Youth needs require action

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Harvey McCue, a retired former school teacher, is president of First Nations Youth at Risk (FNYAR), a Vancouver-based agency that grew out of an anti-tobacco crusade initiated by a group of First Nations youth and social workers at a conference in 2002.

The group that was originally named First Nations Youth Anti-Smoking had funded three pilot projects that they presented at this year's Vancouver conference as examples of successful community action against high rates of smoking among Aboriginal youth.

Conference delegates confirmed the group in its view that the anti-smoking projects, which had been sponsored to the tune of $75,000 apiece by Imperial Tobacco Canada, had done such a good job of addressing teen issues such as low self-esteem, boredom, and self-destructive behaviours, that the youth group decided to expand its mandate recently to target all at-risk behaviours by Aboriginal Youth across Canada, not just smoking.

Imperial Tobacco stepped up to the plate again, sponsoring eight more projects recommended by the newly minted First Nations Youth at Risk organization at $50,000 a pop. One hundred and nineteen First Nations had applied for the money. The tobacco company has also paid all FNYAR's administrative costs up to now.

McCue, FNYAR's only paid employee, said he has no qualms of conscience accepting sponsorship money to aid the group's projects from any legal source, even if the sponsor is a tobacco company.

McCue admits that "so far" Imperial Tobacco is FNYAR's major sponsor and he has "not a bit" of concern about any perceived conflict between the goals of the tobacco giant and his youth group.

McCue said "First Nations youth in all of our communities are experiencing serious difficulties, and as far as I know the programming dollars that target youth at risk ... is pretty minor, and if I can raise money from any legal source that helps communities work with their youth at risk, then I am prepared to do so.

"I went to the federal government (Health Canada) to support First Nations Youth at Risk. There was no support. I went to the private sector, and Imperial Tobacco stepped up and said this is something we're prepared to assist, and I gladly accepted their money.

"I can cheerfully and truthfully say that there were no conditions attached to their money. They have not asked for, nor would they have received had they asked, any community recognition of their involvement. They have been completely hands off in terms of our organization, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

McCue said he initially went to Health Canada because as a former employee of Indian Affairs he knew that department "is no longer involved in health-related issues" and had no money for these kinds of projects.

He said Health Canada's refusal was explained this way: "They preferred to have money go out to the regional offices and then the regions would flow money to communities, much in the same way that Indian Affairs flows money to First Nations communities. And they just couldn't see within that process diverting any funds to a charitable, not-for-profit organization. So they said 'Sorry'."

McCue said he approached Health Canada the first time in 1999 or 2000 and again in 2002 without result. He had thought FNYAR, which funds and supports communities developing programs to address the needs of children and youth, would fare better the second time, as they had proof in the pudding, as it were, in the form of three successful pilot projects.

"They were for all intents and purposes very successful, both in terms of the result and in terms of the process, and I think I can say with some conviction that we are a responsible group and here is the evidence and I think we have earned your support."

When Health Canada didn't see it that way, "The only recourse was to continue to secure private sector funding, and Imperial was there."

McCue said FNYAR lobbied private sector players other thantobacco companies, and "the response has been pretty good.

"I'm just about to start a fundraising campaign with the oil and gas sector."

FNYAR hosted a conference for First Nation youth and youth workers last April at Musqueam First Nation in Vancouver, to share ideas and strategies for dealing with youth at risk.

Presentations were made by FNYAR First Nations from Cape Mudge, Lytton, and Fort St. James, B.C.; from Dene 'Tha, Alta.; and from Sheshegwaning and Pikangikum, Ont.; God's Lake, Man.; and Ochapowace, Sask. McCue delivered opening remarks and there were speeches by Minister of Public Works and Government Services Stephen Owen; Minister of Health Services for British Columbia Colin Hanson; Minister of State for Children and Youth, Ethel Blondin-Andrew; executive director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Agency, Cindy Blackstock; parliamentary secretary to the Indian Affairs minister, Larry Bagnell; and vice-president of corporate affairs for Imperial Tobacco Canada, Pierre Fortier.

After showing that he had a solid understanding of FNYAR's mandate and successes, Fortier made a commitment and issued a challenge in the course of his talk.