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Omàmìwinini Weshkinìgidjig Okwìnowag

Ardoch Algonquin First Nation Youth Program

 

  Ardoch Algonquin First Nation is establishing a youth program to meet the needs of children and youths in the community between the ages of 3-24. This program will utilize Anishinaabe cultural and linguistic traditions to foster self esteem and develop leadership skills in our children and youth. The program will offer indoor and outdoor cultural, linguistic, and recreational programming to children and youth in the following age groups: 3-5; 6-9; 10-13; 14-17; 18-24. The program will also establish a parent council and a youth council who will work with the Program Coordinators (a male and a female) to develop specific youth programming that supports the overall vision of the community.

 

The interim organizers have developed the following programming for the upcoming year:

 

1)      Two culture camps:

a.      Historical Canoe Camp: children, youths and their parents can participate in a 5 day historical canoe trip from Ardoch to Bon Echo Lake. Families will learn about the history of Algonquin people along the way.

b.      Manomiin Camp: children, youths and their parents can participate in a 5 day camp wherein families will learn the social and spiritual nature of Manomiin (wild rice), and participate in harvesting, and processing manomiin. The manomiin gathered will then be utilized for the annual gathering as part of the dinner that families will help to organize for the community and visiting guests and dignitaries.

2)      Youth Activities: There will be bi-monthly gatherings for children and youths in which programming will be offered within the appropriate age groups listed above. This programming will encompass culture, language, making regalia, beading, academic support, etc….the parent and youth councils will help to develop this aspect of the programming further.

3)      Monthly traditional Teachings/Social Gatherings: once per month community members will be able to come together to share in traditional teachings that will be offered by a variety of elders and traditional Algonquin and Anishinaabe people. Each monthly traditional teaching will be followed by a social in which community members can learn to dance and hear traditional men’s and women’s drumming and singing. The purpose of this program is to increase traditional knowledge, language, and spirituality within the community while also enabling members to meet, connect and grow closer as community.

 

This is the programming that has been developed for 2007. We are in the process of fundraising to pay for this programming and we are hopeful that children and youths will not be required to pay for most of this programming, including the culture camps. There is no one place that the youth programming will occur as Algonquin territory is large and we want children and youths to be able to experience as much as they can of our traditional territory. We will keep you updated on this process and let you know if there are any changes or if some type of fee will be required.

 

 

If you are interested in participating in this programming and would like to be on the youth pr parent council, please print off and fill out the following document and return it to us by the end of the meeting.

Sign Up Form

 

 

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Ardoch Algonquin First Nation Banner created by Kevin Wight.