Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s a better way to live and the people of Fort Good Hope want to help their young people find it. We have elders centres, we have recreation centres, we have health centres, and the youth today in Fort Good Hope want to have a place to call their own.
Today we need to focus on establishing strong youth centres in Fort Good Hope. A youth centre would give young people a place to go in town and outside of town after school where they can be held accountable to running their own centres, whether it be in the bush or in the community of Fort Good Hope. They will learn about responsibility and accountability. It will provide a place for them to do things and also to learn.
Fort Good Hope’s Community Wellness Plan identified the need for a recreation and youth and elders program. It is hoped that the departments of Health and Social Services and MACA will support this plan.
Fort Good Hope’s acting CEO also says a good education will help many youth overcome their problems. If not, they may not be able to get a good job or go to university if they don’t get the education they need in the community. Then they start a road of hopelessness and have no purpose in their lives. The community is forming a support group to give youth a place where they can set some goals, stay accountable make some lifestyle changes. It will also give young people a safe place to talk about what they’re going through, a place of hope, a place of encouragement, a place of learning and a place they can call their own.
Earlier this year students went to Vancouver to see what college and university life is like. The trip inspired the students to get an education instead of getting drunk. Youth need to be grounded in a good life and life skills, and learn how to handle situations when they are being pressured to drink before they become adults. We need to remind our youth of the consequences of their decisions and to be held accountable for their actions. If you want a good life, you need to live a good life. It’s simple. Residents, led by the elders, want a traditional camp to bring people back to the land. The land is where we come from; it reminds us of who we are and why we were created.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
The band council began constructing the camp this spring. The community hopes it can be a wellness and healing camp where people and youth can be comfortable, learn about the traditional Dene ways of life, reconnect to their roots and give them strength for the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
