Organization bringing sports to First Nations

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The Sunshine & Raine Society is on a mission to help First Nations help their youth through sport.

"By linking together volunteer training, sports equipment and the Sunshine & Raine spirit of competitive play philosophy, families experience the many benefits of a community controlled sport program," said Russ Mathews, program director of the Sunshine & Raine Society.

Sunshine & Raine is a newly registered non-profit organization committed to using sports to promote healthy lifestyles for Aboriginal people.

Boxing star Wesley Sunshine is CEO and founder of Sunshine & Raine. Sunshine is from Fishing Lake First Nation and is a former three-time senior open national boxing champion. He believes in helping youth and started his society as a means to do so. He said kids need positive role models and options for activities to keep them away from drug and alcohol abuse and gangs.

Sunshine has acted as a spokesperson for the RCMP's drug awareness campaign. He's also worked for 12 years as a teacher and supervisor at the Ranch Ehrlo Society, a group that provides treatment and hope for at-risk youth.

Sunshine said what is needed is a proactive approach to youth problems rather than relying on expensive rehabilitation programs that are not always effective. Building self-esteem and belonging to a group are things that Sunshine & Raine can offer.

What the organization does is help First Nations establish sports programs for their community members. The community can choose from a list of different sports programs, including boxing. So far, boxing is the most popular program.

Sunshine & Raine then comes to the community and gives volunteer staff two days of training on the theory and practice of running a sports program. The First Nation has to cover the cost of training, which is $250 a day per person being trained. Sunshine & Raine brings the equipment for the program and sets it up free of charge to the community. The organization starts the program with the youth in the community and then turns it over to the trained instructors after a few days.

Funds for the equipment comes from corporate donations, said Sunshine. Saskatchewan Centennial 2005 donated $20,000 to fund boxing programs in Stanley Mission and Pelican Narrows, and Saskatchewan Culture, Youth and Recreation is providing $10,000 for a girls' basketball program in La Ronge.

In addition to providing equipment and training, Sunshine & Raine also trains instructors in the inclusive philosophy of the program. Barriers to participating in sport are taken away, said Sunshine, and instructors get weekly updates and have to give activity reports for feedback to ensure the sports program is successful.

A second advanced level of training is also available for instructors if the community wants to offer a higher level of instruction to the youth in their program.

All the different sports programs offered through Sunshine & Raine are Olympic events.

Sunshine said the hope is that the programs will one day produce an Aboriginal Olympic athlete.

He'd also like to see Sunshine & Raine evolve into a school offering sports and education to produce well-rounded youth who are athletic as well as educated in Aboriginal culture and general academics.

Sunshine & Raine is an entirely Aboriginal organized and run operation. The society can be contacted at 789-2577 or 525-2039.