Aboriginal Kinsmen Club first in Canada

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It started with a group of professionals talking about their inner city roots and what they had to offer kids in the core of Regina that could help show them the way. They made it to the boardrooms of corporate Saskatchewan themselves. Time to pay back. But how?

Basil Quewezance, Kinsmen Club president and marketing supervisor at SaskEnergy, says they started thinking about an Aboriginal service club about two years ago.

"We used to sit at the Landmark [Inn] and talk about how lucky we are; a lot of us don't drink and we have jobs. We had no one to guide us when we were growing up in downtown Regina, so we thought about how we could best form a club. We approached the Queen City Kinsmen Club, got a starter kit, followed the guidelines and they sponsored us. We were chartered Feb. 19, 2000."

Larry Pratt is banquet and catering manager at the Landmark Inn.

"Forming a service club was in the back of our minds, but instead of creating a new one, we thought we would join the Kinsmen," said Pratt. "Our main goal is basically to serve inner city youth. When we were young there was no money. Most of the kids could not afford equipment even though there were some really good athletes. They didn't have a chance. We have super young athletes here but we have discovered that it is not enough to raise money to send the athlete alone to the events. You have to send the parents too. It makes the transition easier."

William Yuzicapi (known as William Alexander in his radio announcer days) is co-vice-president of the new club. He says it is his chance to give back.

"These kids are not in a position to help themselves, financially, spiritually, mentally. We can be the role models to give guidance." His vision for the group is that it be long lasting, to pass the torch along from generation to generation because the need will always be there.

Joe Bear was involved from the start. Joe is the other co-vice-president and owner of First Nations Memorials in Regina. He says he supports the Kinsmen because he has been in the shoes of some of the kids the Kinsmen help.

"I grew up in the inner city for 15 years. I know what they are up against and there is not a lot of support out there - moral, financial - nothing to help them get into different sporting activities if their parents can't afford it. We are a fairly new club, but there is great potential for this type of organization, not just for men, but for Kinettes too. I see a big potential for Aboriginal Kinsmen throughout the province and across the country. We are only the first Chartered Aboriginal Kinsmen Club in Canada," Bear said.

"It made me feel warm in my heart when we donated money to one of the local hockey teams. I played on an inner city team and know what it was like not to be able to afford sticks or equipment. I remember using broken sticks just to play the game."

Just one of the projects taken on by the Kinsmen was the recent Casino Night at Casino Regina. Bob Lesperance, sales representative for Brennan Office Products and Kinsmen member said they raised $3,500 to be targeted for the purchase of a van for the Chili for Children project.

"It was a great night, a lot of fun and with lots of prizes donated by local businesses and auctioned at the end of the evening."

Lisa Pratt from Chili for Children said the van is badly needed as the old one is almost worn out and they need a reliable vehicle to haul groceries, for catering different functions and to pick up Elders.

Lesperance said it is important to bring in young members to the club, like Elden Beaudin, a graphic designer with Digital Print. Beaudin got involved with the Kinsmen when one of the organizers approached him. He has taken on the role of secretary. He says it is rare for Aboriginal people to be involved with the Kinsmen and that he would not have had the courage to approach a traditional Kinsmen group.

"I am no stranger to hard work," said Beaudin. "Every time we finish an event we pat each other onthe back and smile and start a new one. It has given me new insight, a chance to break free."

The members are quick to add that the club is open to all who want to participate, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. There is no criteria, nothing to prevent a man from joining. Even the $100 membership fee is payable as the member can afford it.

" We don't care whether you are Aboriginal or not as long as you support what we do," said Quewezance. Interest has been expressed in Saskatoon and Yorkton. The Regina Aboriginal Kinsmen intend to help get other groups started in Saskatchewan and beyond.