Elder Jonas Bird teaches a traditional Woodland Cree counting game at the in February. Photo courtesy Tammy Cook-Searson, Facebook.
Young people are being asked what Lac La Ronge needs to do to build a strong community.
A youth and community cultural engagement session starts Friday morning, asking for input on what the band’s youth support workers should be focusing on over the next two years.
Modeste McKenzie is one of about the workers who were hired in November – some in La Ronge, others in Hall Lake, Sucker River, Little Red, and Stanley Mission – in the wake of a number of youth suicides.
“The events of October were incredibly devastating,” he said.
“Young people are our future, they are incredibly important, they are the centre of our society and seeing that happen is absolutely heartbreaking. And for me it just gave me that extra push to really focus on these youth. We need to nurture them as best we can, we need listen to them.”
McKenzie said already in his job he’s heard repeatedly from youths that there are not enough cultural events to attend, which is why the support workers applied to Sask. Culture to fund travel, facilitators and refreshments for the Friday session.
“We need to hear from the community, we need to hear from the Elders, the cultural leaders, the educators, the artists, the parents and the youth. We need their input so that we can put together a comprehensive, an inclusive plan,” he said.
The day-long session will involve roundtable discussions, group brainstorming, and mapping the future based on the ideas presented earlier in the day.
It will be led by two Indigenous cultural leaders in their own right: Zoey Roy and Leroy Laliberte.
The session starts at 9:30 a.m. at Kitsaki Hall in La Ronge and runs until 4:30 p.m. Lunch will be available.
This event comes only a few days after the federal government announced $1.2 million over two years for mental wellness teams in LLIB and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.
Modeste said that money is not connected to the two-year plan for youth support workers.