Youth speak out

Page 7

Youth at Cold Lake are tearing down the walls of silence that surround homes where family violence is a part of everyday life.

About 50 teens - form Cold Lake, Goodfish Lake, Hobema, Lac La Biche and Pigeon Lake - gathered at the Cold Lake band hall to discuss family violence, education and the law last weekend. The reserve hosted the first-ever youth conference, Joining Hands For Our Future.

The delegates - most who had never been t a youth conference - quietly formed a semi-circle of chairs, shy and unsure of what to expect. But by the second day, the teens were

eager to talk.

During the final hour, in a "Donahue-style" discussion, youth rifled off their ideas and visions for improved communities, families and selves. High on their list of hopes were" more family talk, less bingo, a drop-in center, a place for youth counselling and parents who do what they preach. Conference organizers will present the list at a family violence conference for adults this week at the Cold Lake reserve.

Eddie Herman, a 27-year-old Cold Laker who is paralyzed from the neck down because of a car accident involving alcohol, got a standing ovation for his talk about disability, alcohol and education.

Andy Thomas, a Grand Centre lawyer, got a luke-warm response from most youth during his talk about the law. However, discussion about Treaty rights perked up the audience.

The Rapid Fire Players, and Edmonton theatre sports troupe, gave the conference comic relief.

A school liaison person from the Cold Lake Family Support Services began the weekend putting the youth into small discussion groups and abuse in the home.

The conference closed with a sacred circle and prayer. Afterwards, teary-eyed delegates hugged and exchanged phone numbers.

The conference was organized by an all-youth committee spearheaded by Dean Janvier.