In honor of World Indigenous Peoples Day, Native Youth Sexual Health Network and Girls Action Foundation has officially launched Indigenous Young Women Speaking Our Truths, Building Our Strengths national project and gathering! Check it out:
Indigenous Young Women: Speaking our Truths, Building our Strengths
November 18th to 21st, 2011 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Deadline to REGISTER is September 9th, 2011.
To read the information and register in Inuktitut, please click here
Want to speak your truth and build on your strengths? Are you a young Indigenous woman between the ages of 16 and 25? Whether you are already involved in your community or are just starting to learn about your Indigenous culture, the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and Girls Action Foundation invite you to join other young Indigenous women from across Canada to learn, share and have fun together!
This project offers opportunities to come together as sisters, with the inclusion of Elders and other traditional leaders in the spirit of unity to discuss what is happening, and act upon our vision of what needs to change in our communities. This is the time to be yourself, all of yourself and celebrate it!
This project is for and by:
Self- identified young Indigenous Women between the ages of 16-25, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, status or non-status, beneficiary or non-beneficiary. Those who identify as women, Trans, Two Spirit, or gender non-conforming are welcome.
What is the project about?
The Indigenous Young Women: Speaking our Truths, Building our Strengths project focuses on Indigenous young women’s leadership, empowerment, building solidarity amongst each other and stopping violence. The project will focus on skill sharing and facilitation, emphasizing the fact that youth ideas matter and that youth are experts in their own right! We will also have opportunities to learn important teachings from our elders and other traditional teachers, with an understanding that women’s strength has always existed in our communities and continues to grow.
The project is also lead by a peer Advisory Committee consisting of ten Indigenous young women from across Canada.They are:
Amanda Darroch-Mudry
Erin Konsmo
Janice Grey
Jasmine Redfern
Jocelyn Formsma
Kari-Dawn Wuttunee
Krysta Williams
Lacey Whiteduck
Marie Holeiter
Theresa J Lightfoot
Mentorship
Opportunities will be created for different types of mentorship, both informal and formal. Mentorships will be created between Elders, traditional teachers and young women, and there will also be peer-to-peer mentorship as youth have important knowledge to learn from each other as well.
Community Actions
A key area that has been identified as part of this project is making sure there are opportunities to continue the work started at this gathering. Ten communities will be chosen to use the skills, knowledge and mentorship gained from the project to implement local community actions! This is your chance to let your voices be heard, and act upon the changes you would like to see in your communities. More information on the community action opportunities will be provided at the gathering. Several months ago, our research laboratory was given the task to collect the data concerning the frequency of side effects related to Ventolin administering in patients of one of the hospitals in Cleveland. The results showed that the rate of adverse reactions is very low, and they are mostly light in their manifestations.
A 4-day gathering will explore key areas such as:
- Stopping racism and violence
- Reclaiming knowledge and teachings from Elders and moving into new traditions
- Healthy sexuality
- Pride in cultural diversity and difference
- Leadership in all its forms
- Arts for social change
- Learning practical skills (How to start a youth council, grant writing, political leadership, becoming your own advocate)
- Get to know your rights!
- Skill-sharing
- Self-care and burnout prevention
- Plan community actions
- Create resources
- Keeping in touch after the gathering
Possible activities: workshops, concerts, talk show, fashion show, film night, giveaways, feasts, hip hop and more. Come ready to share and exchange your skills, talent or knowledge.
When & Where:
The gathering will take place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan between November 18th and 21st, 2011.
Accessibility: We will make every effort possible to meet the needs of all participants, including but not limited to language, mobility, disability and dietary needs. Please make note of this on the registration form. If you are selected to participate, we will work together to ensure accessibility needs are met.
Language: Please note that this gathering will be held mainly in English, French and Inuktitut. The Native Youth Sexual Health Network and Girls Action are committed to making the event accessible in these three languages, so let us know if you have a different language preference we will do our best to arrange for whispered translation.
Childcare: Where we can, we support the participation of those who would not be able to take part if their young child was unable to accompany them. Please make a note of this on the registration form where indicated and read our Policy for Children for more information.
There are NO fees to participate in Indigenous Young Women: Speaking our Truths, Building our Strengths. If you are selected, we will cover your air travel and accommodation costs.
REGISTER NOW! Deadline to register is September 9th, 2011. Participants will be notified of acceptance by September 26th, 2011.
Registration forms can also be faxed to (514) 948-5926 or mailed to:
24 Mont Royal West Suite 601 Montreal, Quebec H2T 2S2 CANADA
For more information please contact Natasha@girlsactionfoundation.ca or call 1-888-948-1112
More information and registration in Inukitut is available here: http://www.girlsactionfoundation.ca/en/special-projects/indigenous-young-women-speaking-our-truths-building-our-strength.
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