A two-day youth conference wrapped up Thursday in La Ronge.
The “Going M.I.L.E.S.” Conference features Indigenous entertainers Dakota House and Scott Ward.
M.I.L.E.S. stands for motivate, inspire, lead and empower.
Ward, who is a hypnotist, says the workshops focus on an anti-bullying message and healthy lifestyles.
“We’re both drug and alcohol-free entertainers, educators and we like to bring that message of sobriety to communities right across Canada and into the United States now,” he says.
Ward and House have been together for 14 years and provide workshops to Indigenous communities all over North America.
They say if youth are committed to living a healthy lifestyle, they can set big goals.
“We’re the first people in our respective careers to bust the doors open for other people,” Ward says. “Dakota was the first Indigenous youth on television, I was the first Indigenous hypnotist. We have messages to them that, you know, you might have to be the first in your family to finish high school, go on to university, college, go get a trade…”
At the same time, he says they try to mix serious messages with a lighter side of entertainment.
“Nothing beats seeing your community members on stage, having a lot of fun, being hypnotized, becoming the star of the show.”
In the coming days, Ward and House will travel to Black Lake, Fond du Lac and then Hatchet Lake.
(PHOTO: Scott Ward, left, and Dakota House, right, are part of Going M.I.L.E.S. Photo courtesy of Going M.I.L.E.S. Facebook page.)