Arts, crafts, and cultural activities will be a part of the youth conference. Photo courtesy Facebook, Stanley Mission Message Board.
The time has come for youths from the Lac la Ronge area to fill the Senator Myles Venne School for a weekend of hope.
The “Day of Hope” youth conference has been in the works since soon after the shocking suicides of young people in the north started making national headlines.
The conference has plenty to draw 10 to 17-year-olds in, with hairdressing and floor hockey on the list of activities going on throughout the day at the Senator Miles Venne School.
There is also a serious side to the events, with mental health workshops planned in response to the youth suicides in the region this fall.
Jade Roberts is a University of Saskatchewan student who grew up in La Ronge. She’s joined with other U of S students and NORTEP/NORPAC to organize the conference.
Roberts said most of her fellow students are Aboriginal and from smaller communities, which is key to understanding of what life is like for the youths who will be attending.
“Bringing outsiders in is not always beneficial and even though we are coming from Saskatoon and we kind of are outsiders, I think we’re still going to be able to connect with them and have that connection because we have the same type of background as most of the students there,” she said.
Roberts said growing up in La Ronge and moving to Saskatoon was difficult for her at first, but now she and her classmates have a chance to act as role models and show youths that someday “they can be in our position as well.”
Roberts said she’s most looking forward to the cultural activities, which include Dene and Cree hand games, smudging, and talking circles hosted by other U of S students.
Outspoken NORTEP student president Amie Bell has been advocating for youth to seek help if they’re feeling suicidal.
She said they expect several hundred youths to attend the conference after reaching out to the schools in Montreal Lake, Stanley Mission, Sucker River, La Ronge, and Little Red to spread the word.
With a hairdresser doing people’s hair and a photo booth set up, Bell said one of her biggest goal with the conference is to build self-confidence.
Bell said parent involvement is huge, and there is a lot to be gained from the workshops.
“I think the parents should encourage their children as well as the children encourage their parents to come out to this,” she said.
The conference takes place Saturday, and there will be a family dance in La Ronge the night before.