June-21-10
National Aboriginal Day
"On June 21st, this year and every year, Canada will honour the native peoples who first brought humanity to this great land. And may the first peoples of our past always be full and proud partners in our future."
Roméo Leblanc, Governor General of Canada from 1995 to 1999
In 1996, Canada's Governor General Roméo Leblanc signed a proclamation that established the first National Aboriginal Day to highlight the important contributions that the Aboriginal people have made to the country. Today we continue to recognize this important day which reminds us that, despite all the riches we have found in Canada, its first people are still facing many challenges in their home lands.
On this very important day, Canada World Youth (CWY) would like to take the opportunity to outline some of the efforts that have been made recently to be more effective in directly engaging aboriginal communities. This endeavour aims to enrich our programs through the increased participation of Aboriginals, assess the needs of aboriginal youth, and gain a greater perspective of the challenges that first peoples face and their journey towards full and positive inclusion in Canada.
In recent months, CWY has undergone a series of meetings, consultations and dialogues designed to create a better understanding of what we can do to empower young First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth in order to create greater opportunities for them to learn and grow beyond their own community.
To do this we have begun by talking directly to the people we are trying to work with. CWY Board of Directors, staff, alumni, hosts communities, funding organizations have engaged in open discussions with many Aboriginal organizations including the Assembly of First Nations, National Association of Friendship Centers and local chapters, National Aboriginal Health Organization, Ghost River Rediscovery, Morley Secondary school, Aboriginal legal clinic in Toronto, Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami, Boyle Street Education Centre, White Buffalo Youth Lodge. Together, they have analysed the strengths and weaknesses of existing programs, and ways we can increase our reach to Aboriginal youth. To read the complete report of the national Aboriginal consultation that took place in May 2010, click here.
Our three main objectives are to increase the participation of Aboriginal youth in our programs so that they can benefit from a unique learning international experience, to improve access and support to Aboriginal youth on existing programs and to explore programs intended specifically for Aboriginal youth. This allows us to create distinct opportunities and addresses different personality types that may exist. From the young person that is ready to jump out of their comfort zone and be a part of a team of diverse youth all sharing the same experience; as well as those who would like to learn among other Aboriginal youth that are looking to discover new ways to challenge themselves.
Regardless of the program, the goal is the same; to offer a program that trains and educates youth about methods and practices that can be taken back to their home community to improve the quality of life of the friends and neighbours they grew up with, as well as giving that youth a path to personal development, that helps them grow the skills they need to think locally and act globally. This is the cycle of progression at heart, when a young person can begin with a dream, have the experience of a lifetime and then return home ready to be a positive force for growth and development of their community.
"In the coming year the CWY team will be working to secure funding and implement an Aboriginal Youth leadership program, said Ms Iris Almeida-Côté, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada World Youth. "We are committed to work with and learn from Aboriginal peoples. This is at the heart of our reciprocal approach and is key to the national and international credibility of our programs."
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