"One of the biggest problems for young women around the age of 12 to 17 is it becomes more difficult to express yourself. You stop talking. You stop being able to share your opinion because you start to try to fit into a certain image," she said.

Prozesky, community development worker for the NWT Status of Women Council, is co-ordinating a 10-week workshop that is aimed at helping young women express their thoughts.

"What we want to do is show young women they are important and the way they view the world is valued," she added.

Prozesky said teen women today are faced with a number of barriers that are imposed on them by images in the media. she used Much Music, a popular Canadian television music channel, as an example.

"Much Music is so awash with the same looking, same sounding women who are expressing similar views," she said.

The goal is to help girls understand that they should be comfortable with who they are, said Prozesky.

"As a teenager that is a hard thing to do," she said. "Young women have it in themselves to make their lives satisfying and beautiful, but with so much pressure you start to lose your sense of self."

She blames that on many of the problems youth experience in society, such as violence, and she hopes to begin to break that cycle.

"Despair is not a part of growing up," Prozesky said.

The workshops are scheduled between Jan. 5 and March 9 and will feature a number of young Yellowknife artists.

"We have so many wonderfully gifted and talented women in the NWT. More women volunteered to do the workshops then we can accommodate," said Prozesky.

Prozesky said the workshops are for any teen woman, whether they are going through a tough time, or are just bored and looking for something to do.

She also hopes that the workshops in a smaller format can be taken on the road and done in other Northern communities.

Elyse Parchoma, who may be conducting one of the workshops said it is a great way to promote unity and self worth.

"The one thing that I have learned is being aware of myself and loving myself is a life long process. If we can instill some of that love and awareness of self that will be so strong," she said.