Stephanie McDonald
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 3, 2007

CAMBRIDGE BAY - Some elders in Cambridge Bay got all twisted up recently, playing a game of Twister with a group of the town's youth.

It was one of the activities the two groups have engaged in during what has become a regular meeting of elders and youth.

A three-day workshop titled "Bridging the Gap" at the end of October brought together approximately 40 elders and youth to discuss social issues.

Afterwards, both groups expressed interest in having the interaction continue. So far there have been three gatherings. At the first, participants played the games Twister and charades.

"The elders I think were a little bit shocked at first, but eventually it caught on and everyone had a really nice time," said co-organizer of the activities Amanda Hanson.

Most recently, the elders and youth got together at a community gathering at the end of National Addictions Awareness Week. They shared tea and snacks, played traditional games, played cards and crib and enjoyed live music.

Future activities could involve the two groups cooking for each other, with the youth showing off what they are able to do, and elders teaching more traditional cooking skills.

"If the only thing that they get out of it is just that they get to be together, I think that's enough," Hanson said.

"Letting each group know that they do think about the other group and letting them know the issues, what they think, and what they believe," is the purpose of the interactions, said Dennis Surette, child and youth outreach co-ordinator at the town's wellness centre and co-organizer of the meetings.