Hay River (Apr 11/05) - Six youth centres in the NWT have been forced to cease operations with the end of a federal funding program.

The youth programs were operated by friendship centres in Hay River, Fort Smith, Inuvik, Yellowknife, Fort Simpson and Fort Providence.

Vern Jones, executive director of Hay River's Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre, stands next to materials being stored away with the closure of the youth resource centre. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"They have no funding to carry on beyond March 31," says Vern Jones, the executive director of Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre in Hay River. The funding had been provided under a Department of Canadian Heritage program called Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres.

Jones, who represents the North on the National Association of Friendship Centres, says the end of the funding means at least 22 people have lost their jobs in the NWT.

That includes a territorial co-ordinator based in Hay River.

"We're going to be losing over $1 million for the North," he says, explaining that figure includes funding for two centres in Whitehorse and Rankin Inlet.

"Everybody is looking for other sources of funding to keep their programs going," Jones says, adding it is possible centres may consider user fees.

The funding cut affects almost all of the 117 friendship centres across Canada.

The youth centre program was extended for an extra two years in 2003.

Jones says a national negotiating team is lobbying the Department of Canadian Heritage to again extend the funding or establish it as an ongoing program.

"There's always hope, but I'm not holding my breath," he says.

Jones is very disappointed the federal government would end funding for the youth centres.

"They've had quite an impact on youth in the communities," he says, noting up to 50 young people drop into the Hay River Youth Resource Centre each night.

There, they would hang out with their friends, play games, do homework and participate in cultural, educational and recreational programs.

Forced to close

In Fort Providence, the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre has been forced to close its youth centre, which operated in a separate building.

"It's left our youth with no place of their own," says Paschalina Thurber, the friendship centre's executive director, adding the funding cut will also end a summer camp for youth.

A youth centre co-ordinator and a youth worker, along with two part-time employees, have lost their jobs.

Thurber says the friendship centre itself will now attempt to offer after-school programs for young people.

Britney Nadli, 12, is sorry to see the youth centre close.

Britney says the youth centre was very important for young people in Fort Providence, adding she and her friends used to participate in many activities.

"We used to bake, play pool and do art there."