MADD TEAMS UP WITH STO:LO

The partnership between Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada and
Sto:lo Nation Tribal Society is a first and the lead beneficiaries
are the students at Seabird Island school.

On Friday several hundred students filed into the gym of the Agassiz
band's office. What they were there to see was a presentation on
drinking and driving entitled Truth, a video designed to battle
inaccurate perceptions or false impressions of drinking and driving
as well as its impact on both perpetrators, victims and families.

"This is not designed to scare," MADD's Western Canada Field
representative for the school outreach program, told the kids. He
added that by the time the school year is over more than half a
million kids will have seen the video. "It's to make you think twice
about making different decisions. We hope the video will do that."

The 45-minute presentation on three large screens was made by MADD
Canada and it represented the first time the national organization
has worked with a First Nations community in this province.

"I don't know why it has taken so long," Dianne Garner, community
development social worker with Xyolhemeylh, said.

The partnership sprung from concern within the First Nations
community of drug and alcohol use among its youth. A task force
recommended a connection with MADD and the alliance was formed.

Garner says drug and alcohol use in the First Nations community is no
different than others.

"I think it's similar to other communities," she said, adding she
hoped the presentation was effective.

The presentation was coupled with MADD's Upper Fraser Valley chapter
kick off of its Red Ribbon campaign which is timed for during the
Christmas season to keep the public mindful not to drink and drive.

"We're encouraging the kids to put the red ribbons on their backpacks
to remind them that by doing that they are saying, 'No' to impaired
driving," Burt Graham, chapter president, said.

"If I can save one person from getting maimed, injured or killed by a
drunk driver I've done my duty to the community."

According to statistics, everyday in Canada four people are killed by
drinking and driving and another 200 are injured.

The event was hosted by the Youth Care Committee, a group made up of
youth from Sumas to Chehalis who meet once a month to plan Youth Days
and host dry dances.