Youth learn equine therapy to achieve healthy lifestyles
- Fraser Needham | June 12, 2015
For the past year a group of Aboriginal youth from Regina has been learning about equine therapy as a means of achieving healthy lifestyles.
The “Spirit Horse” program is led by local rancher Kamao Cappo on the Muscowpetung Saulteaux First Nation – about 71 kilometres northeast of the city.
The program is made possible through an Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Leadership Grant provided by Sask Culture.
The grant gives up to $30,000 to Indigenous programming that increases cultural awareness, activity, skill development and positive lifestyles at the individual, group and community level.
In Aboriginal culture, the horse is considered a powerful teaching tool.
As a prey animal, it is uniquely aware of its environment and this includes both the unconscious and subtle body language of humans.
Working directly with Cappo, the youth learn how to interact and care for horses.
This includes learning horsemanship skills and participating in various other activities the ranch has to offer.
As a result, they develop self-esteem, confidence, respect and control.
Margaret Poitras is with the All Nations Hope Network in Regina which administers the “Spirit Horse” program.
She says there is a lot that can be learned through equine therapy.
“One of the objectives and intended results was to get the young people to learn about themselves,” she says. “And by caring for the horse, learning some skills, and taking part in activities at the ranch they are able to develop important parts of the self – a healthy self.”
The families of the youth and elders also take part in the program.
The Saskatoon Tribal Council also made use of an Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Leadership Grant to put on the Indigenous Language Celebration Festival at the end of May.
Partnering with Greater Saskatoon Catholic and Saskatoon Public Schools, STC put on a series of Aboriginal language showcases and workshops for students on May 22.
This is the third year the language festival has taken place.
For more information on Sask Culture grants, go to their website at http://www.saskculture.ca.
Click here for more Arts & Culture stories, and here for more Health stories.