Striding Spirits
In 2009, Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona Child and Family Services began a Sun Run Leadership Trip. The trip involved workshops and speeches from First Nations leaders and MCFD as well as participation in the Vancouver Sun Run (10km).
I went on the trip with other youth from the region, including my younger brother. I was a frequent runner prior to this, and could never coerce my brother to take part until after this trip. Once we started to run I watched his confidence level grow and a new commitment to making healthier lifestyle choices.
I worked at a youth center and felt other Indigenous youth could benefit from running. My associate Kristen Auger and I began to run with Indigenous Youth on a weekly basis. We would provide transportation, water, and a healthy snack to the youth. I watched Indigenous youth who were struggling in school from high risk living situations push themselves in running long distances. The discipline gained from running transfers to your everyday living. The initiative was and is a true grassroots movement.
We continued to run and sought out to build a connection with Nenan. In October 2010 4 runners and myself were able to attend the BMO Marathon in Kelowna, BC. 3 of the runners completed their first 10 km run and 2 of us ran our very first half marathon. We were able to connect with the Okanagan Nation Alliance who has their very own Unity Runners. The trip was successful but during 2011 there were educational and employment commitments that made it difficult to maintain the group.
We would like to reestablish the group but begin with introductory sessions and have an established First Nations Runner to speak with the youth. We want to involve nutritional workshops, shopping healthy on a budget workshops, and incoorporate more cultural teachings. We created a “Snag Some Sneaks” program where 3 of our youth were able to acquire proper running sneakers. This is an area we would like to expand upon and provide proper running gear to our youth.
It is our vision to give the youth an end goal in sight and aim to take them to a 10km race, half marathon, or full marathon. Furthermore, we would like to be able mobilize the group and be able to travel to nearby First Nations communities and run with them. The run group provides physical activity, cultural knowledge, positive relationships and encourages well balanced lifestyles to Indigenous youth.
About You
About You
First Name
Helen
Last Name
Knott
Confirm a user name that will be displayed publicly to identify your entry
StridingSpirits
About You, Your Group, or Your Organization
Name
Helen Knott
Website
Country
Please confirm that this project could benefit First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples
Yes
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
Youtube URL
What categories best describe who your group or organization serves (check all that apply)
First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.
What best describes your group or organization
Community group or youth group.
How long have you, your group, or your organization been operating?
1‐5 years
Innovation
Name Your Entry
Striding Spirits
Tell us the story of your idea or project
In 2009, Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona Child and Family Services began a Sun Run Leadership Trip. The trip involved workshops and speeches from First Nations leaders and MCFD as well as participation in the Vancouver Sun Run (10km).
I went on the trip with other youth from the region, including my younger brother. I was a frequent runner prior to this, and could never coerce my brother to take part until after this trip. Once we started to run I watched his confidence level grow and a new commitment to making healthier lifestyle choices.
I worked at a youth center and felt other Indigenous youth could benefit from running. My associate Kristen Auger and I began to run with Indigenous Youth on a weekly basis. We would provide transportation, water, and a healthy snack to the youth. I watched Indigenous youth who were struggling in school from high risk living situations push themselves in running long distances. The discipline gained from running transfers to your everyday living. The initiative was and is a true grassroots movement.
We continued to run and sought out to build a connection with Nenan. In October 2010 4 runners and myself were able to attend the BMO Marathon in Kelowna, BC. 3 of the runners completed their first 10 km run and 2 of us ran our very first half marathon. We were able to connect with the Okanagan Nation Alliance who has their very own Unity Runners. The trip was successful but during 2011 there were educational and employment commitments that made it difficult to maintain the group.
We would like to reestablish the group but begin with introductory sessions and have an established First Nations Runner to speak with the youth. We want to involve nutritional workshops, shopping healthy on a budget workshops, and incoorporate more cultural teachings. We created a “Snag Some Sneaks” program where 3 of our youth were able to acquire proper running sneakers. This is an area we would like to expand upon and provide proper running gear to our youth.
It is our vision to give the youth an end goal in sight and aim to take them to a 10km race, half marathon, or full marathon. Furthermore, we would like to be able mobilize the group and be able to travel to nearby First Nations communities and run with them. The run group provides physical activity, cultural knowledge, positive relationships and encourages well balanced lifestyles to Indigenous youth.
Define your idea / project in 1-2 short sentences
An Indigenous youth run group encouraging healthy lifestyles and recreating the "cool".
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (the project is up and running and is starting to move forward)
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
Please tell us about the social impact of your idea or proect
The run group will create opportunities where Indigenous youth can be engaged in a healthy and holistic way. By also travelling out to communities we will be creating alternatives where there may only by unhealthy activities available to youth. The Indigenous youth involved will be more confident in other areas of their life and will also be knowledgeable about physical fitness, nutrition, and cultural aspects of running and maintaining wellness.
Some of the youth that have been involved in the run group had no one pushing them forward in any area of their life. The group was that push for them. The group also becomes a family and the youth themselves are then placed in leadership and mentoring roles.
Your Future Goal(s): Tell us what you hope to achieve with your idea or project in the next year
To have youth from the North East involved in a Unity Run.
In 5 years, what will be different as a result of your idea/project?
There will be chapters of Striding Spirits across British Columbia. We will have developed manuals on starting a grassroots run groups and also have built various community connections where different Unity runs take place between communities where runners can meet each other and celebrate culture and healthy living.
By creating a healthy community and group of young people dedicated to healthy lifestyles we are also redefining what "cool" is in these communities. We would also like to see youth involved in leading workshops and evolving to newer and higher stages of leadership.
Sustainability
Tell us about the people/ partnerships that are already involved and why they are important to your idea or project.
We are involved with a local Aboriginal youth centre and a First Nations Child and Family Centre. These connections are important to be able to recruit and access youth. Also, both organisations have allowed us to use their spaces for fund raisers and for group meetings. Nenan has also provided funding for our first marathon trip and we seek to continue to build upon that relationship.
If there are other people/partners that you will reach out to tell us who they are and why they will be important to your idea or project.
We will reach out to other Sports/Activity organizations and grassroots Indigenous runners. We will also reach out to local run groups and physical activity coordinators. We will also be building relationships with the First Nations communities themselves to spark interest and generate support.
Describe the kinds of support you receive (other than money) or will need to support your idea or project (e.g.: donated, space, equipment and volunteers)
We have the support of the air, grass, and water of the Earth that sustains us.
We will need sneakers/run gear donated.
We would like to have gym passes made available to the youth.
We will also need to acquire volunteers for workshops and to lead runs. We will need transportation to running events and FN communities.
Do you currently have funding for your idea or project?
No (skip next two questions)
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 003_1.jpg | 229.31 KB |
 | 17 weeks agoHelen Knott updated this Competition Entry. |
| 17 weeks agoHelen Knott submitted this idea. |
