Celebrating Alberta’s Indigenous Youth – August 2019

BY BEVERLY HADLAND,
OUTREACH AMBASSADOR TO THE FIRST PEOPLES

The emphasis of this Alberta trip was maintaining and strengthening the relationships with the many young people Crystal and I previously met. It is a four-hour drive from the Edmonton Airport, south-west of Fort McMurray to Wabasca. Big Stone Cree Nation consists of five numbered reserves called 166, 166A, 166B, 166C and 166D. They are located on Calling Lake, Chipewyan Lake and the hamlet of Wabasca-Desmarais. Several ministries joined with Crossroads to support Shavina’s dream, ‘Igniting Hope 4 Restoration’, to reach the youth in these communities with a population of five thousand. In addition to Crossroads’ initial donation, we brought another $500 worth of prizes to further help the weeklong outreach.

Rhonda & Shavina holding the banner!

Bev, Rhonda and Shavina at the Wabasca Community Centre

Watch Shavina’s story below. God is raising up tremendous young people to reach the next generation.

The next phase of my trip was to Maskwacis. I went to visit the girls who attended the David Mainse/Bill Prankard Youth Mentorship Program last March.

Crystal Lavallee takes care of the week-long course. I take care of the extra-curricular activities which included the five girls staying at my home. Our relationship doesn’t end when we take them to the airport. Crystal and I stay in touch by ZOOM, texting, social media, Cluster and phone. Two of the girls were planning on leaving school as soon as they turned sixteen. After their week at Crossroads, they decided to finish high school. Most Indigenous people expect that once the visit is over, there will not be any ongoing relationship. We know the most important thing to the First Peoples is relationship. Crystal and I both treasure every person we meet especially the youth. Accordingly, my schedule included spending one day with the girls just having fun.

Bev visiting the Louis Bull Church on Sunday

I know how much that meant to them. It instills in them value meaning they are loved. We spent the day at West Edmonton Mall having a blast, visiting stores, playing in the arcade and ending with a meal together. Only Kristie was missing as she was on vacation in BC.

Lunch with Jelina (left to right) myself, Lacey, Elena and Sarah taking the picture.

This is Kristie who hung out with us last year as Crystal and her production team captured several stories on location at the Louis Bull Church.

On Sunday I joined the girls at Pastor Mario Swampy’s church on Louis Bull First Nations. Pastor Mario is also a Councilman on Samson First Nations where he brings Christian values to the community. Crystal and I first met the girls last year when we went to the church to interview Pastor Mario. Click below to watch.

I was pleased to spend time with, Taanis Bellrose, now a strong advocate to end child sex trafficking. She was on our program last fall sharing her story. Crystal and I have stayed in touch with Taanis throughout the year. I quite looked forward to spending some time together over lunch and then great prayers in my car.

The things this woman has gone through will break your heart, but praise God for Christians who reached out to her and loved her unconditionally. Taanis is still on her healing journey and will be entering a six month, five days a week healing course offered in Edmonton. Watch her story to discover why she is so happy to be offered this program. Please pray for her.

If you have been following First Peoples Voices Missions, you will notice that every trip is unique. Some trips include various size teams. Sometimes I head out alone. The purposes vary from simply bringing tangible prayers to the people in response to their requests, to helping with a land-based healing center, food bank or community kitchen, to bringing fresh produce to isolated northern communities. Many times, we go to support youth outreaches designed and presented by young Indigenous leaders. We know these young ones are making a difference in their communities. They merely need encouragement and discipleship.

According to, Dr. Terry LeBlanc, “Indigenous communities in North America are the most evangelized but the least discipled.” Crystal and I have led teams to fifty-five communities and have connections to thirty-six more. Strengthening relationships, only delivering what they ask for, Under Promise and Over Deliver (our motto), and follow as God’s Holy Spirit leads is yielding results. We have travelled to Quebec, Nova Scotia, northern British Columbia on the Alaska Highway and way up to Waskaganish on James Bay.

We dream of getting stories from Nunavut but one trip will cost close to $20,000 to get on-location stories.

Please pray with us as we enter our second year in full time positions, myself as Ambassador to the First Peoples Mission and Crystal as Producer to First Peoples Voices Media. We are so grateful for our volunteers and staff who work behind the scenes. They enable us to be out on the land creating a movement of Truth and Reconciliation, of hope and love with the many Indigenous cultures that make up Turtle Island as it is known to them, Canada and United States of America, as it is known to us.

You can become a part of this movement.