What is the Aboriginal Athlete & Youth Role Model Program about?
The program is a joint initiative of the Esteem Team Association (ETA) and the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) and is largely funded by Sport Canada.
The long term goal of the program is to encourage young Aboriginal Canadiansto live, and encourage others to live, an active and healthy lifestyle, part of which is achievable through increased participation in sport and physical activity. The spin-off benefits of such a lifestyle are varied but include increased self esteem, increased leadership capacity, increased community-connectedness and increased resiliency.
The Pilot Program is the first phase of development of an Aboriginal Athlete & Youth Role Model program that will:
(a) Reach out to young Aboriginals and work with them in a facilitative manner to bring out their thoughts and ideas around sport and physical activity in their communities such that a broad spectrum of young people are, in essence, “advisors” to the program’s development,
(b) Inspire young leaders to step forward, make plans to facilitate and/or lead sport and physical activity initiatives in their communities and learn from their experiences,
(c) Inspire young Aboriginals in general to be more active and to take part in community sport and physical activity (in leadership, support and/or participation), and
(d) Contribute toward the development of young Aboriginals as role models and leaders in their own communities.
What is the “pilot” phase about?
The “pilot” phase has been recommended so that young Aboriginals, from a broad Aboriginal community base, have maximum impact over the long term design of the program. This is in keeping with the by youth for youth approach which is a valued principle of program development at the ETA and is supported by youth development researchers across North America.
Eight Aboriginal Role Models have been trained for their work in community and await the community selection process (which they will be an integral part of themselves) to determine which community each will be assigned to. Once the eight pilot communities are selectedand Role Models are assigned, the Role Models (with the support of the ETA in partnership with the ASC) will connect with the communities to plan the details of the first visit. Subsequent visits (two in total) will be planned with the young people in the community and, of course, with the support of community leaders. The pilot phase is expected to run from September through December 2006.
How will the program be developed and delivered beyond the initial pilot phase?
To achieve its goal, the program will recruitat least two Aboriginal Role Models per province. These 26 Role Models will be trained (by the ETA) in facilitation and presentation skills and will be available to make three visits per year to Aboriginal communities to meet and engage with Aboriginal young people and discuss whatever is important to them. In all cases, the positive benefits and impact that sport and physical activity can have for individuals, groups and communities will be discussed, explored, modeled and encouraged.