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| Stardale offers many learning and healing activities and programs solely for the betterment of women. The women are strengthened through a unique approach, which is highly structured on the basis of an educational format combined with experiential learning, arts and crafts in a therapeutic environment.
The Stardale Model - For the Enlightenment of Women The Stardale Model has been written into a curriculum format.The manual contains all the detailed information for the set -up of the education/healing environment, in conjunction with the activities and lesson plans. The Model is a 14 week/5 day per week extensive self-development tool. This is to be implemented as a multi-disciplinary approach to healing, education, culture, community development, health and prior learning. Contact us for further information. Yale Day of Service in Calgary - May 14, 2011 Inspiration from the collective whole came when we started the day off in Talking Circle about the purpose of our gathering and the connection to Mother Earth. We spoke of reverence to the environment and the need to be further mindful for what exists on the earth today. Present for the day of service were the Stardale organization with staff, young girls, parents and volunteers the Yalies with their family supports, as staff member from Horizon Housing, as well as some of the residents from the Alice Bissett residence. Very quickly the group intermingled and began to sort through plant pots, rip open bags of planting soil, distribute tools and examine which flowers would be visually appealing in what pot container. There was a lot of chatting back and forth. Conversation and relationship building was a primary component to the event. Several of the residences of the Alice Bissett setting directly participated in the planting, while others came out to say ‘thank you’ to all of us for coming out and preparing the pots. While we were playing with nature, the wind blew, the birds sang and we happily filled 170 pots of flowers to be distributed to 8 residential care settings within Calgary. At the end, we were feeling as though we had accomplished a meaningful, worthwhile tasks that were meant to be shared other who would have a difficult time in purchasing and potting flowers. Now these individuals could have enjoyment of the flowers and connect with nature –our Mother Earth. Our first inaugural program was entitled, "Honouring Ourselves". This was a 24-week program - which began with a 14-week Life Skills program, coupled with a 4-week literacy component, followed by a 5-week delivery of a child care worker certificate program. This first program was based on the results of the Needs Assessment that identified the lack of training in the day care area. The day care training stage of the program was completed by July 6, 1998. The Needs Assessment also identified high degrees of reported abuse/violence among Aboriginal and women of poverty, and situation where women are placed at risk. As a result, the Life Skills component of the program concentrated on the healing and empowerment of women to overcome the barriers and the marginalization within which they subsisted. Thus, we initiated a Life Skills program, which is specifically designed to include self, family, job/education, community, and leisure. All of these elements combined are critical first steps toward self-empowerment. The second very important component of the Life Skills program vital to the women's healing, growth, and transformation is literacy. Women, who have been abused and neglected (as in the case of all of our participant clients), severely lack literacy skills. This factor, teamed with the low self-esteem that have been generated from life-long abuse, as well as their lack of personal skills, has kept these women oppressed and unemployed with no hope. As we all know, literacy opens doors to the world, and the knowledge gained begins to create access to positive alternatives for women. As a result, learning and knowledge encompasses in the development of literacy skills is a critical part of our Life Skills Program. "Renewal of the Spirit" was an 8-week Life Skills program with 1-week collective kitchen leadership component. This program was initiated through the months of May and June 1998. The participants were all poor women who receive social assistance. Community groups in our area had identified that community kitchens are a positive method of addressing poverty and hunger. Proper nutrition on a shoestring budget is a challenge for our participant clients. Food safety and nutrition are constant struggles that