Voices of youth call for unity and action

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Unity, respect and dignity were the hunted, while Canada's Aboriginal youth were the hunters at the first-ever Canadian National Aboriginal Youth Conference.

Held in Edmonton's Sheraton Hotel from Oct. 26 to 28, the conference saw Aboriginal young people gather from every corner of the nation to propose and discuss solutions to problems faced in their communities.

"What young people have to say will not be filed and shelved. We'll be listening," said Secretary of State Ethel Blondin-Andrew, addressing the press at the outset of the conference.

The agenda was packed with time for discussion groups. The couple of hundred youth in attendance were free to speak up about issues of concern to them.

At the end of the conference the six major organizations present outlined their group's discussions, highlighting their priorities and plans of action.

The Assembly of First Nations Youth Council targeted leadership issues, culture and language, and alcohol and drug abuse as their main areas of concern. They emphasized the importance of working collectively as organizations in order to make a difference at a federal level in providing solid leadership for Native youth.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples put emphasis on education. Youth representatives spoke of the need to get school boards to develop a curriculum that is honest, fair and culturally sensitive.

The National Inuit Youth Council's highest priority was culture and language. They said it is essential for youth in their communities to limit time spent in front of the television and get more connected to the Elders.

The Metis National Youth Advisory Council named education as its main area of concern. Delegates said there is currently no post-secondary education funding for Metis youth and they are pressing the federal government to have that changed.

The Aboriginal Youth Council spoke of the benefits of having regular national youth conferences to continue to hear what is happening at a grass roots level around the country.

The Native Women's Association of Canada found leadership to be the main need, but also put priority on dealing with teenage pregnancies.

Secretary to the Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Elder Wally Anderson said, "We've got to give young people a chance. We've heard what they have to say and we've now got to put our money where our mouth is."

As one of the provincial representatives at the conference, Andersen said youth must be given the opportunity and tools to make a difference as they are the greatest resource any country or province can have.

"I'm just speechless about how well-informed everyone is," said Inuit Elder Maria Brazeau, who came from Ottawa as an honored guest at the conference. She is happy to trust her future to the young Aboriginal people whom she said are the best and brightest.

She exhorted the young people to keep addressing the problems their people are facing, adding that "a total belief in God helps things get solved."

Youth interviewed at random spoke positively about the accomplishments of the weekend.

"We've come together and shared," said Bradley Young, president of the University of Alberta Aboriginal Student Council. "I'll go back to my work knowing there's other youth across the nation doing the same thing."

Young said lots of discussion about a national Aboriginal youth coalition came as a surprise byproduct of the conference.

He feels a coalition would increase the chances for achieving goals in his own area and he doesn't see it as a threat to his nation's identity. Just as in genetics, Young sees the diversity of a national coalition as something that would strengthen all groups involved.

Lute Calder, president of the Metis National Youth Advisory Council, is also in support of nation-to-nation building, but wants to approach the idea with caution to ensure each nation's unique voice is not lost.