Voices of the future
Youth conference takes over town for Youth Matters Conference
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, September 1, 2016
INUVIK
If there are a plethora of fresh, new faces roaming the streets this week, it's nothing to worry about.
Joel Arey, left, Kobe Arey Cardinal, Brandon Andre Stewart, Davina Benoit-Cardinal, Geraldine Blake, Jessica Andre Van Loon, and Jemma Cardinal Clark came from Tsiigehtchic for a five-day youth conference being held in Inuvik this week. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
|
Dozens of young people have flocked to Inuvik for the YOUth Matters conference Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, focusing on empowering themselves and their communities.
"There will be a time, probably a lot sooner than you realize, that you will be in a position of leadership," said Inuvik Mayor Jim McDonald at the opening gathering of the conference at the community hall Aug. 29. "My job is to work myself out of a job."
Dozens of youth ranging in age from 12 to 29 took over the Midnight Sun Complex for a series of workshops and events, ranging from film and acting to self-care and human rights.
Evenings were occupied with events highlighting issues facing young people in the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort communities, including the ongoing impact of residential schools.
"We're going to keep you going from the time you wake up until you go to sleep," said lead organizer Tanya Snowshoe, adding that she has always wanted to host a conference.
The idea came about after Snowshoe's boss at the Gwich'in Tribal Council came back from a tour of communities in the region, having heard that young people were yearning for a space to make their voices heard. Problems with alcohol, drugs, and suicide cropped up again and again, sparking the organizers to action.
"We hear that we are the future," Snowshoe said. "But sometimes we don't hear that we are important, that we are valuable to the community."
Shannon Furlong said she heard about the conference from her grandmother and that she has always enjoyed getting out and doing things.
"It's been pretty good so far," she told the Drum, agreeing that it is good to see important people in the community come out to speak to the participants.
Those leaders included Gwich'in Tribal President Bobbie Jo Greenland-Morgan and Mackenzie Delta MLA Frederick Blake Jr.
Blake made note of how he is part of a wave of young politicians taking the reins, a wave that includes Greenland-Morgan, Boot Lake MLA and territorial cabinet minister Alfred Moses, and Nihtat Gwich'in Council president Jozef Carnogursky.
"It's very tough, it's a huge responsibility," Blake said. "Some people don't want to take that on, but it's very rewarding."
Greenland-Morgan spoke of her recent experience being elected to office, and how when she had first set out to run, some people told her she was too young, that she should wait.
"Our whole lives, we hear the youth are our leaders," she told the gathering. "I knew I had waited long enough and was ready to be one."
Greenland-Morgan brought it back to the name of the conference itself: YOUth Matters.
"You do matter ... sometimes there's challenges, there are some things we can't control," she said. "You matter to me, to your elders, to your communities, and you matter to our people."
