In the spring of 2008 Lynne Harrison met with the School Principal of the Morley Community School. As an artist, Lynne wished to sponsor a program at the Morley School which would help develop children’s self-esteem and an interest in the arts.

Lynne began with sponsoring a young aboriginal artist by supplying paint supplies and encouragement. This young artist now has an outlet to sell his work, and is applying to Grant McEwan College for an Arts program.

One of the requirements for the Alberta High School Diploma is 15 work experience credits. However, there are few jobs for youth on the Reserve, and the logistics for kids to work off the reserve becomes almost insurmountable.

By September of 2008 after discussions with the Principal, the Aboriginal Youth Initiative program had morphed into a drum making program. This program would assist 20 children in grade 10, in learning a culturally significant skill (drum making), assist in encouraging and improving school attendance, and the double benefit is the children would receive credits for work experience as well.

Lynne found a market to sell the kids drums, which will make this a self-sustainable program which will continue into the future, and may grow to include other culturally significant arts, crafts and skills.

The Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation provided seed funding to buy materials for 20 youth.

Drum decoration by Taylor Crow Spreads Its Wings & Ryan Hunter	Taylor Crow Spreads its Wings
Working on drums!	Working on drums!