Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) - Youth Council

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) is the Native political organization supporting 49 Cree and Ojibway First Nations in remote northern Ontario. The population is approximately 30,000 on-reserve, with 65% under the age of 26. The communities are struggling as they try to move from a collective hunting/gathering society to the individualistic technological age. NAN Chiefs commitment to work with the youth in a Decade for Youth and Development (2000-2010) includes setting up community and regional youth councils and providing youth leadership, community development training in the areas of political, economic, social and cultural participation. Special foci include working with the young women to ensure a strong voice and to link youth with Elders. Since 2000, PWRDF has supported the NAN Decade for Youth and Development by contributing to the development of youth councils in 3 First Nation communities and by funding a number of youth to attend the Youth Elders Gathering. A group of girls and women started a "Girl Power" program with weekly activities, some for the whole community, and some for just young girls. In 2002 Youth from the communities recently met in Thunder Bay to elect a regional youth council with 10 members. NAN is working with this group to set up a youth website to support communication across this vast, isolated territory. Linkages with other youth across the country and internationally are being discussed as well as ideas for next steps.