YOUTH
COVER
Inquiry
into Slaughter of Dogs Announced
BOOKS
New Editions from Carr Collection
Bill Reid Lives on in Artistry Debate
BUSINESS
Island-Wide
Haida Protest May Drag for Months
New
Cruise Line Visits High Artic
Female
Urban Planner Sets Eyes on 2010 Olympics
HISTORY
A
Soldier's Story: Frank "Smokey" Stover
MODERN TREATIES
Fraud
and Theft of Saskatchewan Lands Uncovered in ICC Investigation
WOMEN
Pimps and Drug Traffickers
Target First Nations School Girls
By Shauna Lewis
"We don't need land claims, we are buying Vancouver one building
at a time."
~ Ginger Gosnell, President of UNYA and member of Nisga'a / Kwagiulth
Nations
In a desire to provide urban Native youth with a gathering place amidst
the backdrop of concrete and mass population, the Urban Native Youth Association
is working toward the construction of a multi-purpose Native Youth Center
to be located in Vancouver's bustling eastside.
Ginger
Gosnell, president of the Urban Native Youth Association, and UNYA spokesperson
and Board of Directors member, Rivers Stonechild; enthusiastically addressed
a crowd of nearly 200 people on April 12. Filling Vancouver's Native Friendship
Center, Elders, youth, community members and governmental and private
representatives, gathered to witness the launch of the much-needed youth
project.
"Because the Native Youth Center is the first of its kind, we're
making history by doing the work that we are doing here today," Stonechild
stated.
The initial planning stages of the estimated 50,000 square foot center
were indicative of what the Native youth desired.
"Years ago when young people were approached and asked what it was
they felt they needed in order to be supported and in order to achieve
success, they came to UNYA and said 'We need a place to start this good
work, we need a place to start our healing and our growth, and to be able
to learn and to be able to evolve.' And so it came from community, and
we're here today to be apart of the first steps in making this dream a
reality," stated Gosnell.
Three years in the planning, the $30 million project has prompted a myriad
of local sponsorship. With private institutions like CIBC contributing
200,000 and PetroCanada donating a generous $1.2 million, the project
has already accumulated a sum of $4 million toward construction.
Along with private sponsors, the city of Vancouver has purchased a large
lot on the corner of Hastings Street and Commercial drive where the NYC
will be built. Also providing their patronage for the project are well
known Aboriginal artists and activists, actor Evan Adams, author Lee Maracle
and the prominent Chief Leonard George.
The Hon. Larry Campbell, Mayor of Vancouver, also attended the launch
gathering and announced that the province of BC will be donating $1 million
to the construction process.
"This is an incredible day. To see the project and to have one of
the youth describe it to me and what's going on is absolutely incredible,"
Mayor Campbell announced. "It's not going to be easy to raise $30
million, but you've shown leadership to build a partnership with the Aboriginal
community, the private sector, the federal government, the province and
the city."
The mayor concluded his address with the realization that the project
is 100% in the hands of First Nations people.
"This isn't a bunch of white guys telling you what to build, this
is your project." Promising to continue to advocate for the project
with his friends in Ottawa, Campbell's words resonated from the podium.
" We demand that it be built, because this will change not only the
youth, but our neighborhood."
Estimated to be up and running by the end of 2007, the Vancouver Native
Youth Center will provide First Nations youth with the tools needed to
live healthier lives. With Native youth occupying 4 percent of the city's
total youth population, they are all too often over represented in regard
to the negative statistics for urban youth.
When 40 percent of street youth in Vancouver are Aboriginal, a project
like the NYC is more than a necessity. Possessing a First Nations focus
through the incorporation of a Sweat Lodge, 'Healing' herbal gardens and
a library filled with language resource texts, the NYC will also accommodate
the need for informal services through providing youth with artistic outlets,
employment resources, counseling and a youth lounge for socializing.