More youth becoming involved
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Jan 12/01) - Listening to young people has resulted in more beneficial and better attended programs at Ingamo Hall.
That's the view held by Jamie White, who since August has been program co-ordinator at Ingamo.
White oversees the daily operation of all the programs, ranging from programs for elders and youth, as well as programs such as healthy babies.
However, White said one thing she is especially glad to see is that the average number of young people taking part each week in activities offered by the centre has gone up from about eight to 34.
White said young people are obviously attracted to events such as rec night, held Mondays at Aurora College.
She said when she started her position she and the staff sat down with local youth and asked them what type of things they'd like to do. She said that even more importantly, they listened to what the young people said.
"Now we're able to offer that type of programming, the programming the youth said they wanted," White said.
She said Ingamo is trying to work with other groups within town to avoid duplication and focus efforts on supporting youth.
White said that over the next six months she'd like to focus more on programming for elders.
White always has lots to do.
"We've got full programming here, very full programming. You know, when I'm looking at the days now, it's no longer a matter of how do I fill them."
White supervises her staff and provides whatever support they need, including providing them with training opportunities.
She also spends a lot of time securing funding for both current programs and potential new ones.
For instance, Ingamo may soon provide a language class for Gwich'in and Inuvialuit, as well as a traditional cooking class.
White, a Cree from the Alexander Reserve near Edmonton, Alberta, said she's glad she decided to come North, in part because her job allows her to live up to her potential.
"I love this job. It's just great. I get to meet some really awesome people," she said.
"The people have been just wonderful. They've been so warm and welcoming and really supportive. So that's been really awesome."
