Youth conference participants in Calgary hear wake-up call

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The Siksika First Nation hosted the National Youth Adolescence Conference '99 entitled Wake Up Call in Calgary on June 10 to 13.

The conference, was host to more than 430 delegates, who came from as far away as British Columbia to Nova Scotia. William Sharphead Jr., one of the facilitators, traveled from his Navajo Reserve home in the United States to talk about how he dealt with his addiction to alcohol and drugs.

The conference workshops covered serious issues that many young Native people face today: suicide, violence, emerging gangs, discrimination, education and jobs. Organizers want to bring out awareness and some resolutions to the issues raised during the workshops.

The workshops involved youth participation where young people were able to speak about their own experiences. Troy Rupert, a Winnipeg ex-gang leader, gave the participants his thoughts and experience on gangs. Rupert talked about his teen years and how he was always in and out of an institution between the ages of 13 and 32.

He considered himself as an opportunist criminal who always did robberies, usually break and entering, to support his drug habit. He warns the participants that the life of a gang member is not cool, but one of fighting the addiction of drugs and alcohol. He pointed to the high probability of prison time and to the worst case scenario of getting killed.

"The City of Calgary needs to accept the fact that there are gangs and it's everyone's problem, not just the cops," said Rupert.

The youth need to work with ex-gang members and leaders, he said. He suggested an alliance be formed much like the one in Winnipeg. Rupert is the executive director of the Winnipeg Native Alliance.

Stand-up comedian Don Burnstick entertained workshop participants with his Indian humor. Burnstick has an upcoming appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and an audition for the cast of Saturday Night Live. Burnstick's show was followed by a DJ dance and social.

Powwow hip-hop recording artists, War Party, from the Erminskin First Nation at Hobbema made an appearance on Saturday evening and the Star Light Comedy Hour by the Tsuu T'ina First Nation and Red Power 49er Round Dance topped the conference for everyone.

The conference delegates were very pleased with the results of the workshops and discussions. A resolution to follow-up in six weeks in Calgary with Troy Rupert to develop a strategy to deal with issues was made.

Most delegates strongly believe that there are outstanding issues pertaining to Native gangs, suicide, and violence that could not be discussed in the conference environment.

"These issues, as well as discrimination, must be death with quickly so we do not have another summer of discontent," said conference chair Redmond Little Chief.

"The next step is how to deal with the problem, then try to figure out how to help, and find out who's going to help."

There's even plans for an annual conference and who knows, maybe even a World Conference year 2000," he said.