Edmonton hosts 3rd annual Metis youth conference

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Edmonton's Crowne Plaza Hotel was the scene for the third national Metis Youth Conference held Feb. 25 to 27. This year's conference "Our Time is Here - Health and Metis Youth 2000," had youth delegates attend from the three prairie provinces and British Columbia.

Workshops included restoration of the Michif language by Norman Fleury; Learn your History with Bob Stevenson and Ed Swain; AIDS 101 - Living with HIV with Duanne Maureausu; a workshop on jigging by the Edmonton Metis Cultural Dance Society; a jam session during lunch with fiddlers Jess Lee and Joe Blyan; the 5th Generation's workshop on Substance Abuse Issues Affecting Youth; and Eat Your Greens and Potato Chips Too by facilitator Vanessa Nardelli, among others.

Senator Thelma Chalifoux; Ethel Blondin-Andrew, the Secretary of State for Children and Youth; Gerald Morin, president of the Metis National Council; Yvon Dumont, Governor of the Metis National Council; and Metis Nation of Alberta president, Audrey Poitras were on hand to make speeches for the opening of the conference.

"The feedback we got after the conference was great. The workshops were extremely successful. They were well attended. A lot of the youth felt that they left with a lot of information and knowledge. They felt that it was an excellent conference," said Gerald Morin. "How this all started was the youth themselves have taken a lot of the initiative. They made a presentation to the Metis National Council and then started to organize themselves," he said.

So far the youth have hosted three conferences in the last three years. The previous ones were in Toronto and Winnipeg.

The youth represent each of the five Western provinces. In 1995, Metis youth began to organize themselves when they made recommendations to the Metis National Council in Ottawa.

"They wanted to be more involved in the affairs of the Metis National Council and wanted to play a more integral role in the issues that were moving forward in the Metis National Council," said Morin. "They recommended the establishment of a youth wing. Based on that presentation, the leadership in the Metis National Council started to work with the Metis youth."

In 1997, Ottawa established what is now called the Metis National Youth Advisory Council. Since then, the youth have played a major role in the affairs of the Metis National Council. Today at least one third of the programming is dedicated to Metis youth.

The conference, attended by more than 100 youth, focused not only on Metis heritage but on health issues.

"The conference was very informative and welcoming. It was helpful to me. I can jig very well now. I also have some ideas for the youth and peers back home on writing proposals," said Ashley Norton, 17, a delegate from Regina, Sask. "In the nutrition workshop I learned how much fat was in a bag of chips, and how much fat was in burgers, and I also met a lot of Metis youth," she said.

The crowd at Saturday evening's banquet were entertained by the group The 5th Generation, country singer Jennifer Waniandy, Des Michif Band and a Youth Talent Contest.

"Very exciting to have Metis youth here who have never seen this type of conference before," said Pauline Huppie, a culture and heritage youth programs assistant from Ottawa. "We have a lot of talented, smart and active youth who have a lot to offer. It makes me proud knowing that they are enthusiastic about their culture," she said.

Metis Elders Victor Letendre and Alveena Strasbourg did the closing and opening prayers.

Letendre offered words of wisdom to the youth during the closing ceremony.

"Never give up on what you want to be. Use today. Take it. It is yours. Take your choices. Do not let them go by. If I could see people the way other people see me, I will do good. Many times we do not try to see how others see us. In your journey you will stumble and fall many times, but you have to pick yourself up. I found a way. I put my trust on the Creator, the maker of heavn and earth. I found that he loves everyone the same way," he said.

Morin stressed that it was important to have Elders attend the youth conferences.

"I think that the Elders are very important to our community. I always like coming to the youth conferences because I always get a lot out of the youth and Elders," he said.

The Metis National Youth Advisory Council is already making plans for another conference.

"They are already talking about a fourth conference, maybe in November," said Morin. "I'm very impressed with all of the youth. They are well educated and intelligent. As far as I'm concerned, our leadership in the future is going to be in good hands with these talented young people," he said.