Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Apr 07/00) - "When you take care of yourself, then you can help everybody else."

That piece of advice was part of the message that public speaker Travis Dugas conveyed to students at the 2000 Mackenzie Youth Leadership Conference last week.

Dugas' motivational speaking, traditional dancing, and most recently his blossoming acting talents have taken him all over the world including Australia, Italy and Korea. His start in public speaking developed from his success in athletics. Of Cree/Dene descent, Dugas, 30, grew up in Edmonton and excelled in a number of sports, particularly rugby. He was named outstanding male athlete at his high school as well as Alberta's native male athlete of the year in 1989-90.

His athletic accomplishments were in spite of his hardships at home, which lead to a problem with alcohol.

"It put a cover over my feelings. It covered up my eyes, my vision," he explained. "But drinking wasn't the problem, it was a symptom."

His biological father, a drinker and smoker, died prematurely of a heart attack, shaking Dugas up.

"I was afraid of dying like that," he said. "I was bored and tired of all the damage I saw ... I wanted to break the cycle."

Due to his athletic success, he was invited to share his story at other schools. The process of talking openly with others initiated his own healing from coping with family issues, he said. Now sober for more than 10 years, Dugas has also received spiritual guidance from his adopted father, Lawrence Piche, in Saskatchewan.

At 21, Dugas was informed by some elders at a ceremony that he was a warrior and a dancer. He was presented with an eagle feather and he said he is always striving to live up to the honour that they bestowed upon him that day.

He said he sees many youth who are not in touch with their native language or spiritual beliefs, and lack a relationship with the land. Some parents just don't know how to parent or guide their children, he suggested.

"That's something that happened to my family. I see it happening in other families in other communities," he said. "We've got to challenge the norm and see what's on the other side."

Dugas said he sees himself as a storyteller, one who says, "Take a look at it this way ..." His goal is to plant a seed of inspiration, he said. He isn't fond of the label "role model" because everyone has their own journey to make and they'll make it in their own way, he remarked.

For those who need help along the way, as Dugas did, they will be able to find it, he said.

"When we truly desire to learn and heal, the guides will come into our life path ... hit the drum and the song will come," he said.

On the other hand, many of the students Dugas meets are well-adjusted and making great strides in life.

"I can see kids that are unique in the way that they're following their own feelings in a gentle manner," he said. "That brings them to be powerful in their life."