Youth are empowered by self-driven program

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Things are definitely looking up for High Prairie youth looking for a place to hang out, become active in their community and have fun.

It was an evening the town's young people had long anticipated when the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centre Grand Opening officially took place Feb. 15. The celebration took place in the High Prairie Native Friendship Centre.

The UMAYC initiative was announced by Heritage Minister Sheila Copps in 1999. It is run to the greatest possible extent by Aboriginal youths themselves in the 14-to-24 age bracket. It involves co-operation with off-reserve, urban, non-profit, local Aboriginal organizations in six Western Canadian cities as well as regional affiliates. They are organizations such as the friendship centre which have demonstrated sound management of Aboriginal-driven programs and accountability to the Aboriginal community, as well as the ability to work with non-Native agencies and government partners.

Aboriginal youth advisory committees based in Edmonton develop local plans, set priorities, develop and carry out local training and assistance strategies for Aboriginal youth, review proposals for UMAYC funding and make funding recommendations to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

In the first year of the UMAYC program, 2001-2002, the High Prairie Friendship Centre found and renovated a building to house activities for local youth. The youth are involved in all aspects of management and administration, the idea being to strengthen their economic, social and personal prospects far beyond the centre.

The board hired a youth co-ordinator to oversee renovations, purchase supplies, plan and implement activities, supervise participants, complete reports and make recommendations for future programming.

A youth worker was also hired to help with much of the above, as well as plan and implement fundraising events.

Many local business people and individuals contributed time and help with renovations.

Advertisements went out to start a youth group.

Elections were held for the first executive of the High Prairie Youth Group in November 2001. In addition to L'Hirondelle and Shaw, a secretary, Russell Manybears, and a treasurer, Berlinda Auger, took office.

All area youth get to use the facility, whether or not they belong to the youth group. The youth group has already provided the opportunity for some youth to attend the Dream Catcher Youth Conference in Edmonton and the breakdance competition in Slave Lake.

The centre has been successful in obtaining funding for the 2002-2003 year.

Already into its second year of programming, the UMAYC facility is offering 16 self-esteem sessions bi-weekly, 46 cultural awareness sessions weekly and 45 recreation sessions weekly. In addition, a daily homework group will operate for the duration of the project and an independent Elders group will be available weekly to the youth. An arts and crafts segment is planned to operate weekly for about nine months and there will be several employment-related workshops over the same period.

As well, addictions counselling will be offered weekly in partnership with AADAC And of course there will be a daily drop-in centre.

Elder Victoria Calliou was called upon to deliver the blessing.

Official ribbon cutters were youth group president Cameron L'Hirondelle and vice-president Derek Shaw.

The youth group executive and friendship centre board was introduced by Youth Co-ordinator Lorraine Shaw.

This was followed by a traditional dance performance and speech by National Native Youth Role Model Stan Isadore, and an address by the Metis National Youth Role Model for Culture and Heritage, Kim Mueller.

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Pearl Calahasen spoke, as did High Prairie town councillor Jamie Babcock and High Prairie Native Friendship President Willie Giroux and Metis Nation of Alberta Zone 5 Vice-President Trevor Gladue.

Hoop dancer Petie Chalifoux from Driftpile gave the fnal performance, which was followed by refreshments.