The Government of Canada Supports Saskatoon’s Aboriginal Young People

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, November 23, 2007 – On behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, Carol Skelton, Member of Parliament (Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar), today announced funding for the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s (STC) Urban First Nations Services.

The funding of up to $393,000 will be used for the White Buffalo Youth Project of the White Buffalo Youth Lodge. This project provides Saskatoon’s Aboriginal young people with a safe environment where they can participate in after-school and evening activities. They learn valuable life and social skills to effectively solve problems, manage life situations, develop healthy lifestyles, and experience positive family growth.”The Government of Canada is proud to support the STC Urban First Nations Services, a key provider of positive programming for urban Aboriginal youth,” said Minister Verner. “The White Buffalo Youth Project will improve the life prospects of children and young people by providing them with opportunities to reach their full potential.”

“Young people facing overwhelming social obstacles need to be presented with options for a healthier future,” said Ms. Skelton. “I am pleased to announce that our Government will contribute to this project, which helps provide those options and supports the full and active participation of Aboriginal youth in our community.”

“The Saskatoon Tribal Council appreciates the funding that it received from Canadian Heritage,” said Tribal Chief Joe Quewezance. “The funding has assisted in programming and service delivery for the White Buffalo Youth Lodge, particularly for youth who are at risk to the many negative aspects of street life in the City of Saskatoon. The continued funding will create many opportunities for change to a better, more positive, productive, educational lifestyle for the youth that go through the doors of the White Buffalo Youth Lodge.”

The STC Urban Tribal Council, a subsidiary of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, was established in 1995 to enable the Council to better serve its members living in the urban setting of Saskatoon. The White Buffalo Youth Lodge is a centre designed for Aboriginal families residing in Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods. Two thousand young people per month participate in the White Buffalo Youth Lodge’s activities, demonstrating the positive impact this organization has had on the core communities of Saskatoon.

The Government of Canada has provided this financial assistance through the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centre component of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program provides Aboriginal young people, aged 15 to 24 and living in urban settings, with projects and activities that are culturally relevant and based in the Aboriginal community. This program helps Aboriginal young people improve their economic, social, and personal prospects.

Information :

Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages
819 997-7788

Dori Krahn
Constituency Assistant
Office of the Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar
306 975-6555

Angela Cassie
A/Director of Communications
Prairies and Northern Region Canadian Heritage
204 983-4367