The Wardens and Bards of a Feather are flocking together on May 23 at Canmore’s Miners’ Union Hall for a fundraising benefit concert for Morley’s Foxtrot Ranch.
Foxtrot Ranch is a non-profit that is based with the Stoney Nakoda and uses traditional equine healing to help youth and community members deal with issues such as: suicide prevention, addictions and other physical and emotional challenges. Joseph Fox (of Foxtrot Ranch) is the last of his people who has the traditional knowledge of how to heal people with equine therapy, said organizer Houston Peschl.
“It’s a fundraiser for Stoney First Nations and the Fox family and their equine operation, and we’re certainly looking forward to that one and we’re happy to help out and play,” said Wardens member Bradley Bischoff.
According to the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association, equine therapy is used to help individuals in, “Development of mobility, balance and co-ordination; increased concentration and improved learning skills; independence, integration and a sense of achievement and development of self confidence and motivation.”
“We’ve never had anything with equine therapy or healing before out on Morley and it’s the very first time for our people out there and I’m proud to get it going,” Fox said. “It involves the four quadrants – the mental, spiritual, emotional and physical – aspect of horses and you do a lot of your healing through horses. I am there, but as a coach and to assist the horses – the horses are the actual healers.”
Fox grew up with horses and says it added in a lot of self-esteem and they help in learning a lot about oneself and to appreciate others’ respect for life.
“Our ancestral background includes horses and we’ve lost a lot of that,” Fox said. “When my late father passed away there was an equine assisted learning program going on in Morley and I was invited to do a one-day session where I was given a contract.”
Fox’s natural skills with horses quickly spread, and he was further encouraged to take his talents to the next step in starting Foxtrot Ranch. “I just grew and learned more; a lot of youth were dying, I’ve lost five relatives to suicide in this past year ... and I’ve seen a lot of healing and forgiveness,” Fox said. “I just go back to what my grandfather used to say – ‘don’t ever lose who you are, what you are and the trades we have.’ ”
“This is an opportunity to have an authentic cross-cultural experience and that’s really profound for people that live in this area,” said Bards of a Feather member David Lertzman. “I know there are a lot of people who would love to connect with Morley and that culture, but don’t really know how. This is an opportunity to support something that’s coming from the community that’s real.”
Tickets for the concert are available in person at Canmore’s Bicycle Cafe (630 8 St.) and online at: http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/benefit-concert-foxtrot-ranch-the-commemorative-jack-fox-trail-ride-tickets-15833167430.
