Youth Leadership Program graduates honoured at Mount McKay
By Rick Garrick
Pic River’s Precious Anderson was one of 12 Dinowigehmin – Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program graduates honoured at the National Aboriginal Day celebrations on Mt. McKay.
“Over the past few months we’ve been working on a community access project,” Anderson says. “We put on a one-day workshop and covered issues like racism, identity, teen pregnancy and mental health and addiction.”
The workshop was delivered for youth aged 15-29 on June 16 at the Blue Sky Community Healing Centre in Thunder Bay.
“About 15-20 people showed up to our workshop that day, and most of us participated as well,” Anderson says. “I’m hoping this project runs again for other youth. I would like to do the Leadership Thunder Bay program in the future.”
The Leadership Thunder Bay program provides participants with a broader understanding of the critical issues affecting Thunder Bay and the leadership skills necessary to resolve them.
About 15 youth aged 18-29 participated in the Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program through a partnership between Leadership Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre. The joint pilot-project, which began last year with 12 participants, was funded through a three-year $98,000 investment from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. In addition to Anderson, the participants included Marilyn Boyce, Samantha Crowe, Lucy Fowler, Amanda Huneault, River Kakegamic, Hailey McKay, Ziigwan Moses, Caitlin Jourdain Spence, Dylan Jourdain Spence, Aungelle Wabigwan, Linden Waboose, Madison Wigwas and Mariah Wigwas.
The program kicked off with an orientation, followed by professional learning days and a final graduation celebration.
“We are all from different backgrounds (and) different communities, so bringing us all together we grew and we got to know each and got really close throughout the program,” Anderson says. “And it helped me to connect with the Metis Nation of Ontario, where Lucy (Fowler) works. I didn’t know about their programs, like their victim services program. I didn’t realize it was open to anybody.”
The interactive program is based on the Seven Grandfather Teachings, with a focus on a variety of topics, including communications, negotiating, First Nations history, the political environment and volunteerism.
“Teamwork was definitely something that we learned,” Anderson says. “We only saw each other every couple of weeks, so a lot of our work was done on a Facebook group that we made.”
The program was designed as a premier leadership development opportunity for Aboriginal youth, with curriculum provided by Elders and other community role models. The goal was to create a network of Aboriginal youth who can work together to build a strong community.
“I hope the skills I learned, I can use towards putting on other events or things geared towards Aboriginal youth,” Anderson says. “I think it is important to empower our youth.”
Application forms and information on next year’s program are currently available on the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre website at www.tbifc.ca/index.php/special-events and the Leadership Thunder Bay website at www.leadershiptb.com/join/aboriginal-youth/.