Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

While the youth are waiting eagerly to return to the classroom this fall they are being kept busy in local summer programs.

Last week summer programs began in various districts and the result has been a happy group of kids.

For the children who usually attend the St. Regis Mohawk School they returned to their building to participate in the program run by the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club program in cooperation with Johnson O'Malley called the Steps To Success program. This is the second year of the venture at the school and 160 children are signed up.

For last week most of the activities were held outside because the gym floors are being refurbished but the nice weather accommodated. They played kickball, dodgeball, the parachute game and other games. Others chose to just play on the jungle gym.

Inside where space was available they played other team building games and activities.

They also had arts and crafts and movie time.

For the Tsi Snaihne kids it was also fun and games, but a component of their summer program was the dangers of driving.

Robert White - Akwesasne Mohawk Police Community Services Officer; Cynthia Lord - Community Service Officer of the R.C.M.P. and Janet Tatro - Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Community Health Nurse, were on hand Thursday July 10 as part of the Tsi Snaihne program.

There the students were shown the dangers of drinking from a legal perspective by the police officers and Tatro showed the students how alcohol affects the body.

White and Lord had the students demonstrate with the "Beer Goggles". They had the kids wear the glasses - which simulate the vision that an intoxicated person sees - and made them walk an obstacle course. They were also told of the consequences of what would happen if they get pulled over for driving while intoxicated.

The first day at the St. Regis Mohawk School for the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club/Johnson O'Malley's Steps to Success program's participants and staff.

Tatro had a demonstration using organ models and how alcohol affects the body especially during pregnancy and the damage drugs and alcohol cause during the stages of pregnancy. Cultural activities are planned for the duration of the Tsi Snaihne program as well as trips to the beach and water parks.

On Cornwall Island the students enjoyed arts and crafts while others played ball outside. They had a badminton net set up and some experienced kids in the sport showed the novice players how the game is played.

The Island program also has field trips planned. Those trips include Calypso Water Park for their year-end activity and the Woo Hoo Park in Montreal. They along with the other summer programs will go to the different museums in Ottawa as well as beaches in Massena. As well, the Island and Tsi Snaihne programs will be having socials and story telling. The Galaxy Cinemas are shoring up their summer movie schedule and trips there are also planned for Kawehnoke.