Jesse Terry (http://jesseterry.myknet.org), a Lac Seul First Nations member, is preparing to lead a group of Aboriginal youth to Bolovia on a ten week Leadership and Cultural Exchange that includes a month long preparation period in Alberta. Jesse was recently selected for this position by Ghost River Rediscovery - www.ghostriverrediscovery.com.
Click here for some interesting information about Bolivia
Click here to see a map of Bolivia
Organized by Ghost River Rediscovery, this Leadership program provides participating youth with a variety of learning experiences. The EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS YOUTH LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE initiative program description follows ...
Ghost River Rediscovery offers an Indigenous based youth leadership program. The program is run in the Ghost River Wilderness Area, Canada and in one of their three host countries. Participants live and work with youth from another country both sharing backgrounds in Aboriginal culture.
Selection
We are looking for a team of young adults, aged 18-28 years, who are keen to make positive contributions to their communities and others. Participants are selected for their maturity, commitment, adaptability, willingness to learn, communication, group skills, initiative and knowledge of Indigenous issues. Selected youth have a good knowledge of the area where they are from so they can teach others about issues and cultures in Canada. Successful candidates must demonstrate their commitment to remaining drug and alcohol free.
The Program
Participants have opportunities to increase their confidence and abilities through program activities based on Indigenous traditions and philosophies and experiential education. The Canadian portion of the training as well as the international portion assists participants to make change for themselves, their families and their communities. The program aims to develop inspirational role models who are able to positively influence other youth and children.
The program is delivered from the perspective of the medicine wheel. Activities are chosen based on their capacity to challenge participants physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Three main program components will be followed throughout: development; cultural revival and rediscovery, and community leadership. Activities focus on team building, leadership styles and practice, group dynamics, conflict resolution, cross cultural understanding, organizational and wilderness skills. There is also intensive study on Indigenous issues in Canada, the host country and international affairs with the involvement of Elders throughout.
In Canada, the youth team have the chance to develop skills that enable them to work safely with young people in wilderness environments while offering compassion and support to youth who are searching to understand themselves and their cultural backgrounds, and where they fit it in the world. In the host country, the youth team assist other Indigenous youth in the running of a youth empowerment program aimed to increase the self-esteem of Indigenous children and youth. They deliver Rediscovery activities and help with local community projects. The Coordinators of this project have chosen activities that assist young Indigenous to learn and be proud of their identity and culture and enable them to grow into strong, confident people. Elders, representing the local communities, are involved, sharing culture, skills and knowledge of land resources.
Personal Development
Activities range with each program but may include:
Cultural Revival and Rediscovery
Community Leadership
The job description for Jesse's new position follows ...
TEAM LEADER - BOLIVIA - February to April 2007
YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM- GHOST RIVER REDISCOVERY
Job Description: Ghost River Rediscovery is looking for two outstanding facilitators to provide role model leadership for a group of 8-10 young Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people for a wilderness-based Canadian program and a cultural learning and community service experience in Bolivia , South America . The program aims to develop strong, culturally-grounded young Aboriginal leaders. This is an approximate 3 month contract position (February to April 2007). Successful candidates will be required to provide assistance on a voluntary basis with recruitment, selection, program design and planning in the months prior to program start date. Candidates require a working knowledge of Spanish, and fluency will be a great asset. These are demanding positions that offer amazing opportunities for personal and professional development.
Primary Responsibilities
Qualifications and Experience
Detail of Responsibilities
For more information contact Lorelei White, Program Coordinator, at ylp@ghostriverrediscovery.com or fax to (403) 270-9371
A description of the Leadership Exchange program in Bolivia follows ...
Ghost River Rediscovery is facilitating 10 outstanding youth to participate in an international youth leadership program in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The International Youth Leadership Program offers youth the opportunity to obtain international experience related to youth leadership development. This program, based on aboriginal culture and traditions, exposes its participants to a variety of unique experiences.
