NAN Supports Youth in Working to Create Positive Change

March 25, 2013

Thunder Bay, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Executive Council supports the First Nation youth participating in this week’s Feathers of Hope Youth Forum taking place in Thunder Bay, which brings together youth from across the region to discuss issues affecting their communities.

“It is inspiring to see the youth come together to address the issues facing their communities,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “There are so many challenges facing our young people – lack of access to quality education, inadequate resourcing to support extra-curricular activities, prescription drug abuse and the high rate of suicide. We need to pay attention to what they are saying and how we can help fulfill their dreams of healthy sustainable communities and a stronger brighter future for all of us.”

The Feathers of Hope Youth Forum, coordinated by the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, is bringing together youth delegates from 91 First Nation communities in northern Ontario to speak out on matters they face in their communities, and work towards the development of an action plan to address their issues. Topics of discussion include: Culture and Identity, Education and Skill Development, Recreation and Programming, Systems of Care, and Health.

NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno and NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler are attending this week’s event which is being held at the Best Western Plus NorWester’ Hotel and Conference Centre.

For more information on the event visit www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/foh/

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities in James Bay Treaty No. 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty No. 5 – an area covering two thirds of the province of Ontario in Canada. www.nan.on.ca

For more information please contact: Amy Harris, Director of Communications – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (807) 625-4906 or cell (807) 252 2806 email aharris@nan.on.ca

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