Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 25/98) - The stairs to the basement of the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre were well used earlier this month during National Addictions Awareness Week.

More than 90 people from the community stopped in for the open-house gathering Tuesday, Nov. 17, as familiar users mixed with newcomers orienting themselves with the surroundings and available services.

The following day, youth sauntered down the stairs for a workshop in the relaxed atmosphere of the centre.

"Howdy, howdy howdy," said a beaming youth as he nudged the chair of a familiar youth worker before grabbing a pop and settling into the circle of chairs.

The centre has been operating a pilot youth program since October.

Tom Eagle, executive director for the centre, said the government has noted it will not be renewing funding for the program once the pilot is up in March 1999.

"To keep it alive we have to continue to press the government and make them aware the youth are responding to the program," said Eagle.

The centre is including more interaction with the schools in Yellowknife and developing relationships with other youth programs.

Four of the youth present at the centre's workshop were young offenders from the School Draw Open Custody Centre in Yellowknife.

Martin Rourke, youth worker for the centre, said the main connection which brought them to the workshop was the joint relationship the centre has with Tree of Peace's youth worker Greg Krivda, who visits the open custody centre four times a week.

Rourke said the Tree of Peace workshop was a good idea because one of the underlying reasons for many of the crimes committed by young offenders is indulgence in drugs and alcohol.

"Drugs and alcohol are a big part of the reason these guys are (young offenders)," said Rourke. "Anything extra we can get for (addictions) sessions is useful."

During the Tree of Peace workshop, the youth watched a video about sexually transmitted diseases to create awareness about having sex without the knowledge or respect for the consequences.

"Here in the North, there is a big problem with a lot of youth and adults with pregnancy, drugs and alcohol," said a youth councillor during the workshop. "Kids aren't being given a chance to be brought into the world healthy because of alcohol and drugs."

The youth who attended the workshop expressed their understanding of the consequences of unsafe sex. One youth said he would not want to have sex without the use of a condom.

Rourke said the message youth are being taught may not get through at first, but there comes a time when it will.

"If you talk enough, some of it will sink in," he said.

The centre concluded its week-long addictions awareness gatherings with a joining of community elders and youth for a healing and discussion session the day following the workshop.