Peacekeepers’ fundraiser brings in the dough for youth
The event, held last Saturday, started at 12.30 p.m. and for $100 for club members and $125 for non-members, admission included golf, dinner and live music, featuring Kahnawake artists John Dee Delormier and Kyle Zachary. There were also prizes, as well as the possibility of winning a Jeep Cherokee for a hole in one on a certain hole. According to assistant Peacekeeper chief Jody Diabo, 34 teams of four-people entered the tournament for a great cause.
There was also assistance by 25 volunteers from the youth group “Where the Creek Runs Clearer,” including children along with adults. “We had a good year this year. We had a really good turnout, we were lucky,” said Diabo. “It was a very exciting, successful, hot tournament,” said Rakwirenhtha Diabo, facilitator of the youth group. Where the Creek Runs Clearer is a traditional wilderness group. The point of the group is to develop character, skill building and to learn about culture and tradition through workshops and activities. “They learn respect, teamwork and how to work as families,” said Rakwirenhtha.
There are 37 registered children in the group, with the youngest one seven years old and the oldest 19. The group is open to everyone and hosts its meetings every Tuesday at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Family Wellness Center, with workshops on Saturdays.
“The only criteria we have is that it has to be a youth group and that it has volunteers that can help us out,” says Jody, as far as the choice of the particular group is concerned. “I wrote a proposal and met with Jody,” said Rakwirenhtha. “We talked about the history of the group. Time went by and we got a call that we were selected for the financial benefits of the golf tournament,” he said.
The amount collected was not available at press time.
The extra financial assistance is going to be used for programming, said Rakwirenhtha, but more precisely the money will help finance the annual moose hunting trip in the fall. “I think that is our biggest expense. In total it is over $5,000,” Rakwirenhtha said. "I’m really happy that the Peacekeepers did this for us. We don’t forget people who do things for us. When all the dust settles, we are going to honour each person, the parents and the kids that worked hard to make this tournament happen,” he said.
