Blood Tribe Recreation Hosts Gloves Not Guns Youth Mentorship Workshop
By Amber Sugai, Blood Tribe Communications Officer
Blood Tribe Recreation & Parks partnered with Pivot Society and hosted a Gloves Not Guns Workshop for students and Blood Tribe Members on January 27 and 28, 2026, at the Multi-Purpose Building. The workshop aimed to bring awareness to the kids about what gangs look like today and how they are targeting younger youth through media. Everyone in attendance learned about online safety, viral challenges, bullying, and peer pressure.
Pivot Society partnered with Indigenous Sports Council of Alberta (ISCA) to work with communities to help connect the dots and fill in missing gaps in the system. Their mission is working with justice involved youth, helping youth and adults exit the criminal justice system or gang lifestyle.
T.J. Sheehan, Facilitator of the Gloves Not Guns workshop, explained his story and how he got tied into a gang and his journey of exiting a gang. The workshops feature ex-gang members or someone who has been to federal prison to highlight the negative consequences of the lifestyle.
Sheehan explained Gloves Not Guns is a boxing program for the youth to exert all the negative energy in a healthy way, teaching the kids discipline. After boxing they have a sharing circle to give the youth a safe space to talk, to be vulnerable, and to discuss their challenges.
“We have to figure out how we can build that generational mentorship to start to replace some of that generational trauma,” said Sheehan.
Councillor Marcel Weasel Head was in attendance for the evening workshop. He likes the community to have events such as ‘Gloves Not Guns’ to bring awareness to Blood Tribe members about the dangers of gang violence and to help keep our children safe.
“As a community we tell ourselves that we can make an impact, that we can do it. I believe that we can, we need to continue to create that awareness,” said Weasel Head.
The evening wrapped up with a gift from Recreation to Sheehan, door prizes for attendees, and food. Recreation & Parks would like to thank Pivot Society, ISCA, and everyone who came out for the workshops.
“Our youth are the next generation of leaders, doctors, construction workers, community members. If we don’t invest in them now then the future we behold right now is going to be different,” said Sheehan.
