillis explained that the goal of the program was "to demonstrate how we can change and motivate positive change in the lives of the community people."

Alberta MLA Pearl Calahasen was a guest speaker at the supper and said she was impressed with the program and what it offers the youth.

"Our kids need that help, direction and support," she said.

"The impact we make on these communities is beyond words," said James Kopec, who co-ordinated his youth summer program near Fort Vermillion in the Tall Cree area. He applauded the youth for being responsible and taking part in activities.

Lisa McGillivray took 18 youth from Sarcee on a three-day camping trip in the mountains. The response was so good that she has had indications that the Blood Reserve would like to have the program in their community next summer.

Assumption kids aged eight to 16 had youth program workers Carmen Lissel and Trent Kenyon.

"At first it was difficult to tell if I was making a difference, but I did find out I did by the end," said Lissel.

"You get so much bang for your buck," said James Lamouche, former president of the Aboriginal Students Club at the University of Alberta, and program co-ordinator for the Kikino Metis Settlement.

The communities, he said, are starving for activity and don't have the role models and don't see that there are others just like them who are successful outside their communities.

Over at Wabasca, Marion Bell and Dale Auger put together a ball team that placed second in an inter-agency slow-pitch league.

Bell said how good it was to watch them improve, come together and watch their self-confidence grow."

She also co-ordinated soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, an art camp and even took a handful of youth to canoe, kayak and rock climb.

Karla Moir who worked in the northeastern Alberta community of Conklin for the summer, said mountain biking, horseback riding, basketball, baseball and canoeing was just part of her program which included a field trip south to the Nordegg region of the province. When she left the Conklin area at the end of the summer program, it was with happy memories of a job that was challenging and very enjoyable

"I really believe in this program, it works . . . it not only lessens crime, it instills values and goals," she said.

Moir recalled some of the "little moments" like the young girls who presented her with flowers as she left the community, and just talking to the youth.