PILOT PROJECT STARTS IN CHEHALIS

Sixteen students at Chehalis community school will soon have some new
tools to fight drug addiction, alcoholism and gangs.

The remote school, tucked away on the Chehalis Reserve west of
Agassiz, has been chosen for a national pilot project called Aboriginal Shield.

It's modeled in the same manner as DARE, in which local police
officers work directly with students in the classroom. Subject matter
for DARE includes facing peer pressure and the dangers of smoking,
drugs and alcohol.

Aboriginal Shield includes those lessons, as well as issues like gang
violence and family addictions. It also draws heavily on First
Nations culture, encouraging communicating with mentors and elders.

And where DARE targets Grade 5 students, the Aboriginal Shield
program is designed for Grades 5 through 8.

Aboriginal Shield is not meant to replace DARE, says Constable Gail
Starr. However, since the students in Grades 5, 6 and 7 will be
participating in the pilot program this year, they will not be going
through DARE.

They'll start the program next week, with Starr and two other
teachers coming directly into the classroom to work with students.

Lessons wrap up on May 11, and a traditional feast and graduation
ceremony will be held at the school at the end of May. Starr is
hoping that by the end of the program, families and the community in
general will have embraced the messages the children will be hearing.

"They learn that the choices you make affect you for the rest of your
life," Starr says. "This is something we hope the parents will
support and even lead by example."

The program uses a workbook, role playing and liaisons with community
leaders to teach students about choice making.

One school in each province or territory was chosen for the pilot
program. Those teaching, including Starr, went to Ottawa recently for
a week of training.