Coral Harbour (Nov 17/04) - A total of 32 students from Grade 5 and 6 in Sakku school graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program earlier this month in Coral Harbour.

The following students passed the DARE program. Siasi Alogut Reanna Amitnaaq Joey Angootealuk Jesmen Eetuk Mavis Ell Naomi Emiktowt Ryan Jar Timothy Jar Trevor Nakoolak Delilah Netser Kerri Ningeocheak Bob Noah Becky Ottokie Katrina Pameolik Joseph Paniyuk Kaysha Paniyuk Leanne Pinguartuk Ruben Saviakjuk Miranda Shapangak Qilak Komaksiutiksak Jalen Ell Samson Gibbons Joseph Jar Oleepika Jar Kayla Jones Raymond Kadlak Kelvin Kalai Adamie Nakoolak Joey Nakoolak Maggie Nakoolak Norman Nakoolak Bernadette Saviakjuk

It was the first time DARE was taught in Coral.

The students were taught how to resist the pressures and temptations of getting involved with drugs and/or violence in Coral.

RCMP Const. Isabelle Bouchard taught the two-week course and organized the graduation ceremonies.

Coral's detachment commander, Cpl. Alex Lyon, said the DARE program was well received by the community.

He said graduation ceremonies were made even more special by the participation of MLA Pat Netser and Mayor Johnny Ningeongan.

"There's a big emphasis in Coral on drug enforcement, so it was thought introducing this program into the school would help with the education side of our battle against drug use in the community," said Lyon.

"The program was a huge success. The community was glad to see it being taught at the school and the kids did very well in it, so we're quite pleased with the outcome."

Bouchard is a relief member and will be teaching the DARE program in other Kivalliq communities. Kids who take DARE learn ways to walk away from bad situations, rather than get caught up in a violent act or with an illegal substance. Lyon said peer pressure can be magnified ten-fold in a small isolated community such as Coral.

"Letting kids know there are ways of not letting peer pressure push you into doing drugs is very important in a small community."

The DARE program was initially developed in the U.S.A. and promoted through communities in southern Canada before finding its way to the North a few years ago.

Lyon said the program is designed to be equally effective in any community, be it predominately Inuit, Caucasian, African-Canadian or First Nations. "It's a well-developed program with a solid track history of making a positive impact in communities. We're happy DARE was finally taught in Coral and hopefully it will become a yearly program here."