Bold Eagle military training builds confidence in Indigenous youth

More than 80 young Indigenous recruits from Western Canada became soldiers after graduating from the Bold Eagle program in Wainwright on Thursday.

The program partners Indigenous culture with basic training to prepare young privates to join the Canadian Armed Forces.

"Since I've completed the program successfully, I want to join the regular force afterwards," said Evangeline Nepoose, who received top honours for her time in the six-week program.

The 21-year-old is from Maskwacis, 95 km south of Edmonton. She said the Bold Eagle program has changed her entire outlook.

"It's just the time management, the self-discipline, the respect, the pride that you feel in yourself and the confidence," she said. "When everything comes together it's amazing and you can really see the difference in yourself."

Master Cpl. Kayla Boston graduated from the program six years ago and returned as an instructor this summer.

"Because I graduated in 2010 and stuck with the Canadian Forces, I wanted to see what it was like for those that instructed me," Boston said.

She said it was amazing to watch the participants over the course of the six weeks, as they learned about military discipline and teamwork.

"It's important to see the changes that they have from Day 1, from being individuals to eventually growing into a team, into a platoon," she said.

Boston hopes to see many of the graduates join the reserves or the regular Forces. Even if they don't, she said, the experience will have been worth it.

"They're able to take this knowledge that they learned here … and bring it back to their own community to hopefully support their community, and they can be leaders in their community."