Regional summit gets youths interactive

AIDS. Pregnancy. Violence. Alcoholism. These are the dangers many youths face in this day and age.
Which raises the question what can they do about it all?
This–and much more–was tackled at the first-ever Northwestern Ontario Youth Summit hosted by the United Native Friendship Centre Youth Council here last weekend.
And if the attendance and participation of about 30 youths and youth group co-ordinators was any sign, they are eager to try.
A slew of activities brought the youths together to socialize, including meals together, a Friday night performance by local rock band “Whitefire Reed,” and a community dance at the Legion on Saturday night (the latter drawing nearly 100 teens).
But the heart of the summit was the interactive workshops, which got the youths thinking–and speaking–about different subjects.
Health educator Angela Petsnick started things off with her well-received HIV/AIDS workshop first thing Saturday morning. Youths and youth workers alike split into groups to priorize “risky” activities and organize the steps to properly using a condom.
Stephanie Ainslie and Shannon King were even “lucky” enough to demonstrate the steps towards safe sex with a little role-playing, complete with props.
“I learned quite a bit of information I didn’t know–like masturbation was a ‘no risk’ activity and wet kissing was ‘low-risk’ one,” said Ainslie, co-ordinator at the Dryden Youth Centre.
“I never had the details about putting on a condom–it’s neat,” she continued. “And it could be useful when I become active in the far, far future.”
Another topical workshop was on fetal alcohol syndrome–its definition, its causes, and its effects.
“The reason I’m talking to you now is prevention,” Tracy Blasky, aboriginal family support co-ordinator, said right at the beginning of the workshop.
“Although it may not affect you now, it’s something you should be aware of,” she stressed.
The third workshop Saturday was on teen role modelling, where local UNFC youth support co-ordinator Brad Herbert gave tips on what kind of responsibility it takes to work with youths.
“There was a big debate on what a role model had to know in order to be a good role model,” noted Ryan McMahon, a program mentor with the Sunset Country Métis “Youth United” program here.
The debate was a good sign, said McMahon, who was glad to see differences in opinions among youth group members.
“Teens and Violence” was the topic of UNFC family court worker Connie Peterson’s workshop, a favourite among attendees, according youth council president Erin McMahon.
“Say you have a 12-year-old raised in a broken home and you have a kid raised in a ‘good’ home,” said Peterson. “They are both just as likely to go down the same path to violence but why?”
Peterson attributed the rise in teen violence to increasing societal pressures, and the resultant changes in parenting that some have yet to adjust to.
Her presentation provoked much discussion among youths, who opened up with their personal experiences and offered opinions on how youths are handled by the legal system.
“[These ideas] are what the community has to hear from you guys if there’s going to be any change,” Peterson encouraged.
Sheila McMahon later presented a teen fundraising workshop, where she outlined how youth groups could go about getting funding.
“You can’t just ask for money and get it,” she warned. “You have to have a purpose, you need specific goals. Some people have the idea it’s easy to ask various foundations and agencies for money but there’s definitely a process.”
The final workshop Saturday was by an anonymous presenter, who reached out to the youths in a discussion about his battle with alcohol. Once again, those on hand asked many pertinent questions.
The summit wrapped up Sunday morning with a breakfast, then it was time to say good-byes as the youths who were brought together for a weekend of learning and socializing parted company.
“Summits like this are important. You’re not going to get a chance to exchange ideas with other people from other communities otherwise,” remarked Ainslie.
“I think it’s vital to make your own youth group grow.”
“It really shows what, with some support, young people can do,” stressed Moffatt Makuto, executive director of the Multicultural Association of Northwestern Ontario.
“It was well-organized, especially for being a first time, and the hospitality has been excellent,” he noted, adding he was most impressed to see youths and adults working together so well.
If the summit was to have a motto, perhaps Makuto hit the nail on the head when he said, “Let us share to make the way for a better future.”
Given its success, Erin McMahon noted yesterday that with all the positive feedback, another summit could very well happen again in the future.