Report Welcomed – Regional Chief Beardy
THUNDER BAY – Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy is calling the report released today produced by First Nations youth a critical step in addressing the issues which plague northern First Nation communities and said he is committed to working with leadership and youth in implementing their recommendations.
“This report with directives and recommendations directly from the youth is an important step in shaping our future, creating opportunities and addressing the suicide crisis that is plaguing our communities,” Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy said. “I welcome the work the youth put into this report and now I urge the provincial and federal government of Canada to work with our First Nation leaders and our youth to help make this report a reality.”
Ontario’s Advocate for Children and Youth has released a special report by First Nations youth that urges local, provincial, federal and First Nations leadership to partner with them to create safer, healthier communities for northern remote and fly-in First Nations communities. The report, Feathers of Hope: A First Nations Youth Action Plan includes recommendations and a five-year road map. Events took place in Ottawa, Toronto and Thunder Bay this morning.
The action plan is rooted in the voices of more than 160 youth from 64 of Ontario’s northern First Nations communities who participated in the Feathers of Hope youth forums in Thunder Bay and Kashechewan First Nation last year.
The youth gathered to talk about the realities of their communities and to identify a path forward where they could lead the change.
The youth identified 15 themes and urge all levels of leadership to take immediate action to address these issues and made key recommendations which include:
- Provincial, federal, First Nations leadership and other interested organizations must join together and take immediate action to meet the needs and challenges faced by First Nations youth.
- All actions and strategies to address the issues the youth have identified must be created with First Nations young people as equal partners.
- A five-year strategy must be created to focus on the themes raised by youth in forum discussions.
The Office of the Provincial Advocate reports directly to the Legislature and provides an independent voice for children and youth, including children with special needs and First Nations children. The Office is guided by the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has a strong commitment to youth involvement.
