Working together focus of conference

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A diverse group of presenters and participants gathered at St. Mary's high school in Prince Albert to take part in an interagency conference designed to give those involved in youth development an opportunity to come together to learn, share and develop relationships.

Our Youth: Their Future was the theme of the conference organized by the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) held Feb. 16 and 17. Many northern communities had representatives in attendance, participating in workshops and discussions on subjects affecting their communities.

A press release by PAGC Grand Chief Gary Merasty said the goal of the conference was to provide an opportunity to explore interagency practices and the principles that make them effective.

"To achieve a broader, better quality of service, Indian Governments need to work together with community organizations, agencies, families and individuals, " he stated.

One of the presenters was Stanford Digneon, an addictions worker and family wellness co-ordinator, who provided an educational workshop on the dangers of crystal methamphetamine.

The information Digneon provided explaining how easy it is to manufacture and distribute this highly addictive drug in a small community came as a shock to some of those in attendance, eliciting several extremely audible gasps from members of the crowd.

At an evening banquet held at the Child Care Education Centre gymnasium, conference-goers were entertained by the South End Square Dancers and an engaging and gripping performance by Warrior Spirit Walking, a group from Prince Albert that uses drama and hip-hop to get across their message of the negative effects of gang involvement.

The two keynote speakers showcased during the conference shared their insights and demonstrated their personal convictions during their presentations. Dr. Terry Tafoya, from the Taos Pueblo and Warm Springs Nations of the Southwestern United States, is a clinical psychologist and executive director of the Tamanawit consulting company, which specializes in bridging education and communication divides that exist between cultures. His presentation outlined several key areas in which communication in itself could prove to be a detriment to a young person's growth simply by the way certain words are phrased.

Ted Nolan, a former NHL player and 1997 NHL Coach of the Year, gave a comedic and uplifting presentation on how he managed to overcome the obstacles facing him to achieve his dreams.