The Northern Cultural Expressions Society (NCES) wrapped up their skateboard workshops for Indigenous youth Monday.

The 11-13 group had their workshop on Monday. The eight to ten group had their workshop Friday, and the youngest group, aged five to seven, took their turn Monday.

There is a limit of six kids in each group, as per COVID protocols. Four children took part on Monday, four took part on Friday, and three or four more are expected today.

The older age groups assembled their skateboards at the NCES office on Titanium Way. They then went out to Carcross and Mt. Lorne to check out the parks there.

The youngest group stuck around the NCES office on Monday, where they built their boards and tried them out afterwards.

According to one of the instructors, Harlen Koyczan, age 14, building the boards takes about 30 minutes, but it all depends on what you like doing and what you want to add on yourself, like stickers for instance.

NCES Executive Director Naomi Crey explains how the workshop came about.

"It kind of came from home when I was looking at my two older boys kind of laying around a little bit bored. Some of their friends were locked away for isolation purposes during COVID, and I thought, 'You, know, there's going to be some other kids that are doing the same thing, kind of alone, they're bored, and a little lonely.'

"So I said to my boys – I know they're avid skateboarders – 'Would you be interested in putting together a skate club?' and they said 'Yeah', and I said 'Can you get ahold of some of your buddies who might also be interested in being instructors, mentors?' And they said 'Yeah, sure.' So they called around to their friends and we put a call out on our social media and on the ArtsNet and then we wrangled up five mentors, we're calling them. And they're between the ages of 15 and 18 years old.

"That also happens to be the age group that's the hardest to engage in programming. So it was kind of a good way of involving that group of people, and sort of giving them a role and a responsibility and they also are paid to come in and teach. So we got our crew. And I'm really impressed with them."

Crey says the program is allowing the young instructors to develop an impressive skill set.

"As far as programming for them, they've had to open up bank accounts, they've had to build programming, they've had some training by a pro skater, Vance Hutchinson, who showed them how to get decks together, talked to them about skateboard etiquette, how to work with kids … they come in here earlier before these kids arrive and get their snacks and lay out all the gear and get organized, so it's … there's a lot of really good skills for the older guys."

She is also thrilled with the natural bonding that's gone on between the instructors and their young students.

"I'm just so impressed with the way that they bond with the younger ones. This is their second camp. and it's just natural, and I try to stay out of the way and let them develop their relationships."

Crey adds they are waiting for the grand opening to happen at the new skate park in Riverdale before they start taking their skate club down there.