Sport popular

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Kwadacha Nation, a two-hour flight north of Prince George, is a community of about 270 people, with approximately 80 children and youth in the four-to-18-year age range.

Robert Derkson is a non-Native alcohol and drug cousellor who has worked in the region for more than two years and who moved to the reserve last August. When the young people of Kwadacha Nation found out he knew taekwon-do, they persuaded him to begin teaching them the Korean martial art, which is characterized by fast, high kicks and spinnng movements. It teaches mental discipline, physical fitness and self-protection.

"They've been training hard since, said Derkson, who shares the teaching with Gerald McIssac from the Tsay Keh Dene Nation.

"We sent one group out to Prince George in May of last year to the Western Canadian Championships; they brought back 17 medals.

"They just did their second testing, and they are all moving very rapidly through the ranks. We're sending four off to the nationals in Quebec City next month, 14 more to the Western Canadian Championships in April."

Health Canada was expected in the community on Feb. 17 "for promotions," said Derkson, who added that the RCMP and a local MLA have endorsed their taekwon-do program.

Community member and Aatse Davie School's administrative assistant Kathy Seymour said, "It's very positive, the feedback that we get from parents and community members. They're very proud of the group of young kids that participate.

Seymour's nephew at age five is one of the youngest club members, and she sometimes accompanies him to practice. She thinks it is the social aspects that attract so many to the sport. "We're a very social people here in Fort Ware, and it really brings the community together."

Derkson said, "These kids have already basically gone beyond any of my exectations of them."

Three school teachers have just taken their first tae kwon-do test, but most club members are aged 11 to 18.

"These kids have not only pushed themselves beyond the limits, but they've pushed me into my black belt. I just tested and obtained my black belt as a result of them."

Derkson explained the group has an association with Freedom Tae Kwon-Do Schools based in Prince George. Kurt Ottesen, a fifth degree black belt, flies into Kwadacha to test them twice a year.

They are licensed by the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and Ottesen oversees the club.

Ottesen planned to go to the reserve Feb. 17 to make the draw to select who will go to nationals, as the club can only afford to send four.

"We're going to draw four kids (age 12 and up) based on their behaviour, overall attendance in tae kwon-do, the results of the tests that they just took, their attendance and focus in school, and the report we get back from their home."

Derkson said there are points for these things and the four who have the highest scores will make the trip.

The nationals will be held on March 13. It is the biggest tae kwon-do tournament in Canada and attracts about 1,000 competitors.

"If any of these kids had their black belts, they would actually be competing for a position on the Canadian national juniors team; so, this time next year, I'm thinking we will definitely have a couple of them there that will be competing for that honour. And that means they'd be competing for Canada," said Derkson.