TransAlta support to Bent Arrow hits the mark

Page 3

Donations are always nice. But big cash contributions are a reason to celebrate.

That's just what the folks at Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society were doing last month.

TransAlta Utilities selected the society's cultural youth camp program as a worthy recipient of a $5,000 grant.

The cash wind-fall means a lot to the organization, said Bent Arrow's co-executive director Brad Seneka.

"This is one of the big factors in why the camp is going ahead with the full three weeks," he said.

The cultural camp for kids will be set up near the Alexander Reserve, northeast of Edmonton. The camp will be split into two parts. The first two weeks will be for youth 11 to 15 years old and the third week will be for children from six to 10 years old.

The camp will be designed like a wilderness camp with teaching and instruction from Elders and teachers.

The camp is an excellent way to carry out the mandate of Bent Arrow which is to build on the strengths of Aboriginal youth and their families to enable them to develop spiritually, emotionally, physically and intellectually in education, career preparation and life management.

The society has a large headquarters in the city's west end where classrooms, and counselling suites can be found. Seneka is hoping the camp can become an annual extension of classroom teachings. It is hoped the first camp can be up and running later this summer.

The actual cheque presentation was held in conjunction with the centre's monthly soup and bannock community lunch. It is a free meal served to anyone in the community. The free lunch was the last one of the season, however, with the next one being offered in September.

George Blondeau, TransAlta's manager of Aboriginal affairs, and Michelle Kuny, TransAlta's senior confidential secretary of government affairs, were honored with the reception given by the society.

Blondeau said TransAlta has recently started the donation program as a way to bring the company closer to the Aboriginal communities it serves.

"We have implemented the policy to help build a relationship with Aboriginal people in our service area," he said.

This year, Blondeau said the company received over 50 submissions for financial assistance. Of those, 12 were selected by TransAlta to be granted the funding.

Blondeau said all of the submissions are worthy, and it's unfortunate that all of them cannot be selected for funding.

"We can't fund everything, but we try to find the ones we see as most valuable."

The selection of submissions is made once each year.

The 40 people at the office, along with the TransAlta representatives, participated in a smudging ceremony, a prayer, and the lunch before the cheque presentation.