Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Apr 03/00) - The future leaders of the NWT may find themselves facing an uncertain future if new sources of funding aren't found for the Western Arctic Leadership Program (WALP).

Currently there are 16 youth from throughout the territory registered in the three-year Fort Smith program, whose graduates include Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew, NWT Premier Stephen Kakfwi and Thebacha MLA Michael Miltenberger.

The program has been under the gun for years, but has been hit especially hard recently with payment delays from the federal government, said WALP vice-chair Earl Jacobson.

"About five years ago we were hit with cuts," Jacobson said. "The cuts were so great we almost had to shut down the program."

He said the program was shored-up with funding from the federal government and some private donations, but it has recently run into a short-falls from the feds.

"The whole thing with HDRC (Human Resources and Development Canada), has hit us pretty hard," Jacobson said. "As a matter of fact, this month we don't have enough to pay our bills.

"This has put us in a very awkward position with our creditors," he said.

Jacobson said the program continues to receive donations from Enbridge Pipelines (NT) and private sources, but others have overlooked their requests.

"We have approached all the bands, the diamond companies, but I guess we don't meet their criteria," he said.

The program provides a home-like environment with a strict curriculum combining study periods, household chores and time spent on the land with house parents Bob and Jean Sanderson.

Jacobson said the program is a great benefit to the students who have achieved very high levels of success.

"I'm a big believer in this program," he said. "A facility like this gives them tremendous opportunity; we have tutors for them, the outdoor activities we do here; it's just a great thing for the kids."

He said as the students benefit from the program, Fort Smith also reaps rewards from WALP.

"The kids are a big help in the community as well," he said. "They help out at Northern Lights Special Care Home, they help set up chairs for big meetings and volunteer for all kinds of things around town."

The program has enjoyed the political support of previous graduates and Jacobson said they continue to receive high accolades from the government, but are still living a hand-to-mouth existence.

"We've had some letters come back from a few of the MLAs, so it looks like we've got a lot of support up there," Jacobson said.