are being addressed in the collective kitchens. A manual has been developed at the North Central Health District office to be used as a pilot project for our program. This manual is now being used also by the Health District for their projects in developing food security initiatives. Women in the surrounding community hearing about the "Honouring Ourselves" program by word of mouth, requested a similar program again within which they could participate. Upon this request, a second program in the "Honouring Ourselves" series, entitled, "Illumination From Within", commenced in September 1998, with a Life Skills component, followed by a literacy component, and concluding with a certification as an office worker with computer skills. On June 5, 1999, the first group of talented women graduated from this program very successfully indeed. Our next endeavor was the commencement of another program entitled, "Transcendence To The Future", which was based upon the overwhelming numbers of poor women who have been on our waiting lists, or who were referred to our organization by other service providers. In this program, the women who previously had suffered many atrocities in their lives, started to transform themselves by acknowledging their pain with honesty and a commitment to change, they began to achieve harmony, balance and freedom of thought. It was slow process rebuilding their lives. Yet, they were willing to conquer life's challenges and heal their past. One of the women from this group has started a new business at James Smith Cree Nation, which is a greenhouse operation. This initiative is doing well, and we consider it a tremendous success. To meet the needs of many of our youth, Stardale also has undertaken a 3-phase program entitled, "Exploring Our Options". This was a cooperative project in collaboration with the East Side L.I.M.B., Human Resources of Canada, Melfort Ministerial, James Smith Cree Nation and Stardale. This project focused on education and community development. In September, Stardale offered another program entitled, "Rediscovery of Self", which commenced with a 14-week Life Skills program. The format of the program concentrated on nurturing the women and dealing with many sensitive topics. This program ended on December 17, 1999, as the women moved into two other programs entitled, "Framework For Change - ALAPS, an Aboriginal Family Literacy Program" & "Harmonious Learning" - an individual one on one and group literacy/GED program. We are enthusiastic about the endless possibilities for the women as they begin this new course in their lives. "The Talking Quilt" In order to address the emotional and personal needs of our women, Stardale designed a pilot project utilizing various personal and emotional healing methods, and implemented a program entitled, "The Talking Quilt". This endeavor encompassed the medium of color, texture, pattern, touchability and artistry, with visual and mental stimulation. It provided a spark that ignited the flame of reconciliation for all the women and youth who participated in the designing and the stitching of the Quilt. As the Quilt was stitched, group counselling sessions were held and videotaped; oral and written life stories were logged from the beginning to the completion, in order to record the full intensity of the momentum of healing, growth and change in each participant. At the conclusion of the project, a video production was developed incorporating the quilting process, the counselling sessions/discussions and the eventual celebration together with a narrative telling their stories. The method of approach in the Quilt project focused on the element of "council sharing" that is a traditional way. Thus, the council of women formed a circle and discussed their lives' hurts, joys, traumas and experiences giving way to individual awakening, emotional healing and development that manifested itself through the Quilt as the speakers of truth. At Stardale, we focus on individual expression of the self in all art forms be in pictures, paintings, sculpture, weaving or quilt making. We feel that the expression of thought of each participant in these projects manifests itself in an expression of artistry, skillfulness and immense talent, which all women have. Their unique talents also have been exhibited on "The Talking Quilt." On May 17, 2000, Stardale held a celebration for the unveiling of "The Talking Quilt". The event was very successful with excellent feedback. Community Supports, Partnerships & Linkages
 supports the ongoing work of the empowerment for young girls in the “Honouring the Girls Stories" program for Calgary and region.
