Aboriginal Youth Proud To Carry Olympic Torch

Aboriginal Youth Proud To Carry Olympic Torch

Monday, January 11, 2010 at 12:20

 

 

A Metis youth from Saskatoon is one of the torchbearers as the Olympic flame makes its way through the city today.

 

Tyson Poulin, 13, was surprised when he found out he was chosen to participate in the torch relay.

 

“Basically, I was nominated for my participation in sports. I (also) used to volunteer at Parkridge Centre (a long-term care facility). I did some stuff at my school. I like to be a good role model,” Poulin says.

 

When Poulin was four years old, his mother was told he might never speak because of autism.

 

Besides volunteering, Poulin does well in school and excels in sports, winning gold medals in softball and basketball.

 

Meanwhile, an Aboriginal woman was a part of the Olympic dream on Saturday, as thousands of people gathered in Regina to watch the Olympic torch being carried through the city.

 

Athlete Callie Morris, a member of the George Gordon First Nation, lit the community cauldron during the torch’s Regina stop.

 

Morris says carrying the Olympic torch was an awesome experience.

 

“It was like something I’ve never really experienced before. It felt so good to have everyone there, the whole community there, supporting me and cheering me on, and it was just awesome,” she says.

 

Morris says she plans to keep the torch on display in her house.

 

The torch makes its next stop in Wanuskewin later today, before moving on to Prince Albert.