New graduate wants to draw on sports, tradition to help kids in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation

A southwestern Manitoba First Nation man whograduated this weekfrom a program focused on mental wellness says he hopes to meld Indigenous and Western perspectives to help youth in his community something a band councillor says willbe essential in helping shape the future of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.

New grad Thomas Rosmus, a Sioux Valley Dakota Nation member, plans to combine his education with hispassion for sports and traditional teachings to support youth in his community.

"I think our youth is our future, so I would like to help any way I could," Rosmus said. "I'm traditional myself, but the sports way ... I'm that guy [too].

"That's a good path I think, for myself to help [young people]."

Rosmus, who now hasa diploma in mental wellness and harm reduction, was part of a class that graduated Thursdayfrom LINKS orLinking Integrated Networks of Knowledge Systemsaprivate vocational institutein Brandon thatoffers online programs focused on health, social and community services.

Rosmusis already working in Brandon asa support worker with Sioux Valley's Dakota Tiwahe Services a child and family services agency that works with Sioux Valleymembers on and off reserve.

Dakota Tiwahe Services executive director Carol McKay-Whitecloud says having Sioux Valleymembers like Rosmus working with others from the communityis critical, because they can relate to clients' experiences and culture while also drawing on their post-secondary education.

"The value system, that code of people's lives, is unique to Dakota people," McKay-Whitecloud said. "I think it's effective to have Dakota people providing the services."

Melding Indigenous and Western ways of healing

Dakota Tiwahe Services focuses on bothIndigenous and Western approaches tohealing. McKay-Whitecloud says the goal is to provide wrap-around services that can include psychiatrists, clinicians and other specialists paired with Dakota teachings and traditions.

The most important part ofDakota Tiwahe's approachis having compassion and being a good relative to the people the agency supports, McKay-Whitecloud said.

Sioux Valley Coun. Tony Tacan says he wantsto support people working in mental wellness and harm reduction, because they are helping shape the future of the Dakota nation.

"The struggles they're going to see in the people and the mental health issues[are] results of the meth crisis, COVID, loneliness, grief, lossgrief is a big part of it now," Tacan said.

"The work is going to be extensive to try and get everybody back on track into mental health and wellness."

In many cases, he says, that requires a balance between Indigenous and Western perspectives, he said.

Honouringtraditional Dakota ways and using the teachings of elders canlead to big success for Sioux Valley children and young adults, said Tacan.

Luana Hebert, who graduated from LINKS with Rosmus on Thursday, moved to Manitoba from Brazil 20 years ago.

She said she experienced some culture shock because she thought Canada would take better care of all people especially when it comes to compassionate support and programming.

She says learning about Indigenous health has helped her betterunderstand policies and care systems in Manitoba and the impact they can have on communities.

"It helps us see how things are and how they could be improved and try to find equity," Hebert said.

"It opened my eyes to an inequality that I didn't understand.I feel like being able to have that compassion regardless of what is going on, it gives me the strength."

Hope for the future

Tacan sees a lot of hope in the young people committed to helpingtheir communities.

"It's encouraging to see ... because they do have a big job ahead of them and people need to encourage them," Tacan said. "Going forward, let's hope that we get more people counselled and on the road to healing."

Rosmussayssports helped him inhis life, so he wants to use that avenue to help his community.He also has plans to connect with and help community members through Dakota teachings,including a traditional men's group and sweats.

"I want to bring that [to]our youth and get them all to get them having fun, get them connected with sports and recreation," Rosmus said. "I think it's all positive."