Executive Creating Opportunities for Inner City Youth

Garry Sanderson - President
Kinsmen Foundation Representative
  Garry was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan but has lived in Regina for most of his life. He experimented with living in larger centers like Toronto and Calgary, but always found himself drawn back to Regina. "My family is here, both of my daughters and my three wonderful granddaughters, and Regina is the greatest place to live."
     Garry returned to school as an adult student and graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Social Work in May 1998. He is currently employed with the Saskatchewan Department of Justice. Garry has spent many years working with and assisting inner city youth and adults.
     He is currently President of the Regina Block Parent Program and Vice - Chair and Area Coordinator of the Saskatchewan Block Parent Program. He is involved with community actions groups such as Community Partners Against Violence.
  
 

 

Jennifer Eyolfson
1st Vice-President
 Jen joined the Aboriginal Kin several years ago and has proven herself to be a hard worker and a talented organizer. Born and raised in Stony Beach, Saskatchewan, she has resided in Regina for the last six years.
     Jen is a proud mother who often has her daughter, Julia, helping out at club functions. At present, she is working two jobs and saving to go back to school in the fall.   

 

Ted Cherewyk
Treasurer
  Ted grew up on a mixed farm south of  Norquay, SK.  His brother still farms there and Ted helps with the harvest every fall.  His close relationship with agriculture led Ted to get a job with the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) after graduating with a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He still works there, helping farmers and rural communities with water resource issues and ensuring the integrity of numerous water storage projects PFRA has built in the prairie provinces.
   Ted became interested in helping the Regina Aboriginal Kin Club in 2000 when he met club president, Basil Quewezance who grew up about 30km from Ted's farm. Basil has since moved away from Regina, but Ted remains with the club.

 

Jeff Szeponski
Secretary - Editor of Talking Stick Newsletter

Jeff joined the Aboriginal Kin Club in 2005 and has been a hard working member and contributor at all of the Kin Club functions. This is the first position Jeff has held on the board and is looking forward to contributing to future projects.

 

Aaron Sklar
Past President
      
     Born in Calgary and raised in Prince Albert, Aaron became a member of the Regina community in 1993. He is a graduate of  the University of Regina with Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science degrees. After graduation, Aaron taught at the Comprehensive in Estevan, later returning to Regina to pursue an interest in Physics. Aaron is currently a senior science teacher at Lumsden High School.
    Aaron has had an affiliation with the Regina Aboriginal Kin Club from the beginning and has sat on the board for the past three years. He encourages all people to come out and lend a hand at club functions, "It is a great opportunity for people to gather, make friends, and make a positive contribution to our community."

 


   

  

Brian Sklar
Past President
     Born and raised in Prince Albert, Brian grew up on the north side of this central Saskatchewan city. There were few opportunities for children that grew up in this poorer part of town and Brian was lucky to find music. Through years of hard practice and paying his dues, Brian has had a successful run in the music business. He has toured across North America and Europe for over thirty years and until recently could be heard on CBC radio every fourth Thursday of the month with his popular country music column. He is a past president of the Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association, and a life member of the Cleveland Polka Music Hall of Fame. He also has a major display in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, located at the Calgary Stampede Grounds,
    Brian is one of the founding members of the Aboriginal Kin Club. He realizes that the challenges he faced as a youth on the "north side of the river" still exist in many areas of Regina. He is dedicated to supporting initiatives that enable youth to get involved in positive activities like the synchro swimming team, Wascana School Cheerleaders, and other worthy past and present projects.


   

 

      
     Lorna was born and raised on the Peepeekisis Reserve, and is a residential school survivor. She is  a former professor at the First Nations University of Canada, the first facility of its kind in the world. Lorna is currently employed at Regina Treaty Status Indian Services  In addition to her contributions to the Regina Aboriginal Kin Club, Lorna is involved with a number of community-based organizations, helping inner city youth to achieve their full potential. She is on the board of Chili for Children, a member of the Circle Project, and Regina Friendship Housing. Most recently, she and her daughter Donna became the first and only mother-daughter team to win the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal for volunteerism.

 


 


     

  


    Donna was born in Beechy SK and lived on many farms throughout southern Alberta before her parents moved back to Saskatchewan. For a short while, they lived at White Bear First Nations before moving to Regina where Donna attended Balfour. Upon graduation, Donna began to work for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations in Saskatoon. Upon departing from the FSIN, she  attended classes at the University of Regina.
   At present, Donna enjoys her position with Regina Treaty Status Indian Services. She is a proud "Kokum" to her grandson who lives in Calgary with his parents. She has been an active member of Rosemont United Church, a member of  the Parent Council for Connaught School and later Vice-President of the Parent Council of St. Francis School. Donna is past Secretary for the Cathedral Daycare and continues to be involved with community groups in the city of Regina.
 
   
   
   

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