The first month consists of outdoor based skill building in the Ghost River Wilderness Area of Alberta, Canada. The youth then depart for an exciting ten week international exchange, in which they will work with indigenous youth in rural area of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The participants will be working directly with our Bolivian partner, at Nur University, and will build upon the three years of work that Ghost River Rediscovery has achieved in Bolivia.
Requirements for youth participants:
• Open mind and heart
• Desire to travel
• Ability to live and work in a group setting
• 18-28 years of age
Term:
• International Volunteer, from February to April, 2007
The Participants Contribution:
• Each participant is required to fundraise $3300 plus airfare and travel insurance. (Fee includes transportation, food, accommodations, cultural workshops and outdoor leadership training costs.
Providing public access to computers and internet connections is being supported by the federal government across Nunavut through a recent funding announcement by INAC.
INAC press release ...
Canada's new Government Invests over $2 Million in Tourism and Community Access Projects in Nunavut
IQALUIT, Dec. 2 - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians announced today the Government of Canada's investment of $2.189 million for tourism and community Internet access projects in Nunavut.
"Staying connected is a common theme with this investment - both within Nunavut through the community access projects and with the rest of the world through tourism funding," said Minister Prentice. "In particular, the tourism industry is a pillar in Nunavut's economy, and these projects will give local tourism operators the tools needed to compete in the global tourism market."
"The Government of Nunavut recognizes the tourism industry as one of the most important sectors for the development of our economy. This is reflected in the annual financial support we provide the industry association, Nunavut Tourism, and the programs and services that keep tourism businesses operating in Nunavut," said Olayuk Akesuk, Minister of Economic Development & Transportation. "I am very pleased to have Indian and Northern Affairs Canada as a partner in this endeavour."
"The provision of these funds is a huge boost to the tourism industry within Nunavut," said Paul Lewis, CEO of Nunavut Tourism. "In order for our industry to truly flourish, we need to develop products locally and promote them internationally. This new funding will allow us to do both."
Nunavut Tourism will receive $1.11 million over three years (2006-2009) to expand domestic and international tourism in the territory. Projects include a Nunavut tourism advertising campaign, new marketing publications, and targeted participation at trade and consumer shows. The territorial government will also receive $249,405 to complete the second phase of a visitor exit survey gathering valuable baseline data from tourists after they have visited Nunavut.
In addition, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will contribute $655,000 to the territorial government over the three years to further develop community Internet access sites. The Nunavut Community Access Program (N-CAP) will use the funds to establish two new CAP sites annually, determine the need for new and upgraded equipment, improve training opportunities, and test various delivery methods of distance education. The CAP sites will also host a pilot project to launch Nunavut's first locally-developed bilingual (Inuktitut, English) distance learning course.
"Now that broadband is widespread across Nunavut, this funding couldn't have come at a better time," said Darlene Thompson, Secretary/Treasurer of the Nunavut Community Access Program (N-CAP). "It is our goal to have a CAP site in every community in Nunavut; thus allowing all Nunavummiut the resources to train and apply for jobs, start or expand businesses, and generally stay connected both to other communities and to the world."
These projects are all funded under Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development initiative. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada works with the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Economic Forum to identify investments in priority areas to help generate important economic opportunities for Northerners, and their businesses and communities.
For further information: Maria O'Hearn, Communications, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Nunavut Regional Office, (867) 975-4725, ohearnm@inac.gc.ca;. Eva Michael, Manager Communications, Department of Economic Development and Transportation, Government of Nunavut, (867) 975-7808, emichael@gov.nu.ca,. edt@gov.nu.ca;. Brian Webb, Marketing Director, Nunavut Tourism, (867) 979-6551, www.NunavutTourism.com; Darlene A. Thompson, Community Access Program Administrator, Nunavut Community Access Program, (867) 899-7263, dthompson@gov.nu.ca;. This release is also available on the Internet at http://www.inac.gc.ca.