Coordinators of an anti-gang program in Prince Albert are fighting to keep it going in the face of a looming cash crunch.
Connie Farber, the executive director of the Prince Albert Indian Metis Friendship Centre, says they can keep the initiative — entitled “Group Alternative To Native Gangs” — going until the end of the month, but that’s about it.
The program sees at-risk youth coming together to talk, learn cooking skills, play games and make traditional crafts in a safe setting.
Farber says they try to teach the youth about the importance of respect:
“Once you get kids in here, (they’re) interested in learning about — not only about culture — but themselves, learning about self-respect. Because without self-respect, you don’t have community respect. You don’t have respect for elders or your fellow human beings. When you stop that mid-flow, what do they do? Well, they go out and get into trouble.”
She says, ideally, they would like to get funding over a three-year period.