Roots & Shoot for Aboriginal Youth Project Development Grants

Roots & Shoot for Aboriginal Youth Project

Development Grants

The Roots & Shoots team has witnessed the dedication and teamwork of groups who give back to their communities and has recently decided to assist groups in their achieving their objectives.

Roots & Shoots is pleased to announce that we will be offering small grants of up to $2000 for projects to be developed by First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups/communities who are part of the Roots & Shoots for Aboriginal Youth Program.

Made possible with the generous support of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, grants will be provided to groups who demonstrate an existing commitment to Roots & Shoots for Aboriginal Youth and express a clear plan for executing community action projects.

Criteria for consideration:

• You are an existing Roots & Shoots member (If you are not a member please visit www.RootsandShoots.ca to join). Please note: applications will not be considered unless you are a member group.

• You belong to a First Nations, Inuit or Métis group or organization (grants will not be provided to individuals).

• Your projects will have a positive impact on a community issue related to people, animals or the environment. Preference will be given to projects that address more than one area of interest.

• You have submitted a fully completed application form.

Deadline for submission:

Wednesday, March 23rd by 5 pm (Eastern Standard Time)

Reporting:

All grant recipients will be expected to submit a final report within 6 months and 10% of the grant will be withheld until the final report is received.

For more information and a copy of the application form, please contact the Aboriginal Project Coordinator, Tanya Muthusamipillai at: aboriginal@janegoodall.ca.

Aboriginal Youth Diversion Program Coordinator

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Aboriginal Youth Diversion Program Coordinator (full-time)

Are you a team player with a passion for working with Aboriginal youth? Do you thrive in a team environment where you are valued, challenged and supported? Are you ready for a role that will allow you to connect youth with culture and help them uphold the Seven Grandfather Teachings? Do you have experience working with youth who have been in conflict with the law? If so, then this opportunity is for you!

The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is an award-winning Health Access Centre that provides holistic primary health care to First Nation, Métis and Inuit people living in Ottawa - one of the fastest growing and diverse urban Aboriginal communities in Canada. Wabano is a fast-paced, client-oriented organization that models the Aboriginal values of balance, respect and community interdependence.

As an Aboriginal Frontline Worker with a post-secondary diploma or degree in a human services curriculum, combined with four years of social services experience with at-risk youth, we encourage you to consider this exceptional opportunity.

Purpose of Position
To assume a hands-on role in the development and implementation of a culturally-appropriate diversion and early intervention program for urban Aboriginal youth (aged 13-18), as well as assist in the diversion of youth and their families from the statutory child protection and youth justice systems.

For more information CLICK HERE!

Call for submissions to Young Aboriginal Women's Creative Essay contest! DEADLINE March 25, 2011

The Aboriginal Women's Leadership Circle for Women's Worlds 2011
invites young Aboriginal across Canada to submit their written,
artistic, or otherwise creative submissions to attend Women's Worlds
2011. We greatly value the participation of young Aboriginal women and
would like to hear directly from YOU about why you want to be there!

For contest guidelines and how to submit or contact: aboriginalyouth@womensworlds.ca

Deadline to submit: Friday March 25th, 2011

3 grand winners to be awarded an honorarium of $1,5000 (one young First Nation woman, one young Inuit woman and one young Métis woman) plus the
opportunity to present their essay at Women's Worlds 2011.

7 winners to be awarded an honorarium of $1000

This contest is in partnership with the Native Youth Sexual Health
Network to ensure direct Aboriginal youth leadership and engagement.

NWT Suicide Prevention Training Program in Inuvik

YELLOWKNIFE (February 18, 2011) - The recently revised NWT Suicide Prevention Training Program is being offered to residents in the Beaufort Delta who are interested in learning suicide prevention and intervention skills to help others.

The Department of Health and Social Services, in partnership with the NWT Suicide Prevention Steering Committee, will be offering the training program at the Gwich'in Wellness Camp outside of Inuvik from March 19 to 28, 2011.

The revised one-week curriculum will use Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, and will consist of three phases that are culturally-relevant and community-based. The first phase will be grieving and healing work, the second phase will be community asset mapping, and the third phase will be planning to help communities address the issue of suicide.

"Anyone with intervention skills can intervene and save a life, which is why the program is open to all residents - and not just mental health professionals," said Minister of Health and Social Services, Sandy Lee. "With this new training program, community members will have the skills to help fellow community members."

Through the NWT Suicide Prevention Training Program, healthy living and wellness is being promoted which is a key priority in the Department of Health and Social Services' A Foundation for Change and the Government of the Northwest Territories' goal of healthy, educated residents.

For more information, contact:

Damien Healy
Manager, Communications
Health and Social Services
Tel: (867) 920-8927

Life or Death: Teen Suicide on American Indian Reservations

Jay Tavare

Actor, Writer & Activist

Posted: February 12, 2011 01:41 PM

Teen suicide is beyond what most of us can fathom. No parent should have to bury their children. I have done it in my films and even that much was emotionally uncomfortable and draining.

American Indian teens take their own lives at more than two times the rate of any other teen demographic in the USA, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of course, these numbers are just averages, so on certain reservations the suicide rate is exponentially higher. But calculating the numbers is easy. It's the reasons that are harder to fathom.

Read More

Choose Life

Michael Short- February 14, 2011

The pain caused by the suicide of a young person is almost too terrible to imagine, certainly too terrible to be adequately described. Words so often elude us here. But we need to talk about youth suicide, not avoid it in the misguided belief that keeping it taboo somehow shelters people in difficulty from dangerous thoughts. Only through appropriate discussion can we cement the crucial concept that young people have many options - and suicide is not one of them.

Read More

Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister announces new International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI) initiative!!!

Ottawa, Ontario —Today, as part of CIDA’s International Development Week, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, introduced a new opportunity for Aboriginal youth from across Canada to participate in international development through the new International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI) initiative.

“The new International Aboriginal Youth Internships initiative is an exciting, new initiative that will bring a new experience to Canada’s Aboriginal youth,” said Minister Oda. “Their unique perspective and heritage will enhance our work in developing countries and enrich their opportunities to contribute to Canada’s efforts to bring a better life to those living in poverty around the world. I firmly believe that our government’s outreach to the Aboriginal youth in Canada in this way will open new doors in their futures.”

Through the IAYI initiative, each year 140 Canadian Aboriginal youth will have the opportunity to work in developing countries on Canadian-supported development projects with recognized organizations. This initiative will be supported with $10.5 million over five years.

In developing the initiative, CIDA consulted with national aboriginal organizations, including the Assembly of First Nations, the Native Women’s Association of Canada, and the Métis National Council, as well as with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Canadian Heritage.

The internships will be implemented by qualified Canadian organizations selected under CIDA’s new Global Citizens Program. Canadian organizations are invited to apply by submitting a proposal before April 7, 2011.

Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Justin Broekema
Press Secretary
819-953-6238
or
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Media Relations Office
819-953-6534
media@acdi-cida.gc.ca