CSKT Tribal programs join forces to craft cool summer activities

By Lailani Upham

Paige Korodi gets help from Fishery Specialist Cindy Benson on how to tie a hook at the St. Ignatius Fitness Center. Students were gearing up for a fishing trip, with some kids fishing for the first time. (Lailani Upham photo)

ST. IGNATIUS - Summer may be a break from school but not for the Refocusing Our Tribal Youth program participants. For the program, it could be defined as: a no-break-vacation-time.

“We wanted a positive, fun thing for the kids to do in a way to stay connected with them this summer,” said Monique McDonald, Refocusing Our Tribal Youth program director.

CSKT Tribal Health Fitness Centers, Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation along with Refocusing Our Tribal Youth Program (ROTYP) teamed up this summer to provide kids activity opportunities.

Each program has their own specialty item for serving reservation-wide children, yet remain on the same menu: to encourage youth in a positive way.

Tribal Health Educator, Margene Asay said, “Our goal of the fitness staff is to reach young, middle and older ones in Health and Fitness. For the younger kids in health and fitness we must have specific activities for the kids, so that is where the Refocusing Our Tribal Youth program fell into place.”

McDonald says since school is out her aim is to continue a rapport with the students in each community by building relationship with trust, including keeping interest with the program.

“Many times the youth think that our program is just for the kids that are having Truancy and MIP issues to become involved. Although I deal with such, I also want to offer the youth awareness that this is a grant program willing to teach all the youth how to empower themselves in making better choices,” McDonald adds.

Tribal Health fitness centers are offering a place for the youth to gather Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a small snack to follow.

The fitness center summer activities are happening at the following locations: Ronan, St. Ignatius and Elmo.

Some of the activities ROTYP have coming up are a trip to the Silver Fox Golf course in Pablo on June 26; a camping trip at Blue Bay, with a possible day trip to Glacier National Park for a hike from July 15 to 17; trips to Blue Bay for boating and huckleberry picking from July 27 to 31; and river floats are planned at areas to be announced between August 3 to 14.

Lance Hawkins, St. Ignatius Tribal Fitness Specialist, lends a helping hand to one of the ROTYP students with assembling a fishing pole. CSKT Natural Resource Department provided over a dozen poles to the students for their fishing adventure to Floyd Lake in the Jocko. (Lailani Upham photo)

Tribal Health and ROTYP are seeking out an individual to serve the kids in Arlee. Folks in that area have been asking why and when there will be activities in their area, according to McDonald. “We have been looking and hope to see someone step up for the kids in that area very soon,” she includes.

St. Ignatius Fitness Specialist, Lance Hawkins has indoor and outdoor activities for the kids this summer. Hawkins agenda thus far has been a Mission Dam hike and a trip to Floyd Lake.

McDonald said she’s been thinking of ways to keep the kids happy and doing something this summer and came up with the idea to include the Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation for their know-how when it comes to cool stuff to do.

“We were asked for assistance in preparing a group of students for a fishing trip to the Jocko,” explained Natural Resource Department Educator Germaine White.

White is the Education Specialist for CSKT Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation Information & Education Program. “One of the goals of the Information & Education Program is to develop and implement working relationships with local organizations, schools, and groups for the purposes of setting up and implementing environmental educational programs and providing personal assistance and/or resource materials,” said White.

Tribal Fisheries Specialist, Cindy Benson, and White met with the St. Ignatius group to educate them on Tribal Regulations, fish identification, and native fish value. The ladies then provided new fishing poles for the kids to keep.

After the group received the poles they had some first hand expert demonstrations on casting from Benson.

Benson told the students one rule to keep in mind, “Always remember to pick up your trash where ever you are. We have pulled trout out of the lake with plastic grocery bags in their stomachs.”

The activities will go until August 14. ROTYP breaks are scheduled during the weeks of June 29 - July 10 and July 20 - July 24.

For more information, call Monique McDonald at (406) 675-2700, ext. 1149.