A local author is hoping to help the healing for Indigenous youth by highlighting the rich culture that he expects many don’t know about.
John Langan is a constable with the Saskatoon Police Service and he has also served with the Canadian Armed Forces for 14 years.
He says the goal is to help youth find the way to healing through cultural identity, because just knowing there is a problem doesn’t solve it, so he decided to take action.
The first section of A Spark in the Dark is a memoir about his experiences losing his father to suicide and his stepdad to drugs.
Langan says he overcame racism, poverty, violence, alcohol and a drug environment by holding on to his cultural identity.
The second section is a cultural map of sorts for all the youth who don’t have Elders to learn from.
A Spark in the Dark is available through Langan’s website, at local bookstores and through Amazon.
Langan says most people think of pow wows and round dances when they think of Indigenous culture, but there is so much more than that with many ceremonial dances and spiritual traditions.
He hopes this will be a positive resource for youth.
A portion of the proceeds in the first year will go to Wounded Warriors Canada.
The organization supports veterans, first responders and their families.
(CJWW)
