LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Adults and youths in Fort Simpson are learning how to make videos to send an important message.

As part of a Department of Health and Social Services project the fledgling filmmakers are using the medium to engage youth in three communities about drug and alcohol awareness. The project began in Fort Simpson on March 5 with a video-making workshop aimed at adults.

The workshop was led by two facilitators from Reel Youth, a not-for-profit organization based in Vancouver that travels across Canada engaging youth with making videos on issues that matter

to them. Over the weekend five participants worked through the entire process of making a video from brainstorming an idea to the final editing.

"It was awesome," said Mark Vonesh, the director of Reel Youth..

All of the participants were very keen, he said.

"It was nice to see they care about making a positive change in the community," he added.

The five participants began by brainstorming messages that would help people in make healthy decisions. One message for youth and one message for adults were recorded.

Using high definition video cameras the group shot video to go with the voice-overs. The final product was four videos, each under two minutes long, with voice overs in one of three different languages - English, South Slavey and Chipewyan.

The primary goal of the adult session was to impart skills so there will be people in the community who can mentor the youths, said Vonesch.

Celine Antoine, one of the participants, said the workshop was empowering.

Antoine said she was nervous at first about the technical aspect of making videos including how to use a video camera. The facilitators, however, were very patient, she said.

"It was so much fun," said Antoine.

"We learned a lot."

Antoine said she signed up for the workshop because she's been told that First Nations people are very visual and that visual media is very effective for communicating and sharing messages. Antoine hopes to share her new knowledge with local youth.

"I just like to engage with the youth and work with them," she said.

Students are getting their chance to make videos this week. Reel Youth did one-hour workshops in Thomas Simpson School from March 7 to 9 and is conducting a longer workshop from March 10 to 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. and from March 12 to 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The students will be learning technical skills and producing a variety of films including music videos, dramas and public service announcements all about drug and alcohol awareness.

Digital media is an ideal medium to use with youth because they love it, Vonesch said. "They get excited by the fact that anyone can make a video, put it on YouTube and have the world watch it.

"Our role is taking that excitement and focusing it in a positive direction," he added.

Both the adult and youth videos will be screened as part of a Reel Youth film festival expected to reach the village in the next six weeks. Reel Youth will also be doing a music-video-making session in Deline at the end of the month and another workshop at some point in Lutsel K'e.

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