Serious topics debated at Youth Parliament
Emelie Peacock
Northern News Services
Monday, May 15, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Young, passionate and well-spoken, young people from across the territory took their seats last week at the legislative assembly for Youth Parliament.
Speaker for the Youth Parliament Rianna Camsell keeps her 18 MLAs on task and following protocol, during the 15th Youth Parliament on Thursday, May 11 at the legislative assembly. - Emelie Peacock/NNSL Photo |
Thursday was the culmination of a week of drafting and discussing motions, meeting with MLAs and getting a firsthand look at the democratic process. Nineteen youth in grades 9 and 10, each representing one region of the territory, took part in the 15th annual event, that ran May 8 to 12.
For many of them, the issues they advocated for hit close to home. Angus James Capot-Blanc from Fort Liard, representing Nahendeh, gave an impassioned speech on the mental-health crisis.
"It is spreading fast and it's affecting mainly the youth in the communities, which is pretty sad because that's our next generation," he told News/North during a break in Thursday's session.
Myha Martin, a resident of Inuvik representing Inuvik Twin Lakes, described how elders are suffering from cultural loss and addictions, something she wants to solve by creating more work opportunities and ability to travel throughout the region.
The effects of travel costs for remote communities was a huge concern for many of the youth, including Kyran Alikamik from Ulukhaktok.
For Alikmak, the experience of territorial politics weighed heavily on him.
"I feel like there's a lot of pressure. I can make a decision but that can also influence others decisions, right?" he said.
