The 2019 La Ronge Youth Conference entered its second day on Friday.
The three-day conference focuses on increasing youth knowledge and coping skills in such areas as mental health, gangs and bullying.
One of Friday afternoon’s keynote speakers was Fred Sasakamoose – the first Indigenous person to play in the National Hockey League.
For his part, Sasakamoose says he is just happy to be part of the conference which is being hosted by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
“What they have done is that they are much involved with the white society also,” he says. “You know, they’re not alone and I think itself when I see white people involved with the La Ronge Indian Band it gives me a great lift to be able to share some of the good stories.”
Sasakamoose adds he had a lot of support from the community playing hockey while growing up and he feels it is important to try and give something back to young people.
“I owe it to the kids. I was given a lot of attention when I was young also from the elders. Now it’s your turn to return it back to the youth and they deserve that.”
Sasakamoose, now 85, was born on the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation in 1933.
He broke into the NHL with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1954.
After retiring from hockey, he became a band councillor and later chief in Ahtahkakoop.
Sasakamoose is also a member of the Order of Canada.
Former Olympian Waneek Horn-Miller was also one of the guest speakers on Friday.
The conference wraps up on Saturday.
with files by Abel Charles
(PHOTO: Fred Sasakamoose. File photo.)