New Youth Centre at Onion Lake

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It's after eight. The stars are out and so are the kids. Do you know where your children are?

Is help and support for young people on your reserve just a phone call away? Or have you been left in the dark?

Since the start-up of a new youth centre last fall, these are questions that are a lot easier to answer now for parents and caregivers at Onion Lake First Nation.

Thanks to the vision of Chief Wally Fox, his council, the Onion Lake justice department and cultural advisor Glen Littlewolf, attendance at the new youth centre has snowballed from a small trickle to more than 40 to 50 kids a day dropping in on a regular basis.

You can't help but notice the big OPEN sign in the front window by the main door, a sign that really does mean open - morning, noon and night.

"It's the open door policy that's designed to keep our kids off the streets and out of trouble," said Littlewolf. "If it isn't open, then it's closed. And if it's closed, then where do the kids have to go? What have they got to do? And how can they stay out of trouble?"

Youth of all ages are taking advantage of the new facility, which offers a snack bar, television and video, ping pong and pool tables, exercise and weight lifting equipment, including a row of punching bags.

Housed close to the arena and mall, the youth centre is coordinated by youth worker Michelle Cook and a group of volunteers that is spearheaded by Littlewolf.

"It is more of a struggle to meet the needs of our youth in a rural reserve community because we lack a lot of the facilities taken for granted in the city," said Littlewolf. "We are deeply concerned about children walking around on rural roads with nothing to do. This centre can keep them out of trouble, give them a place to hang out with their friends, and most importantly, lets us keep a friendly eye on them. We're here to give them our support, a snack or someone to talk to."

Something else that really helps the community to keep tabs on the kids, whether they're seven or 17, is the sign in-sign out policy, a good way to help keep track of everybody's whereabouts.

Another security measure, designed to curb late night problems, is a free phone home and shuttle service for young people who live on the far east side of the reserve and have no other way to get home safely.

The new youth centre is a good place to have fun and blow off some steam, explained Littlewolf, especially when drop-in volunteers like boxing champion Bryan Whitstone show the kids the ropes on the punching bags.

As a cultural advisor and ambassador for the band and justice department, Littlewolf stresses the importance of the youth centre as a significant part of both prevention and healing for the youth of the community.

"An important part of the sentencing, restitution and healing process for our troubled youth lies in the community service, in order to be recognized and get the trust back from the community, because most of the offences happen right here at home," he said.

For young offenders, giving service to both Elders and youth is part of the restitution package. They learn to reconnect with the community and show that they care. Volunteer work at the youth centre is part of that, as are paid summer jobs within the youth centre's program, giving teens a chance to work with kids on field trips and help take them into town for things like swimming lessons and trips to the movie theatre.

As a dedicated father and trained counselor used to dealing with conflict, Littlewolf says that "working as a volunteer with youth is a natural fit for me.

"What we really need now is more adults and parents to come on board as volunteers at the youth centre, to spend more time with the children and grandchildren. It takes the support of the whole community to raise a healthy child."