Peggy Revell
Fall is finally here, and for the Urban Multiuse Aboriginal Youth Centre that means the start of some new programs to go alongside the regular favourites.
One of the new initiatives for this season includes focusing on young women, said UMAYC co-ordinator, Aimee Beazley.
“I’m hoping that I can round up even five girls or young women who are confident enough and are willing to learn to drum and sing as a group,” Beazley said.
Boys often will sit down and drum anywhere, she noted, so she hopes to start a hand drumming workshop to help girls do the same.
“So it would just be cool, when we have community drum socials, if we had a group of girls who would stand up and do their thing, too,” Beazley enthused.
For this focus on young women, Beazley also wants to bring in a dietitian to talk about healthy eating and food choices, as well as make arrangements with local gyms to provide access to fitness sessions.
A focus like this is important because many aboriginal and non-aboriginal women have issues with self-esteem, she noted.
“For me, it’s building on the self-esteem,” Beazley said. “I like to see myself and my workers as positive role models for young women, especially our young aboriginal women, and hopefully give them some skills and foundation for the path that they want to take in life.”
Beazley also is hoping to round up some more young boys who would like to start drumming on Wednesday evenings—something that’s been a part of the UMAYC’s program for a long time.
“The whole purpose of the centre is to provide alternatives for young people in our community, keep them out of trouble, give them something to do, build on their social skills, even education,” noted Beazley. “A lot of people don’t know about the youth centre. They don’t even know it’s here.”
While cultural programs are offered, that doesn’t mean the centre, located at 616 Mowat Ave., is only available for aboriginal youths.
“The huge misconception that’s out there right now is that we’re specifically for aboriginals, but we’re not. We’re native and non-native,” stressed Beazley. “Part of our statement is bridging the gap between native and non-native people, so the programming that we’re offering is for everybody in the community.
“Every night of the week we have something.”
The centre is open weekdays from 3-8 p.m., with programming on four days of the week. The target age group is those aged 13-24, but can reach up to age 29. Youth can participate in the programming, or just come to the centre as a place to hang out.
There’s a computer with Internet access, a pool table, foosball, TV, Playstations, board games, and more activities. The centre just received $1,000 in funding from the Rainy River Substance Abuse Prevention Team to purchase supplies and more sewing machines so youths can continue to come to the centre to make and update their ceremonial regalia.
“It’s a safe place that’s structured and supervised for youth to hang out,” said Beazley. “It gives them other things to do, maybe outside the norm.”
While many kids participate in organized sports, there also are many who don’t and the UMAYC provides an alternative, she added, especially since there is no fee for most of the offered programs.
There’s cooking Tuesday nights and drumming Wednesdays. Thursdays are cultural nights, where elders and speakers are invited. Fridays are filled with things like movies, bowling, and “Guitar Hero.”
The centre also helps organize camping trips and golfing, and offers the opportunity of leadership training programs with the support of the United Native Friendship Centre.
While there are scheduled events and programs, Beazley said much of it is flexible and open to suggestions.
“One of the things we try to have consistently is a youth council,” she said. ”And then the youth council then plans events.
“We’re here for them,” she stressed. “So if they tell us what they want to do, we’ll do it.”
For more information about the UMAYC, including signing up for the hand drumming class, call 274-0561 or drop in.
