Organization provides safe, healing environment

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For the past five years, young Aboriginal people in the Melfort area have had a place to go for support in their attempts to heal and improve their lives.

The Alexander Bremner Youth Centre offers programming for youth age 12 to 22. The centre, located at 104 Burrows Ave. West, is operated by the non-profit Canadian Metis Heritage Corporation. The program was created by the corporation as a way to help young people heal and overcome the multigenerational effects of residential schools.

The community of Melfort has a population of about 6,000, and is close to a number of First Nation communities. A large population of Metis people also call the area home.

"We've been open since 2000 and we recognize that a safe and supportive environment needs to be created where youth can heal from the past and look toward to their future." said Stephen Head, an outreach worker with the youth centre.

Many of the youth that come to the centre have addictions, many are parents themselves, and many are involved in the young offenders system for crimes ranging from property- related offences to violent assaults. All are behind academically, not because they lack intelligence, but due to unstable home environments. The goal of the youth centre is to help these young people develop healthy lifestyles and satisfying careers.

"Elders are involved with our programs and are a big part of our success. And we learn from each other, even staff. I learn something new from the youth every day myself. Relationships, job performance, educational pursuits, almost every area of our lives has been disrupted by the residential school experience," said Head, who is from the nearby James Smith reserve. "I've been through all the same problems myself, so I know where they are coming from."

Daily life skills sessions assist the youth, and one-on-one support helps them strengthen academic skills. Guest speakers are brought in so the young people can get to know about other support systems and identify with positive role models. Community involvement is built through volunteer work, and daily physical and outdoor recreational activities are also provided.

Staff at the Alexander Bremner Youth Centre believe that crisis can be seen as a teaching and learning opportunity and youth can be raised to be caring, respectful, responsible members of society, even in the face of the many pressures confronting them.

The principle of the healing circle is used to develop programming to empower youth, and spiritual ceremonies, cultural activities, arts and crafts further ground the young people in time-honoured traditions.

"In addition, we can refer people to other programs, but Melfort isn't a very big place, and unfortunately we often have to send them away to Regina, Prince Albert or Saskatoon for treatment such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation," said Head.

While Alexander Bremner works to help individual youth, families are the focus at the Marguerite Riel Centre, which operates from the same location as the youth centre.

Named after the beloved mother of Louis Riel, the Marguirite Riel Centre provides on-going parenting programs for families with youngsters under six years of age, with on-site childcare for participants.

"Through play groups, the children are encouraged to learn and improve life skills, so they are better prepared to enter the school system," said Head.

Parenting skills are explored as well. "The result is improved self-esteem, anger management, communications and assertiveness and less dependence on government support systems," Head said.

Programs are culturally appropriate, flexible and holistic and include a lunch and snack program, weekly men's support group, regular Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings, cultural awareness, and discussions about the residential school impact on survivors and later generations.

Through the Marguerite Riel program, many adults are encouraged to continue heir education. The program has also served to improve relationships between Metis, First Nations, and non-Aboriginal people in the area.

Funding is provided to the Canadian Metis Heritage Corporation from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF) and other government grants. And, while the AHF has received additional funding from the federal government to continue its work, that's no guarantee that the corporation's funding will continue. Foundation executive director Mike DeGagne said at the time the additional funding was announced that there isn't enough money to maintain all the programs currently supported by the AHF.

"Our funding appears to be in place, and so far we haven't heard that it won't continue," Head said. "We hope there's no disruption. We have accomplished a lot in the past few years. It is like a new beginning for Aboriginal people as we begin to heal, but we still have a long way to go."