"Save culture, Save Lives," First Nations youth tell Ontario
http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/June2006/20/c5074.html
"Save culture, Save Lives," First Nations youth tell Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services in meeting and report on suicide, marking June 21st, National Aboriginal Day.
TORONTO, June 20 /CNW/ - On the tenth anniversary of National Aboriginal Day, youth representatives from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Decade Youth Council will be meeting with the Hon. Mary Anne Chambers, Ontario's Minister of Children and Youth Services, to present their own report on the suicide epidemic in the 49 NAN communities in northwestern Ontario.
The statistics reported by NAN are shocking:
- For over 20 years, suicide rates in NAN communities have remained from three to forty times the national average.
- In 2005, there were 24 completed suicides in NAN territory. This was one of the highest rates of suicide in Canada.
- Since January 2006, there have been 14 completed suicides. Of the 14, 13 people were under 29 years of age and eight of those were between 15 and 20 years of age.
At the hour-long roundtable discussion with the minister, six young people will present a clear picture of suicide in their communities; what they feel are some of the contributing factors; and how they have been working to prevent it.
One of the most important strategies in the NAN Decade Youth Council's prevention efforts is a "Save culture, Save lives" approach that emphasizes the documented "protective" and positive effects that a strong cultural identity has on Aboriginal youth. Members of the NAN Decade Youth Council have created several youth-driven programs that incorporate practices such as healing ceremonies and the teaching of traditional hand drumming.
The minister will also be presented with a report, The Seventh Generation Helping to Heal: Nishnawbe Aski Youth and the Suicide Epidemic. This report was written by several members of the youth council and is both a compelling message of hope and an urgent call to action.
The meeting with the minister is part of a larger initiative to raise awareness about suicide and the current state of mental health in Northwestern First Nations communities. This project, spearheaded by Voices for Children, focuses on involving youth; linking efforts of researchers, mental health providers and community members; and developing a communications plan to drive action-oriented recommendations.
For more information, read the full report, The Seventh Generation Helping to Heal: Nishnawbe Aski Youth and the Suicide Epidemic at http://www.voicesforchildren.ca/report-Jun2006-1.htm
Voices for Children is an independent organization dedicated to turning knowledge into action for the well-being of Ontario's young people. www.voicesforchildren.ca
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For further information: To arrange an interview with members of the NAN Decade Youth Council (www.nandecade.ca) on Tuesday, June 20 after 3:00 p.m. or Wednesday, June 21, please contact: Fiona Irvine-Goulet, Editor, Voices for Children, Phone: (416) 482-6694, Mobile: (647) 226-6694, fiona@voicesforchildren.ca; Patty Chabbert, Project Coordinator, Voices for Children, Phone: (416) 544-0941, Mobile: (416) 606-0941, patty@voicesforchildren.ca