Indigenous students aim to learn through archery program at southern Alberta school

A new program at Chief Jacob Bearspaw School in southern Alberta is aiming to be a bullseye for students wanting to learn a unique skill.

The Turner Valley Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills has partnered with the school in Eden Valley, about 115 kilometres southwest of Calgary,to teach students the art of archery.

Jodie Sieben, director of operations for the Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills, says along with learning about the sport, students are also learning about themselves.

"Archery is an etiquette sport," she said. "So it helps kids with confidence, self-esteem and also helps them with hunting."

The after-school program aims to get students interested in competing in the future.

"The more you practise the better you'll get," said Sieben.

"So there is a sense of ownership of being an archer, if you don't practise you don't get better."

The program runs in schools across Canada and the United States.

Archery is nothing new to Grade 11 student Tran Rollinmud, whowon a gold medal in a competitionback in 2011 while attending Camp Gladstone.

"So for me to learn archery, I can pass it on to the other youth in the community of Eden Valley," said Rollinmud.

The program runs every Monday until the end of the school year.

And organizers hope to keep the program running throughout the summer with help from the community.