Youth

The ANFCA’s Provincial Youth Council, The Alberta Aboriginal Youth Council (AAYC), was established in 1996 with the intent to increase urban aboriginal youth participation in culture and training. Today the well developed youth council has emerged as a proud group of youth from across the province of Alberta with a vision for themselves, their communities and the future. Building on a strong foundation of Friendship Centre history, the AAYC is structured in a Board of Directors format that allows and encourages skill development and understanding of community involvement and community building.

Throughout Alberta many Aboriginal youth councils operate within Friendship Centres and act as critical elements of steering committees designed to oversee and ensure youth involvement in youth programming. It is from these community-based youth councils that representatives are appointed to attend the provincial youth council. One youth representative from AAYC is appointed to the national youth council (AYC) to represent issues that are relevant to Alberta’s Aboriginal youth. Building on their own young history, founding and early AAYC members have moved on making room for new members. Past members cite their involvement in Friendship Centres and the AAYC as a turning point for their current life successes.

This impressive group of young people range in age from14-25 and are representative of an array of Aboriginal cultures found in Alberta. Métis, Dene, Cree, Blackfoot, and Chipewyan youth join together to identify current issues, explore innovative solutions, advance personal skill development, access training and partake in cultural events and activities. The AAYC has participated in youth and Elder cultural retreats, province-wide youth programming, and is currently involved in multi-media training that will result in a youth driven, video series designed to address family violence and bullying.

This energetic group is steeped in strength, vision and respect. Annually representatives from the AAYC join together to review and evaluate proposals from across Alberta for youth program funding under the federally funded UMAYC initiative. Their direct involvement in this process is empowering, skill developing and instills a sense of ownership for solutions and actions required to overcome social issues faced in every community.

Youth Development

The ANFCA’s provincial youth projects bring youth together from the 20 Friendship Centres in Alberta and promote development in areas such as leadership, cultural teachings, self-esteem, employment skills, and awareness, prevention, and advocacy for community issues.

Alberta Aboriginal Youth Council

The Alberta Aboriginal Youth Council is composed of one youth voting delegate (aged 14 - 29) appointed or elected by each Member Centre for a two year term.

The Alberta Aboriginal Youth Council is mandated to: provide a youth voice and advice to the Board on the affairs of the Association that affect the youth members of local Friendship Centres; to help the Association represent and advocate at the provincial level for youth and the issues faced by youth members of local Friendship Centres; to encourage growth and leadership within the Alberta Aboriginal Youth Council through training and mentoring; and to foster a two-way working relationship with the ANFCA Board and Friendship Centre members.

Aboriginal Youth Multimedia Initiative 2006–2007

The Aboriginal Youth Multimedia Initiative seeks to foster awareness and critical thinking skills in urban Aboriginal youth by providing them with the opportunity to investigate and express their views on family violence and bullying in their communities. Urban Aboriginal youth participated in a two-day youth forum, along with Aboriginal service providers, to learn more about the occurrence and historical context of family violence and bullying in Aboriginal communities. This forum provided youth with an opportunity to not only investigate the causes of, but also alternatives to, violence. Youth learned about traditional roles and traditional values from Elders and were challenged to think critically about the occurrence of violence in their communities. Following the youth forum, Friendship Centre youth will participate in film training and, in small groups, develop and produce a short video depicting their views on family violence and/or bullying. After editing and finalizing their video projects, the youth will present them to Elders, and Aboriginal services providers. The videos will be distributed to Friendship Centres, Aboriginal organizations, and other stakeholders to be used as resources to promote discussion and raise awareness of the occurrence of family violence and bullying. Once distributed, these resources will promote discussion regarding these issues and the possible solutions in Aboriginal communities.

Objectives:

  1. Raise awareness regarding family violence and bullying in urban Aboriginal youth
  2. Empower urban Aboriginal youth by providing them with a medium to express viewpoints and experiences regarding family violence and bullying
  3. Provide youth with an opportunity to develop skills including leadership skills, communication skills, teamwork skills, and critical thinking skills
  4. Engage urban Aboriginal youth and encourage them to take action to prevent family violence and bullying

Activities:

  1. Coordinate a youth forum involving urban Aboriginal youth participants from throughout Alberta and partners such as Edmonton’s Women’s Shelter and Kids Help Phone.
  2. Coordinate film training with the assistance of the Film and Video Arts Society of Alberta and the National Film Board.
  3. Assist youth in the development and production of a video resource reflecting their personal views of the occurrence, and prevention of family violence and bullying.
  4. Distribute the resource to Aboriginal organizations, youth groups, and partners to raise awareness about family violence and bullying.

Youth and Elders Gathering

The Youth and Elders’ Gathering is an annual four-day event which brings together youth and Elders from Friendship Centres throughout Alberta to learn from the teachings of the Elders and learn to incorporate these teachings into their lives, gain awareness about critical community issues, share stories, and have fun. The connection formed between youth and Elders through this event enriches lives and contributes to the development of cultural pride, self-esteem, and the preservation of Aboriginal cultures.

August 2007, the ANFCA is looking forward to the 10th anniversary of this event.