Aboriginal leaders address bullying, suicide
First Nation leaders are hoping to combat youth suicide and bullying through positive messages of hope and perseverance.
“We are making our youth a priority,” said Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN). “We want to encourage them, acknowledge them and remind them that they are valuable and that they contribute to our lives and they are our future leaders.”
On Monday, FSIN hosted its second Suicide Prevention and Anti-Bullying Conference on the Ochapowace First Nation, and it won’t be the last.
“We started in Little Red a few weeks back and next week we are in Thunderchild and we are going to eventually be making our way up to Clearwater Dene and other parts of northern Saskatchewan,” said Cameron.
Youth from Ochapowace and surrounding First Nations attended the one-day event that focused on youth suicide, anti-bullying, alcohol and drugs, gangs and mental wellness.
Cameron said several First Nation leaders, including himself, shared their personal stories about overcoming adversity.
“We had our hard times,” he said. “Poverty was a way of life for my family. I seen alcoholism in the home. I remember going hungry for years during elementary school. I tried to lay that all out. At the same time, though, my mother got us to school every day and, in essence, it was education that helped me get to where I am. Then, when I finally chose to be drug and alcohol-free, then my life started to change for the better.”
The keynote was delivered by Brigitte Laquette from the Cote First Nation, who is an active member of the Team Canada senior women’s hockey team.
“She’s here to share her experience and give words of encouragement to the youth that nothing is impossible if you put your heart, mind and determination into it you will succeed in life,” said Cameron.
He said too many young people are falling through the cracks.
“Anything we can do to help our youth we (at FSIN) are going to do it,” said Cameron. “Year after year, we do lose some of our youth to suicide, to gang violence, to drugand-alcohol related violence, so we want to embark on this journey with our youth.”
He said it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure today’s young people have the love and support they need to be successful in life.
At the recent provincial budget announcement, Cameron indicated FSIN would like to invest more money in youth programs.
Throughout his political career, he has always focused his attention on youth because it is one of his priorities. Cameron is hopeful for the future because while attending the National Liberal Convention in Winnipeg last month, the party passed a resolution to make First Nation youth a priority.
“It’s just a coincidence they passed this resolution, when we at the FSIN are on this journey for our youth,” he said. “We are going to continue, at the FSIN, to reach out to our youth to build our self-esteem and self-confidence and make them stronger, happier persons.”
When I finally chose to be drug and alcohol-free, then my life started to change for the better.