New initiative connects youth with pros
Eli Patton, 10, was one of six participants from Kahnawake who took part in a series of events aimed at making sports more accessible. Courtesy Trina Diabo
Six lucky kids from Kahnawake were treated to a hockey extravaganza last week, complete with a special trip to the Bauer facilities to see how the magic is made, training with the Concordia Stingers, and a full day with the Montreal Canadiens.
The initiative is thanks to a collaboration between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Native Parajudicial Services of Quebec (SPAQ), and the Peacekeepers, and the project brings together participants from Indigenous communities across Quebec, with the goal of connecting youth through sports.
The RCMP also gave participants a tour of their detachment, aiming to promote more positive connections between the police and Indigenous communities.
“There was a lot of excitement, the kids had an experience of a lifetime meeting hockey players, skating on the big ice, and getting taught by NHLers,” said Bobby Patton, who is SPAQ’s court worker supervisor.
The connections forged between youth from Kahnawake and other communities like Kitigan Zibi was a particular highlight of the initiative, Patton said.
“It really opens more doors for our people, especially when we have that networking like our youth had when they went out there. They made friends from other communities and we had them meeting different First Nations in high-level sports, that really helps them see that with guidance, they can achieve whatever they want,” he said.
Patton had posted a call-out for participants on Facebook, seeking to enlist young athletes who might not otherwise have the resources to take part in these kinds of events. Twelve-year-old Tehaianonni Diabo was one of the youth selected, and his mother, Tammy Whitebean, said he came home raving about his experiences – especially his time watching the Canadiens practice before their game at the Bell Centre.
“I believe there’s a lot of healing that needs to be done within our community, and opportunities like this are much-needed for our children,” Whitebean said. “For him, being able to participate in this event was something he won’t forget.”
Fellow participant Eli Patton, 10, came home with a similar enthusiasm, telling his mother, Trina Diabo, that his favourite part was watching the hockey sticks be manufactured at the Bauer facility. The group was also able to train with the Concordia Stingers hockey teams, learning tips and tricks to improve their skills on the ice.
For Trina, seeing her son be able to benefit from these kinds of opportunities is special – particularly the opportunity to connect with Indigenous youth from other communities who share his passion for sports.
“At Eli’s level, I feel like he felt he was important. I like that the youth felt important, they felt that they were chosen to be these exclusive participants,” she said. “It was just an absolutely amazing experience.”
The Peacekeepers were equally excited to take part in the project, drawing names to decide which officer would get to be the chaperone, an honour eventually bestowed on Peacekeeper Cole Kirby.
Peacekeeper spokesperson Kyle Zachary said that initiatives like this are important for rebuilding trust between Indigenous communities and police services like the RCMP.
“The RCMP specifically deals with a lot of Indigenous communities throughout the country, and I think that if their relationship is better, they’re going to have an easier time policing the territories they’re on, and in turn, those Indigenous territories will become sager, will become better places to be, to live, and to do work,” he said.
“There’s still a lot of work to do in terms of relationships between the RCMP and Indigenous communities, nobody’s expecting this to be an overnight solution, but I think this is a step in the right direction.”
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Bobby Patton said he’s looking forward to taking part in repeat editions of the initiative, with a particular focus on getting these kinds of opportunities to youth for whom participation in sports can be major financial strain.
“We have many children and young adults who are so talented, and we just want to make sure they all have the opportunity to see what’s out there and to achieve their goals. We want to broaden their horizons and make sure every child is shown that it really can happen,” he said.
