In Délı̨nę, N.W.T., Boxing is helping youth stay active and mentally healthy

When Tyrell Modeste finishes a workout at Délı̨nę's boxing gym in N.W.T. he says he feels "brand new."

"It makes me feel refreshed," he said. "Like my body just restarted or something."

Modeste began boxing at the gym when it opened around three years ago, and he is one of several young people in the 575-person community who say that it has improved their physical and mental health.

The Délı̨nę boxing and fitness program was started by community member and long-time boxer Tyrone Yukon, who is also Modeste's dad. Yukon runs the gym and coaches boxing, all on a volunteer basis.

The Délı̨nę Gotine Government provided the facility, and funds the program. Local contractors and residents have also donated free services to fix up the gym and keep it going.

Kayden Neyelle, 20, started coming to the gym last summer. He says he got hooked when he realized how much it benefited his mental health.

"In school, sometimes I kind of get upset and mad, or kind of stressed," he said. 

"Every time I go to the boxing gym in a bad mood, just going there and finishing a good workout, boxing… coming out it just feels good."

Yukon said it's rewarding to see youth grow through the program.

"The transformation is amazing, you know I notice it with everything, on their boxing, on their strength, just growing up in general," he said.

Big dreams for boxing in the Sahtu

Délı̨nę's boxing program is still small, but Yukon has big dreams for it.

Yukon recently took three Délı̨nę youth to a boxing clinic in Edmonton — a chance for them to spar with strong boxers, learn new techniques, and fight in a real boxing ring.

He said he will keep organizing these trips when he can, but he would also like to see more competition closer to home.

Délı̨nę Boxing and Fitness has a boxing ring, but they don't have space to set it up in their current facility. Last summer, they were able to set it up at the ice rink, but Yukon is looking for a bigger space where they can keep it up year-round.

He would also like to start boxing clubs in other Sahtu communities so they can have local competitions in the region.

"Sky's the limit," he said.