Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Jan 24/03) - With an infusion of $110,000 in Youth Corps funding, Fort Simpson will be hopping with activities through March.

The money was granted in response to a pilot project proposal from four community agencies. Each agency has a role to play in delivering the programs. The Liidlii Kue First Nation will be offering youth leadership workshops. As well, the LKFN is planning to develop computer software to teach the Slavey language. An arts and professional practices workshop, to be held throughout March, was spearheaded by the Business Development Centre.

New computers and printers will be installed at the youth centre through the village's initiative. The village is also hosting a music, art and dance workshop.

The Friendship Centre will host wilderness workshops and safety training.

In addition there will be a hepatitis C and HIV workshop, sliding parties, soccer clinics and youth dances.

Youth who drop by the Friendship Centre were asked for their suggestions on the programs, said Walter Edwards, programs co-ordinator for the Friendship Centre.

"They're interested in things that give them some sense of history (and) at the same time teach them new skills. All too often we hear from the youth, 'I've done that before.' We don't want to offer that same sort of thing again," Edwards explained.

He added that the funding is being strictly administered as itemized expenditures must be submitted.

"They (MACA) don't want the (funding) to get eaten up in management or administration fees," he said. "There's a lot of accountability on this one."

This is the first year that Youth Corps funding has been available, said MACA's Chris Szabo. It is expected to continue in future fiscal years, he noted.

"I think they wanted to look at some pilot projects first with this being a new program," he said, adding that Youth Corps funding totalled approximately $750,000 but the amount allotted to each region varied.