Press Release
Effort, skills, and determination makes good leadership—the goal of a ground-breaking series of “Youth for Youth Empowerment” camps happening in four locations across Treaty #3 this month.
The first one is set for Couchiching First Nation on Aug. 12-16.
The others are slated for Assabaska Park (Big Grassy First Nation) on Aug. 19-23, Grassy Narrows on Aug. 20-22, and a canoeing trip in the Dryden region during the last week of August.
The camps are a first step in the development of an all-new Centre of Good Life & Leadership for aboriginal youth by Oshki Aa-yaa’aag Mino Bimaadiziiwin (Good Life for Young Peoples).
The mission of this charitable, non-profit organization, founded in 2005, is bringing to life the dreams and potential of young Anishinaabeg, with the support of their families and communities.
“Not only do the ‘Youth for Youth Empowerment’ camps focus on skills such as entrepreneurship, money management, self-esteem, and healthy, active living, they are also designed to connect aboriginal youth to their ancestors to help give them the tools they need to incorporate traditional teachings and skills into every-day life,” said Good Life founder and president Al Hunter.
These camps are made possible through the support of the Small Change Fund, Lake of the Woods Community Foundation, Weechi-it-te-win Family Services, Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre, Seven Generations Education Institute, Common Ground Research Forum, Couchiching First Nation, Grand Council Treaty #3, Motivate Canada, and Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc.
Good Life for Young Peoples project officers are Cassandra Yerxa, a 22-year-old Lakehead University psychology student from Couchiching First Nation, and Kyra Downwind, a 17-year-old St. Thomas Aquinas high school student from Wauzhushk Onigum.
Both have been working hard to organize these camps for the youth of Treaty #3.
“Our goal is to gather 20 youth for each camp and support them to become successful people in life,” Downwind said from the Kenora office.
“These camps are a stepping stone,” noted Hunter.
“In the future, we hope that the Centre of Good Life & Leadership will become even bigger, and will fulfill its purpose as a place where youth can go to learn, express ideas, and overcome obstacles to help lead them to a good life.”
