Numbers Down At South Bay Youth Gathering
Thursday, August 09, 2007 at 12:46
The 14th Annual South Bay Youth Conference near Ile-a-la-Crosse this week is winding down for another year.
The annual gathering attracted approximately 300 youth this year, significantly less than what has been seen in previous years.
It has been billed as the largest annual outdoor youth gathering in northern Saskatchewan, but organizers admit there have been years when it drew 1,000 participants.
Organizers of the event say they are already planning new ways to revive the attendance figures.
Participant Kerri Gauthier says the conference is about gathering with your friends and having fun for a week.
Gauthier, who has been attending the event for seven years, says the elders’ camp is a major draw to the gathering and the youth love it.
She says its a chance for the youth to learn traditional culture from their elders.
The conference wraps up on Saturday.