THIRTEEN NOW HAVE THE FACTS TO FIGHT DRUGS

Thirteen Aboriginal students now have the tools to stand up against
addictions, thanks to a successfully-completed DARE program at Chief
Sunrise Education Centre.

DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a program
used to educate school-aged children about the risks of drugs,
alcohol, and other addictions. Taught by the RCMP, the program offers
the facts about these vices and provides children with tools that will
help them make educated choices when in the face of peer pressure.

"You've been taught the facts and how to make choices," said Chief
Sunrise Co-Principal Ian Patterson. "Now when the time comes that you
ask yourself, 'Do I get involved, or not get involved?' you will know
how to make the choice."

Const. Nancy Bilodeau was the officer teaching the course at Chief
Sunrise.

"You can take charge of your lives and make good, healthy choices,"
she said in her address to the 13 graduates.

"You can be confident of your decision to say 'no.'"

Doug Lamalice was in attendance, representing the District Education
Authority.

"It's awesome when something like this can happen in our community,"
he said to the graduates. "Now you can be an example - that's exactly
what this community needs. You can help the community move forward
with a stronger attitude."

Levi Cayen, one of the graduates, said the DARE program has helped him
learn the facts.

"I learned about drugs and alcohol, and what it can do to you," said
Cayen.

Talia Martel said, "I learned not to drink or do drugs, so that I
don't have to go to the hospital."

Lamalice said he thinks the DARE program will be highly valuable to
the reserve community. He said that with high amounts of drugs and
alcohol in the homes on the reserve, children are often exposed to
these early on in life.

"A lot of us are set in our ways, but children aren't. They are the
future of our community, and we have to show them how to make the
right choices now," he said.

"When kids step up and get a healthier frame of mind, they get a
different picture of what they're surviving in. It's a reality check.
"

Lamalice said the DARE program has the potential to break through the
community's taboo issues.

"Drugs, alcohol, and sex are taboo words here," he said. "People walk
around with horse blinds on, pretending nothing is wrong here. So when
the authorities come here and they're not pulling their parents over
or kicking down the door, but setting a good example, it shows that
there is another option - there is someone clapping for them."

"This might have saved one or two lives today," said Lamalice.