By Ashley Materi, 3rd Canadian Divison Public Affairs
Wainwright, Alberta — The Bold Eagle summer Indigenous program, run by the Canadian Army, celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2019, and for the first time, it has incorporated a military chaplain into the program.
Captain Oliver Edwards, with 20th Independent Field Battery in Lethbridge, who joined the South Alberta Light Horse as an Armour Officer in 2015 before eventually transitioning to the chaplaincy, says that he is humbled to be a part of the support team for the 2019 program recruits.
“It has been a real treat for me to learn about Indigenous spirituality and understand the needs of Indigenous members,” he said. “There's a huge diversity of different traditions and languages, all wrapped up in one program so we get a chance to support all those different candidates.”
The summer program for Indigenous youth from western and northern Canada promotes leadership skills, self-discipline and physical fitness. It includes a weeklong culture camp where recruits learn more about their First Nations heritage and complete the Canadian Army Reserve Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) course.
Recruits offered cultural and military perspectives to help ease course anxieties
The most common issues presented by the recruits include homesickness and difficulty adjusting to the structure and discipline of a military course. They have the opportunity seek counsel from the Indigenous Elders or from Capt Edwards, but…
Continue Reading This Article At The Canadian Armed Forces Website
