At 17 years old, Stephanie Cameron-Johnson never considered herself a morning person.

But all the times the Langford resident had to wake up at 4:50 a.m. this summer were well worth the chance to make new friends, go to sea and fire a gun.

She graduated with 48 other aboriginal youth last Thursday from the militaryB次元官网网址檚 seven-week Raven Aboriginal Youth Initiative, open to aboriginals throughout Canada who are 16 to 29 years old.

B次元官网网址淵ou really had to push yourself,B次元官网网址� she said, adding the cadets worked together to make it through the early mornings and intense training regimen. B次元官网网址淵ou really need your teammates. You canB次元官网网址檛 do it by yourself.B次元官网网址�

The program, which exposes young aboriginals to life in the military, is the reason Cameron-Johnson is considering a career in the Canadian Forces.

B次元官网网址淚t was like the best summer I ever had,B次元官网网址� she said.

The course is about changing young lives, Lt.-Gov. Steven Point told the crowd.

B次元官网网址淎boriginal people have come through a tremendously difficult time over the last 150 years, but every generation of aboriginal men and women have stepped forward and veterans are here today to attest to that.B次元官网网址�

Some of the aboriginal veterans at the ceremony fought in the Second World War and the Korean War.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been in the Korean War,B次元官网网址� said Langford resident Ken Himes, proudly wearing a chest full of medals. B次元官网网址淣ot many people know about it.B次元官网网址�

Many Canadians arenB次元官网网址檛 aware that aboriginals also served their country, said Alex Maurice, president of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of the old veterans were quiet about it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey put the medals in their pockets.B次元官网网址�

Cameron-Johnson is a proud addition to that aboriginal lineage in the military, and quickly rhymes off the ranks of military personnel standing nearby.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e a master seaman,B次元官网网址� she excitedly told one man. B次元官网网址淚 never knew that before.B次元官网网址�

emccracken@vicnews.com