*URGENT* - CCAY Communications Package

 June 20, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aboriginal youth funding slashed by Federal Government

VICTORIA, BC – Aboriginal non-profit agencies across BC are reeling with the unexpected news of a $3 million funding freeze to a long-standing and highly successful youth services program called Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth. This sudden announcement by the Federal Government represents a significant proportion of each agency's annual operating budget. The severity of this cut means that some organizations may potentially have to close their doors.

Until now, the Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth (CCAY) program has been a $22 million, Canada-wide initiative that supports off-reserve Aboriginal youth aged 10-24 years to enhance their economic, social, cultural and personal prospects.

"The Federal Government tells us they have to cut this funding because it doesn't promote job creation," says an outraged Paul Lacerte, Executive Director of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, "and yet that is exactly what CCAY does."

CCAY funding is used by Friendship Centres and other Aboriginal agencies to create opportunities for Aboriginal youth to explore and learn about Aboriginal languages and cultures, promote their engagement in the community, and build cultural awareness in the community at large.

"Programs like CCAY are building an Aboriginal workforce that is strong and sustainable," continues Lacerte. "We know that Aboriginal youth have better outcomes when they have access to culturally appropriate life and job skills development services."

One of the hallmarks of the CCAY program, according to BC Program Manager Naomi Graham, is that it builds self-confidence and self-esteem.

"Vancouver Island Aboriginal communities are experiencing an unprecedented and astonishing rate of youth suicide," says Graham about the community that recently declared a state of emergency. "Cowichan youth unemployment is at an all-time high of 85%. Now is not the time to cut essential support services for Aboriginal youth."

Aboriginal youth is the fastest-growing demographic in BC. The Aboriginal labour force is expected to grow twice as fast as the rest of Canada's labour force in the next decade, so they will be an important part of the province and country's future economic growth.

Last year, almost 3,500 Aboriginal youth took part in CCAY programming, and accessed over 300,000 points of service. These figures directly translate into lower costs for other government services and a brighter future for Aboriginal youth.

 

"Aboriginal people face disproportionate risks and barriers to living long healthy lives, including the lowest life expectancy and graduation rates, and some of the highest rates of suicide, addictions, unemployment, poverty, victimization and incarceration," says Annette Morgan, President of the BC Assn of Friendship Centres. "Programs like CCAY close these gaps, and help to address the structural barriers that have precluded Aboriginal people from fully participating in Canada's economy."

Formal notice of the funding cut came from the Federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development on June 12, 2012, and is retroactive to April 1, 2012. This means that any funds expended by CCAY funded organizations during the first quarter of this fiscal year will not be reimbursed, leaving Aboriginal agencies scrambling to find money to cover their expenses.

"This decision will have a major impact on the Friendship Centre movement across the country and on our young people who depend heavily on these support services," says Lacerte. "Our staff are now exploring options for alternative funding and we are calling on all our allies to support our efforts."

The BCAAFC is an umbrella organization for BC's 25 Aboriginal Friendship Centres that offer a wide range of culturally relevant services and supports to Aboriginal people residing in urban and rural communities. These include job training and skills development programs, mental health and addictions counseling, literacy and early childhood education programs, and cultural support services for youth, families and elders. 

For more information contact:

 

Naomi Graham,

Program Manager, CCAY

NGraham@bcaafc.com

250-388-5522

 

Paul Lacerte

Executive Director, BCAAFC

placerte@bcaafc.com

250-388-5522

http://sookinchoot.blogspot.com

FW: our lives are in DANGER

All Life Is Sacred ! RESIST MINING ! SECWEPEMC NATION IS UNDER ATTACK
------Spread the NEWS -----

Mining Threatens One of BC's Largest Sockeye Salmon Runs

Friday, June 15, 2012

(Adapted from a forthcoming publication by MiningWatch Canada on the threats to salmon posed by the push for new mines in BC)

The Thompson River flows into the Fraser River west of Kamloops, B.C. and provides important spawning grounds and migratory routes for a number of salmon stocks. The Adams River is a tributary of the South Thompson and is home to one of the most important sockeye runs in the Fraser River system. Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park on the lower Adams River has been recognized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as one of the world's greatest natural areas. Chinook, coho, sockeye, and pink salmon also spawn in the Adams River. Of course the Secwepemc who have sustained themselves from the river and the land around it have recognised its importance for thousands of years.

The Thompson River watershed already hosts Canada's largest copper mine – Teck's open pit Highland Valley mine. The New Afton mine is in construction, the Harper Creek and Ajax mine projects are in the environmental assessment process, and the Ruddock Creek Project is in advanced exploration. If all these projects go ahead the Thompson could go from having one operating mine to five within its watershed. The Ruddock Creek project is of particular concern as it is in the headwaters of the Adams River, is surrounded by sensitive protected areas, and is an important area for the Secwepemc indigenous economy. Over the last three years members of the Secwepemc community of Neskonlith have invited MiningWatch to make several presentations and discuss the potential impacts of the projects in the area. From these visits it is clear that many Neskonlith people are staunchly opposed to the Ruddock Creek project.

