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YOUTH GATHER FROM ACROSS TERRITORIES AT YOUTH TAKING CHARGE!

Yellowknife (NWT) November 12, 2005 - Youth from across the three territories are gathered this weekend in Yellowknife for Youth Taking Charge! a roundtable that represents a unique opportunity for young leaders from across the three territories to come together to explore their vision for the future and the actions required to make it happen. The Government of Canada supported the event by providing funding of over $415,000 from eleven different federal departments.

The three-day roundtable will give young people an opportunity to share ideas, build networks and develop proposals for actions in their communities. The 51 youth participants and 24 adult mentors represent communities from all three territories ensuring that a broad range of perspectives and experiences will enrich discussions. Federal and territorial government representatives are also attending the event.

“Youth, and Aboriginal youth in particular, are at the heart of the development of Canada’s North. They have the energy, talent, creativity and compassion to create positive changes in our communities, within the three territories, and across Canada.” said Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Minister of State (Northern Development). “The Government of Canada, by supporting and promoting initiatives such as this roundtable, remains committed to ensuring that the voices of Northern youth are heard.”

“The Youth Taking Charge! conference will enable our young northern people to tap into each other's energy, creativity and experiences in dealing with matters common to their regions,” Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie said. “This provides an invaluable opportunity to identify issues that are important to youth and to work together with supportive adults in developing action plans that address them.”

"With such a large youth population in the North, events like the Youth Taking Charge! Roundtable are essential," said Paul Okalik, Premier of Nunavut. "Being able to gather with their peers to discuss issues relevant to the territories and plan for their future is exciting. I am pleased that the Government of Nunavut was able to sponsor participants from our territory."

“I believe that the opportunity to attend this conference will be a worthwhile experience for my future and the future of my community,” said Jessika Higgins, youth delegate from the town of Faro, Yukon. “Not only am I keen to learn new skills so that I can help Faro youth, but I am also eager to get the chance to meet other youth and hear what they have to say about their communities.”

Close to half of the population in the North is under the age of 25. This roundtable, held in the context of the development of the Northern Strategy, will help recognize, support and encourage youth engagement in communities across the North.

Community based groups including Yukon’s Bringing Youth Towards Equality, Nunavut’s Youth Abroad Program, Yellowknife’s Side Door Youth Centre and the Arctic Council Youth Network, worked with territorial and federal officials, the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada (SEVEC), and the Heartwood Centre for Community Youth Development to organize the roundtable.

For more information please contact:

Diane Laursen
Media Relations - INAC
(819) 953-1160