Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 02, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife youth at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy attended a workshop on Saturday to learn more on how to protect themselves and say "No."

The youth outreach worker's safe sex empowerment workshop was put on by the Centre for Northern Families.

Lauren Bulckaert spearheaded the workshop as part of the Breaking the Taboo series that had roughly 15 people in attendance throughout the day.

"The rate of pregnancies and STIs in the territory is rising," she said prior to the event.

"I've spoken to enough youth to know that they're having sex at as young as 13."

"Youth are having sex anyways," she said, adding the belief that if you don't give teens condoms, they won't be sexually active is completely false.

The workshop was funded by the Status of Women Council, hopes more awareness will see numbers of teen pregnancies and STIs drop.

Gilly McNaughton, also a youth outreach worker and project co-ordinator, said sexual education in an environment outside of the classroom is an effective way to get through to young people.

"After meeting with youth initially through Positive Youth (a Yellowknife group which provides a safe forum for gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender youth) and anti-oppression workshops held throughout the NWT, we realized it's important to address sexuality and stigmas surrounding it in a way to interest and educate youth," said McNaughton.

Amy Lea, a public health nurse with Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, was on hand at the workshop to answer questions for the group, which included men and women ranging in age from mid-teens to mid-20's. Lea also provided information about STIs, such as HIV and AIDS, and dispel and myths around sex and sex-related issues.

Those in attendance wrote evaluations afterwards and Bulckaert said the response was overwhelmingly positive.

"They thought the things we talked about were extremely informative," she said. "People liked the crafts that we did too."

Dildos were crafted from clay and wood and dental dams fashioned from condoms in order to promote safe ways to have sex in a fun and creative environment.

Also discussed was queer terminology and what it is like to be anything other than straight in the community. Bulckaert said many participants responded they want to have more workshops on sex and sexuality, especially on stigmas and taboos related to sex.