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The students and adult allies behind the creation of the Sober House Project in Prince Albert were honoured by the Prince Albert Police Service on Tuesday. Linden Howlett, fifth from right and Pay Young, fourth from the right, were two of the students involved in the program.   (Brady Bateman/paNOW Staff)
Sober Homes

Sober House Project creators honoured

Jun 18, 2019 | 12:10 PM

An initiative created to spark positive change within the community lead to four students being honoured by the Prince Albert Police Service Tuesday.

Students at Prince Albert’s Wesmor Public High School developed a now incorporated campaign, known as the Sober House Project, with the goal of inspiring people in the community to display a sign on their door or windows indicating the residence as a sober home.

A sober house is one in which all residents are sober, and alcohol and drugs are not welcome on the premises.

“The Sober House Project is a positive change movement initiated to address the problem of drug and alcohol abuse in our communities,” President of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) at Wesmor, Linden Howlett said.

“It is time for change from the inside out, it is time to tell stories of courage, of hope, of peace and of victory. Together we will create a healthy new generation, one person and one story at a time. The Sober House Project is a quiet revolution, a positive change movement.”

The idea for the school project was based on Saskatchewan author Harold Johnson’s book Fire Water: How alcohol is Killing My People (And Yours). In the book Johnson talks about creating alcohol-free spaces.

Indigenous Resource Officer with PAPS Victim Services Unit, Erin Parenteau, said upon seeing a recent documentary about the student lead initiative, she knew the students should be honoured.

Indigenous Resources Officer with PAPS Victim Services Unit, Erin Parenteau, honoured the students who created the Sober House Project. (Brady Bateman/paNOW Staff)

“This is just a group of youth that wanted positive change in the community and walked the walk,” Parenteau said. “We as a police service are excited about that, we are always trying to make the community better and safer and that’s something they are already doing.”

The students involved in the project were each presented with an eagle feather and tobacco by Parenteau. An eagle feather is a gift of high distinction in many Indigenous communities.

“I dressed the feathers with leather and beads and provided a teaching to each of the students about the feathers,” Parenteau added. “Then the students were honoured by receiving a song from our Elder Jacob Sanderson.”

Those who want to become a part of the Sober House Project are encouraged to contact the students through their Facebook page.

Pay Young and Linden Howlett accepted the honours on behalf of the four members of the Student’s Against Destructive Decisions organization within Wesmor Public High School.

Brady.bateman@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TheDigitalBirdy

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