Posted on January 29, 2021 by Steffany Salloum
The Warrior’s Club is a land-based education group that meets bi-monthly to learn experientially about the land.
Tanya McCallum, is one of the land-based instructors at Sturgeon Lake Central School who help leads a Warrior’s Club for Indigenous male youth ages 11-15, she along with Lionel McKenzie. The Warrior’s Club educates youth and encourages them to develop a relationship with the land. Between the skills that they develop and the connections they make, the activities they engage in are meant to empower the next generation of men. The Club meets twice a month and engages in the following activities: camping, snaring, harvesting deadfall from the bush and chopping the wood, fire keeping, fishing, ice fishing, kayaking, canoeing, history lessons, and Cree language instruction.
Recently, the boys received chainsaw and axe safety lessons prior to using the equipment. After that, they were able to harvest the deadfall from the bush, chop the wood, and deliver the chopped wood to Elders and families in the community who were struggling financially. The boys are eager to provide this service to their community and the community members value the youth for their efforts.
This program has been made possible since 2017 due to the collaboration between Belinda Daniels and her uncle Velmer Ermine, who write up the grants and reports for and through Jordan’s Principle. This is a community collaboration, a ‘grassroots’ initiative between all who all support the program and the youth involved, and a special gratitude to the numerous guest speakers who enrich this program throughout all of the years.
Posted on January 26, 2021 by Steffany Salloum
By believing in practicing all of the components of Natural Law we are able to protect ourselves from being vulnerable.
Vee Whitehorse of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation presented at the Regina Elders Gathering in February 2020. Whitehorse is a leader at Leading Thunderbird Lodge where he supports Indigenous youth who are struggling with addictions. The holistic youth treatment centre offers opportunities for youth to connect with their culture, explore their identities, and heal. At the Elders Gathering, Whitehorse frames his discussion around the question: What are you dressed up in? He suggests that language, kinship, ceremony, and Mother Earth/heavens create a Natural Law and when you practice these components you will be less vulnerable, insulated or ‘dressed up’ and can protect yourself.