Sakewew Substance Awareness and Empowerment for Youth Inc. has hosted two events since the opening of the school year at Sakewew High School. These two events may well be the opportunity to give the new generation of Indigenous youth of the Battlefords the voice, "that they are sacred and they are holy."
This was the message that Phillip Whiteman Jr. and Lynnette Twobulls shared with the youth at Sakewew High School on Sept. 24 and 25. And to create allies for this opportunity the staff participated in a one day in-service on Aug. 27. Six teachers will continue on to become certified in the Medicine Wheel Model to Natural Horsemanship. Further to this there is discussion of creating a new locally developed curriculum that will give the youth the opportunity to get a high school credit for this activity and projects associated with the medicine wheel model.
The Living Sky School Division under Michelle Sanderson was a huge supporter of bringing the presenters to the Battlefords. They sent Cut Knife High School, NBCHS, and Spiritwood High School to attend the youth camp. Chief Poundmaker School, Mosquito School, and Saulteaux School were the local First Nations Schools that came to participate in this phenomenal presentation on the medicine wheel model. Kanaweyimik Child and Family Services and Minister of Justice, Young Offenders Program were in attendance as well.
In the medicine wheel model we have the four stages of life: the child, the youth, the adult and the elder. If we understand that the youth are at the contrary age then we will understand why they do what they do and how to approach them. It is better than calling them young offenders or delinquents. Whiteman stated that the children and the youth are closer to the centre, which is spirit. Maybe they just lost their way and need to be called back by mirroring their image with amazing beauty and energy.
The first day was filled with storytelling and youth activities to create awareness of the medicine wheel model. A part of this youth camp was to use the horse to show how each person has a spirit or an aura. The two-time INFR Saddle Bronc Champion, Whiteman, showed how he works with the horse spirit. The youth were transported to the fair grounds where the Agricultural Society donated the space and panels to create a round corral.
Here he worked with an unfamiliar horse and brought his spirit home. He demonstrated how he communicated with the horse and next thing you know that unfamiliar horse was following him around like his pet.
This demonstration was humbling and he was able to draw us back to the medicine wheel model and some of the teachings we are sure we will see coming from the youth of Sakewew High School. The event was supported by Gold Eagle Lodge, Living Sky School Division, Agricultural Society, Northwest Nations Education Council, Inc. and B.T.C. Indian Health Services.