Partners, associates and sponsors of the Stardale Center include: Human Resources Development Canada, CanSask, Cumberland Regional College, James Smith Cree Nation, Aboriginal Women's Council of Saskatchewan (PA), The Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Kelsey Trail Health, Melfort Ministerial Association, & Porcupine Opportunities For the Disabled. Stardale also represents the community organizations of the North East sector on the Provincial LINKS board. Stardale also works closely with Victim's Services, North Central Health District, East Side L.I.M.B., Prince Albert Against Family Violence, Prince Albert Grand Council Women's Commission, SaskEnergy Supplier Development , Melfort Ministerial association, N.E. Intersectorial; and is associated with Sask Native Housing (Saskatoon), Alberta Life Skills & Literacy Ltd., Y.W.C.A (Calgary) As identified in our Needs Assessment, funding is a major determinant as well as a handicap for the development of programs at Stardale. Each program component depends on special funding and depending on the financial resources, it is sometimes very difficult to offer a particular program for a following term although there are extensive waiting lists, and although there is a tremendous demand for these programs in the region. Our team of partners are continuously searching for funding for the undertaking of these successful programs at Stardale, as well as for these programs to be maintained on an ongoing basis for the following years. In March 2-5, 2000, the Canadian Congress for Learning Opportunities for Women (CCLOW) held a conference in Toronto with 110 women in attendance. The Stardale program coordinator was invited to present a paper on the impacts of trauma and violence on women's learning: a program model. Subsequently, further discussions and presentations took place at the First National Aboriginal Literacy Gathering at Nakoda Lodge in Alberta in the Spring of 2000. As a direct result of these presentations, more and more discussions are taking place with other NGO's from across Canada wanting to use Stardale as the hub and an exemplary model in structuring their programs. This process is has been developed. Stardale had organized a 1-day workshop and open house February 17, 2001 for the members of other NGO's to visit our Center and explore our programs and surroundings, and meet with some of the women participants who have attended our programs. Warriors: "Once Were Warriors" Tour Frontier Centre of Public Policy and Stardale Women’s Group collaborated to bring Alan Duff of New Zealand on a tour of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Alan is the author of the popular book “Once were Warriors” , which was made into a movie. The book is compelling and draws attention to the violence in an impoverished Maori family. The blame for Maori underperformance he puts squarely back on Maori, for not making the most of the opportunities given them. This somewhat simplistic message has proved highly controversial. Apparently relishing rather than resigning from the fight, Duff has gone on to prove his point with the Books in Homes scheme launched in 1995. With commercial sponsorship and government support, this scheme aims to break the cycle of illiteracy, poverty, anger and violence among underprivileged children by making books available to them to own at minimal cost, thus encouraging them to read and to enjoy and value reading. This self-help approach, which in its first year put 180,000 new books in the hands of 38,000 children, reflects the path of Duff’s own remarkable career. The impact of the movie “Once were Warriors” has stimulated public reaction within New Zealand, which began to generate change for the urban Maori community. On the world scene Warriors, has compelled others who have Indigenous populations to examine the “real” issues that keep that group in bondage and oppression. In the Warriors tour there is a correlation between Allen Duff’s message and the need to address the hard issues of the Aboriginal communities through revitalization. It is about taking affirmative action and moving away from dependency and poverty. Both Frontier and Stardale believe that Alan Duff’s message needed to get out to Canadian communities, with the hope bringing about change.
Girl Violence and All Girl Gangs Based on its research, focus groups and community programming, Stardale developed a story–line on Aboriginal girl gangs. The working title is “Gangsta Girls”. This documentary addresses the rising concern of Aboriginal adolescent female involvement in gangs. A clip was produced and looks at identifying and understanding the life of the “Gangsta Girl”. This production identifies who is the “Gangsta Girl” and provides insight to understand the preventable factors that contribute to the making of one. This documentary opens the dialogue about “Gangsta Girls” and proposes techniques to break the growing phenomenon of this lifestyle choice by raising awareness on how to build resilient communities that take a stand for the prevention of violence and collaborate to improve the quality of lives for Aboriginal adolescent females. Included in the PITCH clip for the documentary are segments of testimony of three Aboriginal adolescent females, all survivors of neglect, abandonment, and rejection. This documentary breaks any stereotypical myth of the Aboriginal adolescent by filming the experiences facing Canada’s Aboriginal adolescent population. It is these perceptions that continue to perpetuate these cycles of destructive behaviours that the producers of this documentary seek to address. These blatant images produce the tearful reality of Aboriginal adolescents and expose the harmful effects of ill-willed (racist) social policy directed at this people group for generations (or apathetic communities?). Today we continue to witness the impact on the lives of innocent victims in heart wrenching ways. Young lives torn apart by generations of hopelessness and despair continue to perpetuate these grotesque cycles of violence. The production will give the viewer the hard facts and invites an open dialogue to address the growing demand to improve the quality of lives for all Canadians, including the people of Aboriginal descent. The film tweaks society’s social and moral conscience. And it asks the hard questions. The clip has the potential to be an educational tool for Aboriginal schools, for groups involved in literacy programs, for emerging artists and for community groups. See the clip below:
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From the data kept, Stardale has a 95% success rate of women who attend the programming and who complete. |
See the Warriors tour poster here in PDF
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