Photo of: Colby Worm, Robert Leyte and Kirkland Paul
Photo by: Danielle Dufour
By Danielle Dufour
The HIRE (Helping individuals reintegrate effectively) program is changing the lives of young individuals who were once entangled in addictions, gangs, and correctional facilities.
“The age group is focused on ages 13 to 24 and primarily for Indigenous youth,” said Aaron Desjarlais the program manager.
“We take guys coming from different walks of life … we have guys coming out of corrections, we have guys that are just looking for what to do moving forward in their lives,” said Robert Leyte, the employment supervisor for the HIRE program. “We go to the shop and make some really cool stuff and sell it on our Facebook page to continue funding our program.”
Colby Worm, from Kawacatoose First Nation, was a client of the HIRE program.
Photo of: Colby Worm singing and playing a drum / Photo by: Danielle Dufour
Worm also runs a culture program where he teaches singing to youth and said, “The one thing that helped me get through, get back onto the right path is my culture.”
Since his time with the program, he’s been participating in therapy and addictions counselling and is now 26 months sober.
“We’ve seen tremendous turnaround in terms of reducing recidivism rates, increased reintegration supports to custody and just watching the overall transformations among the youth,” said Desjarlais.
They take high-risk, high-profile youth and help them get to the point where they are considered low risk.
“They typically can stay within the project for a year but it’s not uncommon for youth to go past that and that just depends on what services they’re accessing through RT/SIS,” said Desjarlais.
This service offered through the Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services Inc. (RT/SIS) falls under the Regina Indigenous crime prevention and reintegration strategy.
“We have holistic wraparound services here, so we have guys that are attending mental health supports, addictions, cultural services, life skills, housing skills, family reunification,” said Leyte.
Kirkland Paul, from One Arrow First Nation, has been involved with the HIRE program since January.
He came from a rough upbringing.
“I am doing my schooling here with Treaty 4 education. I work in the wood shop when help is needed and I also attend the sweats,” said Paul.
Paul also attends the life skills and cultural teaching programs and participates in regular counselling.
“It’s been helping me a lot with my sobriety,” said Paul. “Just staying on the right path.”
Paul is happy that they took him on as a client and said, “The program’s been a blessing, reconnecting me with my teachings and culture.”
Upon completing his Grade 12, Paul plans to apply to the First Nations University of Canada to further his education.
He wants to encourage other youth and mentors them to leave the gang lifestyle and improve their lives.