A $5,000 grant will ensure community programs are more accessible to children and families on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.
The Chiniki Community Program, in conjunction with the MD of Bighorn, received the grant distributed by Banff Canmore Community Foundation (BCCF) to go toward transportation needs and other programs.
“In any community we know there’s that portion of people that aren’t able to connect with programming or opportunities for a variety of reasons, but on the reserve a big piece of that is transportation,” said Carla Pauls, Chiniki Community Program coordinator.
“We need to have those pieces in place to make sure the program is successful.”
Chiniki programming is open to anyone of all ages and includes a squash program, cadets, Dare to Dream, a justice education program from University of Calgary, and craft and art classes with the likes of renowned Aboriginal artist Roland Rollinmud.
There’s an excitement at the moment of being able to bring in programs from off the reserve, Pauls said.
“Right now we have four days of the week that are accounted for, so what we’re trying to do is make sure there is meaningful things for children and families to do at those critical times, between 5-9 (p.m.),” said Pauls.
The next step is to have programming during the weekend, Pauls said.
The Chiniki band provides the base for program funding, and Pauls said a grant like this allows them to bring people into the Bearspaw Youth Centre in Morley to lead exercises.
“To get people to programming or events, we’ll have transportation to go. If we have something going on at The Banff Centre, now we’ll be able to do that in a much more simple way as opposed to trying to piece it together,” Pauls said.
This past summer, the program teamed up with The Banff Centre to run programs to guide and develop young leaders in the Nation.
Pauls said it takes quite a few volunteers and community volunteers like The Banff Centre to use space and run the programs.
“There’s this really welcoming feeling in Morley, Canmore and Banff,” said Pauls.
“To link those communities into this larger community is really important. Over 400 pieces of winter clothing (were donated) to Morley families; that’s never happened before.”
On Dec. 1, the Banff Canmore Community Foundation distributed $115,000 in annual grants that reached from Exshaw to Lake Louise with the help of its Community Investment Partners.
“This has been a banner year with so many organizational changes, and we are delighted that our hard work can generate a big gift for others in the community,” said Lorraine Widmer-Carson, BCCF executive director.