As reported in our last newsletter, the Ajax Mine is of concern to Kamloops residents given that the project is perched on the city boundary and would directly affect an important natural and recreational area.

MiningWatch is collaborating with Sierra Club of BC and Ecovision Law to evaluate potential cumulative effects of these projects and the threat of "worst case scenarios", and to submit these findings into the individual environmental assessments for the Harper Creek and Ajax mines.

In a semi-arid region, use and changes to hydrology are a major concern for all these projects, as are the potential threats to water quality. MiningWatch is currently trying to get access to results from the federal Environmental Effects Monitoring program for metal mines to better understand these threats. The latest summary of data, from 2007, clearly indicated that despite general compliance with regulations, "on average" mine effluents are still affecting downstream fish and fish habitat.

TED NOLAN'S SON JORDON WINS STANLEY CUP WITH LA KINGS

FORMER BUFFALO SABRES & NEW YORK ISLANDERS HEAD COACH TED NOLAN CELEBRATES HIS SON'S STANLEY CUP WIN The host emcce for the 2011 Native American Music Awards, Ted Nolan, is currently celebrating a Stanley Cup Win through his 22 year old son, Jordon Nolan, of the Los Angeles Kings. Jordon and the Kings achieved their first Stanley cup win in the NHL finals against the New Jersey Devils this past Monday, June 11th.   Jordan Nolan was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round (186th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  In  October 2010, Nolan was signed by the Los Angeles Kings to a three-year, entry-level contract.  He spent the next two seasons with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he totaled 14 goals and 39 points in 115 games. This February, Nolan was recalled to join the Los Angeles Kings, and was assigned uniform number 71.  Last month, Nolan scored his first career NHL playoff goal, helping the Los Angeles Kings sweep the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. Jordan's father, Theodore "Ted" John Nolan, was born in the Garden River Ojibwa First Nation Reserve outside of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Ted is currently the Head Coach of Latvia men's national ice hockey team and is leading in the 2012 IIHF World Championship.  He is well known for being the former Head Coach of the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders. A retired Canadian professional hockey left winger, Ted played three seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.  He's won 147 games in four seasons as a coach in the NHL. At the 2011 Native American Music Awards, Ted was presented with a Jim Thorpe Sports Award. Watching the Los Angeles Kings Standley Cup Playoff win at the Staples Center Monday night, Ted  was a proud hockey dad, hugging his son Jordan on the ice. He couldn't believe he just witnessed his youngest son win the Stanley Cup.  He celebrated like every other ecstatic father of a Kings player after Los Angeles' Cup-clinching 6-1 win against the New Jersey Devils. NHL.com reported that Ted Nolan couldn't imagine feeling any better than he did in that moment.  "I've been fortunate to do some things in life, but nothing compares to watching your son do it," he said. "That was a great feeling, to watch your son go through something like this -- being a parent versus being a coach and walking through it with him. It was a great experience and I'll never forget it." "He was probably more nervous than I was," Jordan Nolan told NHL.com. "Having him here is really special. He's seen all the hard work I've done these past few years, the changes I had to make. He's a big part of that, so it's definitely great....It's just remarkable. It has definitely all paid off," Jordan said. "It definitely feels unbelievable. I can't even talk right now. It's unbelievable." "When he picked up the Cup, I can't even describe it," Ted Nolan said. "It's just a very, very special feeling." The Native American Music Awards & Association sends their best wishes and congratulations to the Nolan family.   unsubscribe | update my profile

***URGENT NEWS***

We've just been informed that the Government of Canada, through the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AAND) has withdrawn their support for the Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth (CCAY) program effective April 1st, 2012. This is very bad news for participants of the Sookinchoot Youth Centre Program. We are working on gathering more information at finding solutions

http://sookinchoot.blogspot.com

FW: WFN's NIFA 2 Day Soccer Camp Poster and Registration Forms

HIGH SCHOOL FN YOUTH

2 Day 

Soccer Camp 

June 9th and 10th 

Saturday  10:00am ‐4:00 pm 

Sunday 9:30 am ‐3:00pm 

Camp to be held on the Sensisyusten Soccer Field @ 1900 Quail Lane 

Youth ages 13‐19 can participate at no cost 

Please  provide your own lunch, transportation and accommodations

 

Hi Everyone,

 

This would be a great opportunity for youth who are interested in soccer. The deadline for this camp is this Wednesday June 6^th and will take place at WFN's Sensisyusten.

If you do have any questions or want to register, please send and contact Justin Lott at either justin.lott@wfn.ca or (250) 768-0227 ext. 148.

They need at least 10-12 youth to register before they are able to continue with the camp so please forward this to anyone you know that might be interested.

 

Thank you,

 

Dominique Alexis

Events Planner

Okanagan Nation Alliance

#106, 3500 Carrington Rd

Westbank, BC

P: (250) 707-0095 x. 106

www.syilx.org