United Way of the Lower Mainland supports youth health, wellness and employability through trail-building initiative designed to create resilience during COVID-19.
From repairing trails to biking them, Indigenous youth from the Mémiyelhtel program in Stó:lō are combating the effects of social isolation due to COVID-19.
“We have had to be creative in finding ways to engage with our youth in-person, while respecting physical distancing,” says Breanna Miller, Youth Services Manager, Stó:lō Service Agency. “We added an enhancement to our program last year by purchasing two mountain bikes, which have been an important addition, especially during the pandemic. Now, having the opportunity to collaborate with United Way and the Chilliwack Park Society, we are able to have yet another opportunity to safely spend time together, give back to our community, and further the biking component for youth in our program. We hope there will also be opportunities to incorporate cultural and land-based teachings.”
Thanks to peer mentors, including other Indigenous young people, youth will be taking part in a trail-building day Wednesday, August 12, in the Chilliwack Community Forest. It is the third of five builds this summer.
United Way, with the support of the Canada Summer Jobs Program and an Overdose Prevention Grant administered by Chilliwack Community Services and other partners, hired five youth as a full-time paid summer trail-building crew to be mentored by more than a dozen local leaders, including Dr. Marc Greidanus, a local ER physician. The trail crew, which includes Indigenous youth, are mentoring small groups of local Indigenous youth from Mémiyelhtel, which means “to help others be well” in Halq’eméylem.
After the last trail-building day, Dr. Greidanus (better known as “Dr. Marc” to the trail-builders) hosted a mountain bike clinic so the teens could ride the same trails they restore. It’s a way they can be together safely during the COVID-19 crisis.
United Way identified isolation as a concern impacting youth prior to the pandemic, and now it has become a critical issue. The trail-building initiative encourages better outcomes for youth health and wellness by placing participants with mentors who provide positive role modeling. In addition, youth learn transferable skills to enhance employability along with building a sense of pride and ownership relating to natural spaces.
“The COVID-19 crisis has increased stress for everyone – especially young people,” explains Andrea Dykshoorn, United Way Community Engagement Specialist, Fraser Valley. “Schools and community centres are closed. Parent and caregiver employment has been diminished or
lost. Strict social distancing measures have led to isolation and uncertainty about the future. These factors affect health and wellness. Our United Way community partners reported an urgent need to support mental health and this program responds to those needs.”
Project partners include Stó:lō Nation, Fraser Health, Chilliwack Community Services, the City of Chilliwack, Trans Canada Trail, Fraser Valley Mountain Biking Association, BC Parks and Canada Summer Jobs Grant.
The trails built and maintained by the Chilliwack Park Society are on unceded Stó:lō territory, and by involving Indigenous leaders and youth in this work, project leaders hope to work toward reconciliation.
After this week’s build, the road to improved health and wellness continues with two more trail- building days: Wednesday, August 19 on Vedder Mountain, and Saturday, August 22 on the Trans Canada Trail in the Chilliwack River Valley. Physical distancing safety protocols will be in place during all builds to protect participants from COVID-19 while they work together to create a healthy, caring, inclusive community.
