The Muskoday Band Hall will be home to a public conference about the dangers of gang life on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Ashlee Kurylowich the community prevention addictions counsellor for Muskoday, said the educational event is open to the community of Muskoday and surrounding area.
“It’s a presentation night with guest speakers to touch on gangs and pretty much everything to do with gangs and addictions,” she explained. “(It’s about) how gangs will find their victims and how they work and what they do and how to get out of it.”
The event will also feature stories from guest speakers talking about their encounters with gang life, street life in general, and addictions. They will also speak on how they survived, got out, and moved forward.
Kurylowich said they’re hosting the event because of challenges on the ground in Muskoday. The community is dealing with a major addictions problem, she said, and goal it to provide education and inspiration to the community.
“Muskoday has a lot of (gang) activity out there and a lot of addictions out there and (we’re) trying to educate people to know that that’s not their only path and their only choice,” she explained. “There is a way out.”
She said that the gang life is something that she sees in her role as a community prevention addictions counsellor.
“There are kids out there who are born into the gangs and born into addictions and born into life and they just don’t know any other option really,” she said.
“To show them that they have their own voice and they don’t have to live that life and there are options out there and there is a way out and that’s not something that’s a death sentence for you.”
Speakers will include the Victims Services Coordinators from both the RCMP and Prince Albert Police Service, Walter Fiddler, a Research Analysis Assistant with the University of Regina’s Nurturing Warrior, Dr. Sharon Acoose of the First Nations University of Canada and Charlene Coates.
She said the event is important not just because of the topic but also because it can build awareness about the topic.
The event is at the Muskoday Band Office and begins at 5 p.m. and will run until 10 p.m. or whenever the speakers conclude. There will be a meal provided free of charge.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
