The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a program designed to empower self-development to young people from ages 14 to 24.

Crystal Kaye, from Sakimay First Nation, is the Community Youth Challenge (CYC) officer for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program and she was involved in coordinating gold award event.

“The division itself is very honored to have His Royal Highness attend our gold ceremony and made it a success,” says Kaye.

Kaye explains the bronze program is a minimum six month program where youth complete four non-competitive component areas which are physical, recreation, community service and skill and outdoor excursion. The kids are required to do it one hour per week for six months.

Once a participant completes the bronze program, they can go on to the silver level and then onto the gold level which completes the entire program. Leaders are very much a part of the program; they are the ones that enable the youth to continue with the programs.

The Earl of Wessex acknowledged leaders who have helped support the youth along their journey. One of those leaders are people such as Peter Sutherland from One Arrow First Nation.

“I was invited because I participated in the Tim Horton’s Camp Kananaskis and had become [one of the] leaders for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Like what the Prince said, it’s a good opportunity for the youth to excel out of school,” says Sutherland who was happy to attend and observe the gold awards.

“I was very honored to meet him and shake his hand. I’m surprised of how nice of a person he is and he’s pretty down to earth,” says Sutherland. “I encourage all the young people when they have a chance to go into the program because just from what the Gold award winners today were very accomplished people,” he adds.

Kaye says they are currently starting to get more Aboriginal groups through their community challenge initiative and they now have 141 Aboriginal participants in the bronze program.

“We are striving for our next gold ceremony to have Aboriginal achievers in there when they complete the gold level,” she adds. “I encourage Aboriginal youth to join the program because it is worthwhile, you do get to meet Royalty in the end and you feel a tremendous accomplishment of going through the program and incorporating all the component areas into your lifestyle,” she adds.

The award ceremony was concluded with R.C.M.P and police officers doing a parade march with drums and the bag pipes playing in the background. Prince Edward made his way to the government house and departs to Saskatoon for a visit.

There are about ten reserves in Saskatchewan that are now involved in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Prince Edward presented the last gold ceremony back in 2006. The program was introduced in the province in 1983.