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Deegan Wapass never imagined he would become a role model for Indigenous youth.
Now, the member of the newly formed Indigenous Sports Academy spends his free time away from his studies and ice times to speak to reporters, publicize the new academy or, as was the case Thursday, accept a donation from the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades.
“It’s pretty nice to be a part of it,” Wapass said. “It’s a good team. I really like it here. I’m just happy to be part of history in the making.”
The Indigenous Sports Academy Eagles began play just a few weeks ago as a high-performance hockey program with a focus on a unique education and athletic experience geared towards Indigenous youth.
Founding director Courage Bear said starting the first hockey academy in the country geared specifically towards Indigenous kids has its challenges, but he feels he has built a solid foundation that will serve the program well for years to come.
“You feel glitches moving kids in and trying to get them settled, but I think overall the kids have adjusted fairly well,” he said. “And you always learn as you go. As much as you think you know and you’re prepared, (then) there’s always some of this stuff you’re unprepared for.”
The academy was presented with a $5,000 cheque from the Blades on Thursday. While the donation may seem modest for an academy taking on huge costs in its first year, it signifies the start of a partnership between the newest program and one of the oldest major junior teams on the prairies.
“I see this as a continuous thing each year for sure,” Blades associate general manager Steve Hildebrand said.
“We’re going to help them out. We’ll work with them on-ice too throughout the season. There’s multiple ways we can help the sports academy out.”
Ice time, hotels, equipment and tutors are just some of the ways the $5,000 can be spent for the academy largely funded by donations and sponsorship, according to Bear.
Either way, he knows the Eagles and the Blades have a relationship that will only grow in the future.
“It’s important to just demonstrate we can partner and work together,” he said. “It’s going to just enhance the program moving forward.”