Dozens of girls had a blast at the FNHC Indigenous Girls Golf Camps that took place in Calgary February 23 and Edmonton February 15.
22 girls attended Edmonton’s event at the Country Club Tour Golf Centre, while 16 joined the Calgary event at the National Golf Academy Golf Dome.
During the launch well over 150 girls signed up to participate.
Miss Universe Canada Ashley Callingbull paid a visit to the girls at the Edmonton event, along with a CBC Indigenous journalist and videographer who posted an article and video of the event.
Read the CBC article here: Indigenous girls golf camp tells girls they belong in the sport | CBC News
Watch the CBC video of the event here: Free winter golf camps for Indigenous girls held in Edmonton and Calgary | CBC.ca
One family drove all the way from Fort McMurray to Edmonton for the event!
“Everyone was so nice,” said Stephanie Cyprien who traveled five hours to be at the event.
“For her to be along with other nations is a great thing. [It’s] also just great to be included,” said her father Jason to the CBC.
“Golf is a sport that’s very elitist because it’s a very expensive sport,” said Lannie Houle, FNHC Corporate and Community Opportunity Lead at the event. “That’s why we want the girls to work on their confidence and their leadership, so they feel like they really belong there.”
Instructor Destiny Whitney shared with the CBC, “It’s being comfortable in these types of facilities, being around young girls who are out pursuing the same thing,” said Whitney, from the Tsuut’ina Nation. “They get to own who they are. They get to own their abilities, their skills, and be here like everyone else.”
“We have to be comfortable in these environments. Where are our girls? Why aren’t they in the LPGA? Why aren’t they on college teams or universities or all those things? It needs to start now and we’re going to do it,” she said.