INUVIK
Youth empowerment is taking the stage for young people in the Delta and the call out for participants is ringing throughout the region.

The Gwich'in Tribal Council, in partnership with other organizations in the community, is running its first Youth Empowerment Conference from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 said an organizer.

The aim is to draw young people, aged 12 to 29, to a series of presentations and workshops seeking to help them stay happy, healthy and engaged.

"We've had other youth conferences in the past," said Tanya Snowshoe, a program support worker in the wellness department with the council. "But we're hoping to run this one annually."

Snowshoe said there is room for 87 youth at the event.

"We're asking each youth to fundraise $200," she said. "We're helping with travel, accommodation and food."

The idea came about as a result of community visits done by the wellness department in March. People said young people needed a place where they could come together and talk about important issues facing them, and the Going M.I.L.E.S. organization was suggested.

Going M.I.L.E.S. is a motivational speaking group focused on helping indigenous youth learn how to tackle challenges in a positive way through art.

The first three days of the conference will be dedicated to different groups in Inuvik carrying out various workshops on topics including education, self-esteem, volunteering and post-secondary budgeting.

The last two days will feature presentations and more workshops on drugs and alcohol, cyberbullying and suicide.

"The goal is to let them know they have the ability to be the best that they can be," said Snowshoe.

Overall, the idea is to help young people in the region develop life skills with a particular emphasis on what Snowshoe called "awareness around suicide."

"The big goal is letting the youth know that they are important to us," she said.

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