Piikani Youth Forum a rousing success

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

The Piikani Nation Secondary School in Brocket was the site of the Piikani Youth Forum, hosted last week by the Piikani Child and Family Services Prevention Team and themed "Bringing Youth Together". Teens from all over Alberta attended the two-day event, which was open to native and non native youth between the ages of 14 and 18.

Facilitators, influential figures, and even a celebrity or two assisted with forums, addressing issues like self esteem, suicide, youth testimony, promiscuity, drugs, discrimination, heritage, moving into the future, and more. For the Piikani Nation kids there was the added excitement of new kids in town, from far away.  More than 130 people were in attendance at the height of activity, despite dismal and snowy weather.

Actor Colin Van Loon

Actor Colin Van Loon was both a featured speaker and a talent-show judge.  You can see him in a couple of episodes of 'Arctic Air', 'Hank Williams First Nation', 'Dreamkeeper', and others.  The upcoming indie film 'Napi 2012' is a retelling of the Napi legend. Van Loon is originally from southern Alberta but now resides in Vancouver, where he graduated from the Vancouver Film School (Acting). He is presently attending Simon Fraser University, expanding on his film knowledge, balancing acting, school, and events such as this one.

"It's very seldom you see correct modern interpretations of aboriginals," said Colin.  "If you want a hand in changing it you need to learn what you need to know to do that."

Leanne Van Loon, Kyle Blood, and Nintendo DS Winner Diandra Crow Chief
C. Davis photos

Piikani Child and Family Services Prevention Team Coordinator Leanne Van Loon wants to help change what she calls "negative stereotyping".  "I have grassroots on and off the reserve," she said. "I know what it's like to be on both sides of the fence.  When I'm here (Brocket) I'm seen as white, when I'm off reserve I'm seen as native."

Talent show contestants Shelby Provost and Autumn Striped Wolf
C. Davis photo

Rapper Ken Eagle Plume

This is our foundation year," Leanne explained as the event was winding down. "All over youth struggle with the same issues within their community. It doesn't matter what colour you are, you have FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), you have drugs, alcohol, vandalism, family violence, bullying, gang-bullying, cyber-bullying is getting out of control."

Singer Diandra Crow Chief
C. Davis photo

Leanne seemed to be quite passionate about the importance of her work. "Behind this is, if we unite the youth in Alberta, then unite them all in Canada, and then turn this into a united youth worldwide to work on all these issues.  If we can get the discrimination and the prejudice out, because we're all the same, then it's going to be a lot better united as one to really solve these issues in our communities."

Quite the aspirations for a young lady who doesn't seem to flinch from the issues at all.  "we don't want to become that quick-fix society. We need to start solving this. We told the kids 'You can be the generation to put a stop to FAS, now, it's in your hands'.  We want to plant these seeds early in these kids and unite them. Each day they were put into different groups, they weren't allowed to be in groups of people that they had come with, or from their school groups.  It was all about exchanging emails, different contacts, and then when they become our age they're going to know and they're going to have the contacts.  It will give them more power to move forward in a positive manner."

The next generation

Happy birthday Tristen

After two days of heavy topics, on Thursday evening the event wrapped up with a dinner and a fun talent show and a dance, with some exciting prizes.   What party is complete without a "Billie Jean" dance-off?  Oh, and Novice Chinooks goalie Tristen Blood was feted by the crowd as he celebrated his 9th birthday.