To
share ideas and successes of our First Nation Youth.
To
bring our Youth together in a supportive and sharing
environment.
To
be an advocating body on the behalf of Manitoba
First Nations Youth at the regional and national
level.
To
create an inventory and promotion of resources,
programs and services for Youth.
To
be a supportive group for youth and youth coordinators
at the local level.
To
improve the livelihood and hope for the future of
Manitoba's First Nations Youth.
To
create a means by which youth can develop their
leadership skills.
To
get youth involved in decisions affecting their
future.
OUR
SUCCESS AND EFFORTS WILL BE GUIDED BY:
Having
patience with one another
Respecting
and receiving respect
Supporting
each other
Being
positive,
and
having hope for the future.
Of a total of 98,197 Manitoba First Nations citizens
62,846 or 64% are under age 29. First Nation Youth
are seeking the opportunity to become more involved
in the shaping of their future. There is a need
to establish a recognized voice for First Nations
Youth to focus specifically on Youth related issues,
recommendations and solutions. By the year 2010,
25 % of the Manitoba labour force will be of Aboriginal
descent. Presently, first nations people and youth
continue to be over represented by the social ills
faced by society.
Dating
back to almost twenty years ago in our findings
of recorded conferences, Manitoba's aboriginal youth
have assembled periodically to discuss common issues
and common strategies. After reviewing the material
from past youth conferences it is plain to see that
although times have changed our situation remains
the same. Our youth population continues to grow
at an alarming rate as it was in the past, we are
faced with high degrees of unemployment, social
assistant dependency, incarceration, drop-outs,
alcoholism, drug addiction, etc. Although we have
made strides in some areas there still remains much
progress to be made. The youth of today are seeking
the opportunity and a means by which they can become
involved.
Since
January 1999, youth and youth coordinators from
throughout Manitoba have been meeting to discuss
the creation of the Manitoba First Nation Youth
Council. Our discussions have included youth from
both rural and urban areas of Manitoba. We presently
have a working group known as the youth planning
group. Our objective is to work towards the establishment
of a Manitoba First Nation Youth Council.
To
date, the achievements of the youth council initiative
are as follows:
1)
In September 1998, a unanimous resolution was passed
by the Chiefs in Assembly to support the creation
of a Manitoba First Nation Youth Council. The resolution
was presented by youth members of Aboriginal Youth
with Initiative on behalf of Manitoba's First Nation
Youth population. The movement to establish a Manitoba
youth council is supported by youth of the present
and the past.
2)
In January 1999 the youth department of a regional
First Nation organization known as RAMB organized
a meeting and invited twenty-five youth and youth
coordinators from throughout Manitoba to discuss
the topic of a Manitoba First Nation Youth Council.
3)
The twelve member Youth Planning Group was formed
for the purpose of organizing the 1st Regional Youth
Gathering held February 1999 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
This event was attended by approximately 250 first
nation youth. Topic and focus of their discussions
was the creation of the Manitoba First Nation Youth
Council. It was at this regional event that we first
put the ""word out" that we were
working on establishing a regional body for our
youth.
4)
In March 1999, 20 First Nation Youth represented
Manitoba at the Assembly of First Nations 2nd National
Youth Conference in Ottawa, Ontario. Our youth from
Manitoba participated in a national meeting hosted
by the Assembly of First Nations. Nationally, there
are efforts to have youth included in the structures
and processes that are in place within the Assembly
of First Nations.
5)
In April 1999, the twelve members of the Youth Planning
Group attended the Special Chiefs Assembly. At the
Special Chiefs Assembly the Youth presented a resolution
which gave the youth planning group the mandate
to "'identify priority areas for Youth under
the newly signed Aboriginal Human Resource Development
Strategy Agreement."
6)
In addition to a number of recommendations made
by the youth planning group to the Assembly of Manitoba
Chiefs, the youth made a specific recommendation
which stated, "that Manitoba First Nations
Youth Council Initiative should receive financial
support from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs",
as a priority area under the AHRDS Agreement.
7)
Since securing base funds to operate the MFNYC Initiative,
the Youth Planning Group has held monthly meetings
in various communities, such as; Opaskwayak Cree
Nation, Fisher River, Peguis, Chemawawin, and Winnipeg.
The purpose of these meetings was to gain awareness
and involvement of other First Nations Youth and
interested people for the Manitoba First Nations
Youth Council.
8)
In September 1999 the Youth Planning Group hosted
the First Annual Golf Fund Raising Tournament in
support of the Manitoba First Nations Youth Council
Initiative.
9)
In November 1999 we hosted a successful 3 day meeting
of youth in Opaskwayak Cree Nation which was attended
by approximately 150 First Nation Youth. The youth
in attendance were from throughout Manitoba both
rural and urban.
10)
We have determined a starting point for the
foundation of the youth council and we have also
selected two individuals to serve as youth leaders.
They are:
Paula Campeau, Sapotaweyak
First Nation
Leslie Easter, Swampy
Cree Tribal Council
11)
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs now has a full-time
Youth Coordinator working within the Secretariat,
one of the responsibilities of the coordinator will
be to oversee the MFNYC initiative.
