Miss Metis Alberta spreads stay-in-school message

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Lori-Ann Larocque, also known as Miss Metis Alberta for this year, has been on the road touting a stay-in-school message for teenagers.

"An education is important. It's the greatest gift you can give yourself, your future and your community," Larocque told an audience composed of a handful of teenagers while on a recent visit to Edmonton's St. Joseph's Catholic High School.

"I was lucky to have my mother and a strong family.

"And being the oldest of six children, I wanted to set a good example for my brothers and sisters."

Larocque, 22, is from the Kikino settlement and holds a degree in social work from the Saskatchewan Federated Indian College.

This summer, she will begin a job with social services in Saskatoon.

Her future plans include more studying; she will head back to school for a graduate degree in social work.

On this current tour, which takes her to Athabasca and Lac La Biche in northern Alberta, Larocque will be encouraging teenage students to follow through on their educational goals.

She will also be promoting some changes to the Metis Nation of Alberta's Miss Metis pageant.

Following suggestions from the community and a desire to change with the times, the Metis Nation has opened the contest to young men and women.

It has also been renamed the Metis Youth Role Model Search.

"The Metis Nation had to change with the times," said Brenda Blyan, Metis youth project's co-ordinator."

The communities were asking about the young males and the public was saying beauty pageants are out the door."

The Miss Metis competition has always emphasized education and community service. But Blyan said the re-vamped contest will emphasize youth development.

Cst. Harley Crowshoe, from the RCMP's aboriginal policing services, is also on

the tour. He is acting as an escort for Larocque and is answering questions about career possibilities in law enforcement.