Upcoming Leaders
As part of the Liard First Nation's three year regional treatment
strategy, citizens of all ages from Watson Lake are being asked to discuss
their vision for a healthy community, including the priorities and ways to stop
the community's alcohol and drug problems.
Youth workshops were delivered in November 2009 to Grades 5‐12. In
total, there were 91 students who participated in five workshops over three
days. This report documents the results of the Youth sessions, including a
Youth survey.
Targeting the strengths of the community, Youth were asked for their
opinions on what
They liked about Watson Lake
and how they describe a healthy community. Youth visualized their visions for a
healthy community by creating individual art collages. Youth were also provided
the opportunity to share and discuss their issues and concerns around alcohol
and drugs, and what ideas and solutions they had to overcome these, including
prioritizing them in terms of the greatest impact as a way to assess potential
Youth action priorities.
Summary highlights of the Youth
engagement are as follows:
1. Community strengths: Youth
particularly like the snow and all the activities it providessuch as skiing,
snowboarding, skidooing, trapping, hockey, skating, and sledding. Summer and
organized activities are also popular, with the Youth enjoying swimming, soccer,
skate boarding, running, hunting, hiking, fishing, dirt biking and clubs. They appreciate
the community's attractions and facilities and of course, friends and
family.However, many Youth do not think Watson Lake is fun, because of the lack
of things to do, and the presence of drugs and alcohol.
2. Description of a healthy community: Youth
describe a healthy community as one free of drugs and alcohol, created by
removing drug dealers, alcohol runners, and the liquor store. Youth also want
an active community in which citizens are physically healthy, eat well and are non-smokers.
A healthy, clean and safe environment is also important, one in which people respect
each other, there are lots of jobs and community services which meet the needs
of the citizens, there is no violence, and families are healthy and
responsible. References to the environment, working together, healthy parents,
eliminating violence, community infrastructure and services, and having police
presence were also noted.
3. Vision for a healthy community: A
healthy community is one in which citizens can maintain an active and healthy
lifestyle, such as making healthy choices and living life to the fullest. The community
should offer an abundance of recreational activities. Youth also recognize the importance
of ‘community', and define that many ways, including having support and
creating a deeper sense of belonging, respect and caring, having faith, love
and peace, being happy and true to oneself, staying in school, and being
employed.
4. Issues and concerns around alcohol and drugs: Youth
recognize that the community has alcohol and drug problems, and the majority
recognize it as a serious to critical issue. Youth identify alcohol and drugs
issues as both community and individual problems because they affect Youth as
well as parents and community members in a negative way. Issues around alcohol
mainly focus on the number of teens drinking and that they are drinking too
much.
Access to alcohol is too easy, through bootleggers and
parties, facilitated by having a liquor store in town. The issues around drugs
are similar, in that there are too many drugs and drug dealers in town, making
it too easy for Youth to access. Unhealthy habits and parent/family issues are
also identified as key concerns. In terms of violence, Youth are somewhat to extremely
concerned about the effect of alcohol and drugs on violence in their community
and in their families.
5. Ideas and solutions around alcohol and drugs: Besides
simply staying away from alcohol and drugs, most of the solutions to alcohol
and drug issues relate to increasing the number of activities (programming),
with the Youth providing examples like Youth gatherings as well as organized
(more sports, dance classes) and individual (reading and writing) activities
and workshops. Youth also suggested increasing the voice of Youth through a
newsletter and website, Youth Council and Youth summit. Youth think that
adapting more healthy habits and having role models and Youth mentors, as well
as someone to listen to Youth would help. This includes having a supportive
community that provides services such as treatment programs, policing and
infrastructure such a treatment centre. Finally, Youth suggested anti‐bullying
and violence workshops, and having a safe place to go for help if needed. These
results will be included in the larger three year strategy report to be
completed in March 2010.
Here is a link to the whole report; Youth Report 10 Year Plan
Visit our Youth Report 10 Year Plan photo gallery!
Recent newsletters;
newsletter #5
