Steve Nash program launched in Aboriginal communities

Thanks to a pilot project a total of 300 Aboriginal youth are taking part in a free basketball program in New Brunswick this summer.
The Steve Nash Youth Basketball Program ­ a Canada Basketball program that is already established across the country ­ is being introduced in nine First Nations communities throughout New Brunswick.
Though official announcements have yet to be made, it is believed the program will also be introduced to various First Nation communities in western Canadian provinces in the near future.
The New Brunswick program, which began on July 3 and continues until Aug. 31, is geared to both girls and boys aged 5 to12.
Each First Nations community will decide on its own, usually depending on the availability of the volunteer coaches, on how often to run its program. Some will run it several times a week while others will stage weekly sessions.
Though for now it is only a two-month pilot project, Jason Peters, the Aboriginal sports development officer for New Brunswick's wellness, culture and sport ministry, would love to see the program blossom into something else.
"What we'd love to do in the future is roll it into a house league program," he said.
Peters, a Mi'kmaw Native from the Glooscap First Nation, has coached an elite bantam girls' basketball team for the past 19 years. And he's also the president of the East Saint John Minor Basketball Association.
The cost to run the pilot project is $12,000. Basketball Canada is fully subsidizing the program, which is being operated in co-operation with New Brunswick's department of wellness, culture and sport, Basketball New Brunswick and Sport Canada.
The nine communities that are participating in the pilot project are from the following First Nations: Burnt Church, Eel Ground, Eel River Bar, Elsipogtog, Indian Island, Metepenagiag, Pabineau, Tobique, and Woodstock.
Each participant in the program receives their own basketball as well as a basketball shirt. Since not all of the participating First Nations communities would have their own gymnasiums to run such a program, Basketball Canada has also provided each community with two portable nets. These nets can easily be moved to any paved area in the community where the basketball program can then be operated.
To help kick off the program, 18 volunteer coaches, representing the participating First Nations communities, attended a day-long national coaching certification program workshop in mid-June.
While at the workshop coaches were provided with packages which included teaching tips, drills and sample lesson plans.
The Steve Nash Youth Basketball Program is a national initiative for youth where they can develop some fundamental skills, sportsmanship and who have a love for the sport.
Andrea Polchies is one of the co-ordinators for the program on the Woodstock First Nation. Their sessions, which began in early July, are held twice a week.
"They seem to be enjoying themselves," Polchies said of the camp participants. "And they keep coming back."
The Woodstock program started off with just 10 children. Polchies was hoping that once word of the program spread that Woodstock officials would reach their capacity of 30 participants.
Polchies said that most of those taking part are younger children. And they are having fun especially since their participation in local pickup games is usually frowned upon by some of the older players.
"They're getting their hands on the ball," she said. "And I find they are actually enjoying it."
Polchies, 40, said she was recruited to help out with her local program as people knew she used to play basketball when she was younger.
Polchies attended Woodstock High School during the 1980s and played basketball for her school team during Grade 9 and.
Polchies said that she wishes there would have been a similar program to the free Steve Nash program while she was growing up.
"Back then I had a tough time just finding a ride to get me to practice," she said, adding Woodstock First Nation is located about five kilometres south of the town of Woodstock, N.B.
Polchies is hoping the pilot project might eventually result in having a local basketball league in her First Nation.
"This could be a starting point for it," she said.
At least convincing some of the councillors from her band won't be much of a challenge, because "I am one of them (the councillors)," Polchies said.