Aiyiikakimaop For Summer Day Camp

Over the summer, the Aiyiikakimaop For Summer Day Camp held two camps for children with limitations and/or disabilities on July 8 to August 23, 2024, at Standoff and Levern. The camp hosted two groups, 3 to 7 years old in Levern, and the other was for 8 to 17 years in Stand Off.

The camp included many activities that promoted Blackfoot culture, and campers engaged in crafts, games, swimming, and field trips. One of the main focuses of the camp was to include the youth registered with the Aiyiikakimaop For Children Program, as many do not have the opportunity to attend youth programs held by other departments or entities, due to the issues of their limitations and/or disabilities. improve their skills and provided access to diverse learning and fun activities.

“We at Aiyiikakimaop For Children, are here to help them, and to learn about them, and they are very unique kids, they know a lot of things,” Young Pine continues, “We work with strategies to help them to cope with whatever they are challenged in life with.”

The Aiyiikakimaop For Summer Day Camp was hosted in partnership with the Family Ties Association - Aisspommootsiiyao’pa Program and the Aiyiikakimaop for Children Program, which is a program of the Blood Tribe Social Development.

“It’s been a really good program to teach them about their identity and who they are. Also, for them to just be included, because not a lot of them get included because of their limitations/disabilities” said, Tracy Young Pine, Head Coordinator for the Standoff Camp.

The highly trained camp facilitators are from the Blood Tribe communities, who worked with the campers to provide unique support which included communication, routines, sensory, learning, and above all fun. The camp facilitators were welcoming, which helped to bring the campers out of their shells and by promoting a Blackfoot culture week, the campers learned how to smudge and build teepees. Young Pine noted,

“Now we are starting to see who they really are, they are very unique in their own ways. Like some know how to draw, some are very artistic, some athletic, even with their limitation/disability, they could do a lot that is not being seen.”

By providing a structured safe environment where the campers could enjoy themselves, it offered the opportunity for the camp facilitators to work with the campers to reach their goals for the summer. The staff also supported the campers to improve their skills and provided access to diverse learning and fun activities.

“We at Aiyiikakimaop For Children, are here to help them, and to learn about them, and they are very unique kids, they know a lot of things,” Young Pine continues, “We work with strategies to help them to cope with whatever they are challenged in life with.”

The Aiyiikakimaop For Summer Day Camp was hosted in partnership with the Family Ties Association - Aisspommootsiiyao’pa Program and the Aiyiikakimaop for Children Program, which is a program of the Blood Tribe Social Development.

Organizers for the Aiyiikakimaop For Summer Day Camp would like to thank the Standoff Day Camp staff, coordinator Tracy Young Pine and camp facilitators: Charles First Rider, Jolie Weasel Head and Brittany Scout. Thank you to the Levern Day Camp, coordinator Casey Bellemere, and staff which include, Lucianna Ferreira, Melanie White Man, Tamara Day Chief, Stephanie Red Crow, Sheena Sugai, Keely First Rider, and Lana Day Chief. Special Thanks to staff from Blood Tribe Social Development which include, Arnold Fox, Shane Sweet Grass, Vivian White Quills, Bonnie Scout, Byrdie Standing Alone, and Corey Black Plume, that provided transportation for the summer disability group. The Aiyiikakimaop For Summer Day Camp would like to send a special recognition to the staff from Blood Tribe FCSS for their continued support of the AFC Program, a special thank you to Bruce Iron Shirt, Jacinta Fox, Tia Fox, and Sean Fox, who provided transportation for the Levern group. A special thank you to Casey Bellemere who made our dream a reality.