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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - "I am a great person. Actually I'm better than that. I'm amazing."

As Dave Jones shouted this message at the students of Thomas Simpson School they repeated them word for word with feeling.

Daphne Squirrel, left, and Vanessa Sanguez display their confidence during a fashion show, one of the final activities in a three-day workshop that Turtle Concepts led at Thomas Simpson School. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The level of enthusiasm in the call back was just one sign the three-day workshop Turtle Concepts led wasn't a typical talk about the ills of drugs and alcohol.

Jones, a member of the Garden River First Nation from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is the founder and owner of Turtle Concepts. The group leads cross-cultural training with a twist around the world.

"We wanted to put excitement into healing," Jones said.

Enthusiasm and excitement help Jones get his message across that youth don't have to be embarrassed about making good choices, being healthy or being "goody two shoes."

To illustrate the message Turtle Concepts staff shared their life stories and accomplishments with the students.

Growing up, Jones had to defend his healthy life choices which his aunties and uncles teased and ridiculed him for.

During the final assembly on May 21 Jones told the students that he'll continue to make these choices. I'll never be an alcoholic or a drug addict, Jones said, "because I'm too damn important."

"I hope some of you will start to realize how important you are."

Sharing life stories lets the students realize we're just like them, said Katelyn (Trae) Knott, a member of the Turtle Concepts team.

"We've had struggles but we didn't let it stop us," Knott said.

The staff and the students quickly formed a close bond.

"These kids are amazing," said Knott.

The Turtle Concepts workshop was better than the normal motivational presentations, said Gordon Thompson, a Grade 11 student.

"It was cool," Thompson said.

"They listened and they didn't talk about drugs and alcohol."

The group got their message across that it's OK to make good choices without having to talk directly about what not to do, like drugs, he said.

For Thompson the highlight of the workshop was the hot seat where students sat in a circle.

One person would go into the middle and everyone had to give them a compliment.

"The work they've done with our kids is super," said Rosie Browning, the co-ordinator of the Local Training Authority.

"They have the kids involved and engaged."

The Authority along with Liidlii Kue First Nation, Thomas Simpson School and Brighter Futures sponsored the workshop.

Jones and the Turtle Concepts staff met the goal of empowering and boosting the confidence of the students, Browning said.

This workshop will be used as a stepping stone to build on to help the youth reach bigger and better things, she said.

The organizations are looking at the possibility of bringing Turtle Concepts back in September for a follow-up workshop.