Wikwemikong parent council hosts youth forum

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Members of the Wikwemikong parent council have called upon the youth of this Manitoulin Island community to exert a positive influence upon each other. In a youth issues gathering held at Wasse-Abin High School Sept. 18, the students were urged to make healthy choices in their teen years.

A panel of social service workers presented tips on "helping friends make good choices." Parent council representatives Lloyd McGregor, Shirley Shigwadja and Sharon Assiniwe were on hand to refer students to community agencies for information on individual concerns.

One of the primary goals of the parent council is drop-out prevention. High school counsellor Erika Manitowabi gave an overview of factors that cause some students to quit before graduating. Fear of failure drives some young people away from their studies. Sometimes overwhelming personal problems or lack of reliable childcare leads to early departure from high school. In some cases, bullying incidents are to blame, she said.

Manitowabi painted a gloomy picture for drop-outs. "If you don't finish school, you might end up on social assistance," she advised. "Leaving school early means you get low-paying jobs; you end up with lowered self-esteem. Dropping out diminishes your choices, so don't give up on school. It's a decision you will regret for the rest of your life."

The consequences of dropping out include increased risk of teen pregnancy for young women and increased likelihood of incarceration for young men, Manitowabi warned. "So encourage your friends to stay in school. Be there to support your friends; offer to help them with their homework, give positive compliments on the work they do and join different activities together. It also helps if you give each other wake-up calls in the morning to make sure you get to school," she suggested.

"Value your education," she concluded. "Make the most of your high school years. Stick to your guns and don't give up no matter how rough it gets."

Dorothy Fox, a student counsellor at Pontiac School in Wikwemikong, also underscored the importance of peer support. In her address she zeroed in on the effects of bullying in schoolyards.

"Bullying has always been around," she acknowledged. "But today more young people are speaking out about the issue."

She encouraged youngsters to listen to the advice of adults on this sensitive topic. "Don't dismiss the life experiences of older people," she said.

"Bullying is a choice," Fox emphasized. "The put-downs, insults and violations of the spirit eventually become overwhelming. The victim may be too terrified or embarrassed to talk about it."

The motivation of the bully is not easily understood, according to Fox. Revenge and jealousy may play a role. Or the perpetrator may be seeking attention or be showing off.

Usually there are witnesses. Bystanders often feel helpless, hopeless and powerless, she noted. Sometimes they are reluctant to object because they fear becoming a target.

Anger is always a byproduct of bullying, according to Fox. She recommends that students work out their feelings with a counsellor in the school or the community.

In a very moving testimonial, a young mother took the podium after Fox. In an emotional appeal she pleaded with her fellow students to learn from her example. "I chose to have my baby," she confided. "I have no regrets about that but it was a very hard decision. I was out of school for a year and a half. I went through a lot of frustration."

She thanked her parents for supporting her through the difficult choices. "It's sad to see other girls who are not supported," she said. "It's hard because you can't get a job. Your high school is interrupted and you've lost your freedom. You can't do the things you want.

"My advice to you is to finish school and college," she said. "Looking back, it's sad to look at where I could have been right now. I'm 21 now and I would have been finished school."

What to do when friends are heading down the wron road with substance abuse was next on the agenda.

Donald Trudeau, an addictions worker, told the audience to heed the message delivered by the older generation. He shared some of his own youthful indiscretions with the students and assured his listeners that resources are available to help them make healthy choices.

"In the past only skid row people were alcoholics," Trudeau commented. "But now many high school kids who drink on weekends may be headed for a lifetime of alcohol abuse. We want you to analyze your drinking habits and talk to your parents and teachers about alcohol. Don't be in a mad rush to use alcohol and drugs and don't just get information from each other.

"Alcohol is a depressant that slows down your brain function and leads to impairment of judgment," he cautioned. "The personality and the mood of the drinker changes. Some drinkers react by withdrawing; others react by engaging in violence. I worry about how little thought goes into youth alcohol consumption. Some kids just go to parties and drink with no thought."

The reality of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects should also be a wake-up call, he suggested. He reminded the youth that alcohol impedes fetal development and creates long-term damage.

"We always think that it (alcoholism) won't happen to us," Trudeau observed. "Remember you do have a choice. The decisions you make today will affect you for the rest of your life. Do lots of reading and learn all you can about alcohol and if you need help there are people all over this community willing to listen."

June Manitowabi, a child welfare worker, echoed Trudeau's message. She reiterated the importance of "helping friends make good choices."

She reminded the students that Native child welfare agencies exist to provide young people with a safe haven in time of need. Regrettably, there is a shortage of Native foster homes, but in cases of neglect the Children's Aid Society is mandated to contact First Nations workers firstbefore intervening.

"Friends are obligated to report abuse whether it be physical, sexual or emotional," she said. "A real friend helps a friend to have a better life."

Court worker Peggy Pitawanakwat also appealed to the students to take advantage of services available in their community.

Since she has worked in the justice system since 1994, she has observed many Aboriginal youth caught up in a destructive cycle. Some youngsters get in trouble at the tender age of ten, end up in the court system at age 12, enter custody at age 13 and eventually get trapped in a downward spiral.

In fact, Pitawanakwat stated, many youth move from institution to institution without ever having family or social issues addressed.

Despite the discouraging pattern, she said she never gives up on these youngsters. "We always have to have hope that the individual will see the values we teach in the community," she said.

In closing, she said, "Don't go to jail to get your education. Learn your skills at home, not in an institution."

Wasse Abin principal Yana Bauer reinforced the theme of the day in her closing remarks. "Everything we do in life is a habit whether it be a positive one or a negative one," she said. "I urge you to see life as an opportunity to do wonderful things for yourself and your community. Make good choices for yourself and be a positive role model for others."