Military runs leadership camp at Muskeg Lake
- EFN News | August 21, 2014
At Pitihkwakew Lake, you get used to seeing beautiful trees, campers and people fishing. This week though, you will see a tank...and guns, lots of guns. The lake is home to a military leadership camp run by the Canadian Forces and populated with Aboriginal youth from across northern Saskatchewan.
The week long camp called Operation Eagles Nest, will put the students through team building exercises, leadership training, drills, assault boat training, map and compass training, weapons handling and how to ride in a tank.
Muskeg Lake has a long and proud history in the Canadian Military and Chief Cliff Tawpisin Jr. and his council work hard to make sure it continues.
"Our veterans have left us an amazing legacy of leadership in our community," said Chief Tawpisin. "Their work opened so many doors and gave us our freedom. We do this to honour them, but also so the young people get a chance to learn skills to cope with their challenges. And who knows, maybe one day the military will be for them."
Muskeg is hosting a banquet and has ten members of the Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association coming for diner and to meet the youth. At the graduation ceremony on Saturday rumour has it there will be a flyby.
Two of the soldiers working with the youth, Master Warrant Officer Grant Greyeyes and Captain Walker Pryor are from Muskeg Lake and Band Councilor Kelly Wolfe who spearheaded the project is an army vet who served in the PPCLI in Afghanistan.
Having these local serving members and veterans so involved makes this camp that much more special for Chief Tawpisin.
"The legacy continues when our warriors come home and share with our young people and we are honoured to have them in our community," said Chief Tawpisin. "They help instill in our youth that drive and leadership you need for a healthy lifestyle."