Run As One Youth Awareness Week
Oki!
Presented by Siksika Community Wellness and Mental Health, the 19th annual Run as One Youth Awareness week will take place August 1-3 at the Deerfoot Sportsplex. The “Run as One” includes a blend of arts, culture, and health programming and activities, predominantly oriented towards youth and young adults.
Keynote Speaker: Damen Bell-Holter
NANGAAHLAANGSTANGS is a Haida, Tlingit, and Black man, former professional athlete, and community leader shaped by the land of Higdáa G̱ ándlaay (Hydaburg), a small village community in Southeast Alaska. “Nanggahlaangstangs” (his Xas Kil name) means Big Enough to Hold Two Souls, and speaks to his ability to bridge the divide between cultures and experiences.
Damen works with trauma informed approaches to engage communities, corporations, and institutions in solution-oriented dialogues and programming centered on culturally sensitive approaches to DE&I, community leadership and grassroots organization, youth resiliency and skill training, and raising awareness around mental health. Damen’s approach is rooted in indigenous values, emphasizes the importance of both personal and community development, and highlights the ways we can invest and empower Black and Indigenous communities to thrive.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kat Chief Moon-Riley
Dr. Kathrina Chief Moon-Riley is a physician who recently completed her residency through the University of Calgary in family medicine. She is from Kainai First Nations and grew up in her community. She was raised by her mom, Gloria Chief Moon, and her grandparents, John and the late Mildred Chief Moon.
From a young age, she wanted to pursue a career in medicine. She started her post-secondary journey at the University of Lethbridge where she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience. From there, she went on to complete a Master’s degree where her thesis focused on the ‘The Biological impacts of Residential schooling’. Lastly, she completed her medical school education at the University of Saskatchewan. She is currently about to start her practice at Lavern clinic on the Blood reserve. Her interests include advocating, especially regarding First Nations’ health and mentoring and encouraging Indigenous youth to pursue a career in the health care field.
Youth workshops
DJ Good Medicine
Indigenous poetry and music
Sarah good Medicine is a Native Emcee, Deejay and aspiring BGirl. She believes in being a good Aunty for her community in Mohkintsis – Calgary and feels that using her medicine (gifts) is why she, and all human beingd are here: to use our medicine.
Damen Bell-Holter
Creating a Community – Gift-based empowerment for regenerative lifeways in community
Developed to instill personal leadership and collective empowerment in all participants, this is an opportunity for participants from different backgrounds to share their views on what practices support a restorative and regenerative culture, assets they bring from their individual cultural upbringing and how they might employ their own gifts to cultivate healthy cultural practices in community.
SN7
Traditional Blackfoot Games
Our SN7 team will facilitate and teach traditional Blackfoot games to participants. Siksika SN7 is a group of youth and young adults who provide peer-to-peer support, programs and activities for other youth and young adults in Siksika Nation, and beyond. SN7 promotes healthy lifestyles, including support and skill-building in physical fitness and physical literacy, recreational activities, essential skills, mental wellness, and culture.
Siksika Prevention / Early Intervention
Traditional Arts and Crafts
PEI overall goal is to keep families together by giving the extra support in the places where it is needed. During this workshop, we will be providing the materials to make parflech bag and medicine pouches for the youth to make. We will also bring traditional medicines such as sage and tobacco to place inside their bags once they’re done. This is a educational and cultural-based to provide the youth with the skills and confidence to continue engage with the Blackfoot culture.
Malvern Nyamande
Youth Mental Health
His session is aimed at parents and young people in helping them understand mental health, healthy coping and creating helpful connections. We will have a chance to answer any questions about mental health and also participate in activities that promote movement and self-awareness. If you experience a condition that is affecting your mental health and are looking for specific information about different types of problems, then this session may be relevant to you.
Trevor Solway
Blackfoot Cinema
In this presentation Siksika Filmmaker Trevor Solway will screen his recent works including Tales From The Rez (APTN Lumi), Stuff The British Stole (CBC Gem) and Amplify: Armond Duck Chief (APTN). This session will conclude with a talk on Trevor’s journey through filmmaking and lessons he learned along the way.
Tyra Cross Child, Jacie Alook, Jaiden Koochicum
Unveiling Youth Potential
Our program workshops are aimed at realizing the potential of youth by supporting their leadership roles in building strong, resilient communities. There will be opportunities to explore Wisdom Stories, Community Mapping, and Change Leadership, through activities and exercises centered around youth and young adults and find out how they might want to present their wisdom story at the next A Youth Explosion (AYE) annual event!
Tracey Calf Robe
Youth Hand Game
Demonstration of how to play hand games and live games will be played facilitated by Tracey Calf Robe.
CAREERS Team: Sheridan Macaulay, Corry Pepper, Claudio Quinteros
Intro Pottery
Our workshop will have students completing pinch pottery and painting. You’ll be able to take your pottery ornaments home and your raw clay pottery home to bisque in your firepit. CARRERS helps youth explore different career paths with hands-on learning. When students are in high school or aged 15-21, CAREERS can help them find work in an area they are interested in. Learning by doing and figuring out what you are interested in, all while earning high school credits to help you graduate. We love helping students explore their careers of choice!
Leanne Sleigh
Understanding Our Siksika Way of Life
Leanne Sleigh is the IRS program coordinator and is critical to Siksika Health’s involvement in Akokatssinn and ceremonies that Siksika Health Services coordinates.
August 3 will be a jam packed day filled with activities for the whole family! Join us for a family carnival, and the Blackfoot film festival featuring docs, shorts and episodes by Blackfoot filmmakers and artists.
Family Carnival
Join us from 3:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m. for a family carnival in the Deerfoot Sportsplex gym. This is a free event. There will be bouncy houses, treats and carnival games for youth.
Blackfoot Film Festival
The Blackfoot Film Festival will showcase films with Siksika Filmmakers and Artists. This event will take place from 6:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m in the Deerfoot Sportsplex Gym. There will be a Q&A as well as popcorn and snacks. We are proud to showcase “Running Rabbit” a documentary on MMA Fighter and Siksika Nation member Regan Running Rabbit, as well as a selection of films from Siksika filmmaker, Trevor Solway.
