Raising money to battle drug and alcohol addiction

July 19 marked the fourth annual golf tournament fundraiser for the First Nation Restoration Center, an addictions clinic located in Lac Seul First Nation.
“This tournament has been in operation for the past four or five years, so the center doesn’t get any funding from any organizations or the government,” said Glen Whiskeychan, the golf tournament organizer.
Whiskeychan said he helps the organization through hosting these tournaments and all funds raised go to the center.
“Sadly we had ten teams show up this year,” said Whiskeychan, marking the typical catch of teams being somewhere around 16 or 18. “People have not really been interested in participating in golf tournaments, and I’ve noticed that in different places where other golf courses were affected by the late winter we had.”
The 10 teams that enrolled in the tournament this year brought a total of 40 players.
As a result of a low turn out, the tournament received less donations from different companies and organizations.
“As a result, because it does cost money to pay the greens for the day, for each player, plus the meal, I think we’re just going to be making less than $5,000 because of lack of support or donations,” said Whiskeychan.
In previous years, the tournament would raise upwards of $14,000 for the restoration center in Kejick Bay.
Whiskeychan said he was happy they went ahead and did the tournament.
“We’re helping people who are struggling with drug and alcohol addictions get back on their feet,” he said. “And that’s the whole reason for this golf tournament.”
Morris Chisel, a member of Lac Seul First Nation and one of the directors for the First Nations Restoration Center, said the center focuses on helping men and women deal with addiction.
“We started out working with men, but then we found out we could not work with just men without working with their wives, their girlfriends, their common laws,” said Chisel. “So we have a facility that accommodates six couples.”
Chisel said he would like to see more Aboriginal people come and take part in the tournaments in the future.
Frank Head, one of the major sponsors for the tournament and owner of Oshtugon Computers in Sioux Lookout, said the tournament was for a good cause.
“They’re focusing on addictions and recovering addicts from whatever those addictions may be, and offering support to young men and young families that need to turn things around,” said Head. “It’s a good cause, it does a world of good for the people involved.”