Crime-prevention program needs funds

People in Fort McPherson are worried about the future of a program that has helped students.

For the last few years, students at Chief Julius School have been going to a camp where they've found an increased sense of independence and self-esteem.

The crime-prevention program needs money to keep helping kids in the community.

Some students such as Charmaine Wilson look forward to spending a week at Tl'oondih. It's a camp outside Fort McPherson that people use for healing and cultural programs.

"We went out on hunting trips, did story telling, and traditional medicine, and we went sliding&$151;and we got two moose on our hunting trip," Wilson says.

Wilson and her classmates were at Tl'oondih late last month.

They spent the morning on school work, and the rest of the day working on their traditional skills.

People in Fort McPherson are disappointed it may be one of the last trips.

The federal government gave the crime-prevention program $200,000 a year. But that funding has dried up.

The program has been credited with reducing youth crime, and increasing kids' survival skills and self confidence.

Mary Teya spent some time at Tl'oondih with the kids, and says the program needs to be saved.

"It's just something great happening up there. And we just need money. We got to get that money."

Some parents have talked about writing letters to the territorial government. Mary Teya says they will do what they can to make sure kids like Charmaine Wilson can continue to go to Tl'oondih.