Decade for Youth & Development
Decade for Youth and Development
Decade Background
Based on input from the youth at a Suicide Prevention Conference in January 2000 , NAN Chiefs strengthened their commitment to young people by directing the NAN organizations, agencies and community's response to the challenges to youth into the next millennium. NAN Chiefs did this by adopting a youth development approach through Resolution 00/17, which calls for the years 2001-2010 to be the NAN Decade for Youth & Development. This declaration seeks to address more effectively the problems of young men and women and to increase opportunities for their participation in NAN communities.
Giinoogaming youth at 2006 Treaty Commemoration
Youth Development what is it?
By youth we mean people aged 12 to 29 years inclusive. By youth development we mean growing up and developing the skills and attitudes young people need to take part in society, now and in the future. Youth participation is defined as including the following components:
Economic participation, which relates to work and to development;
Political participation, which relates to decision-making processes and distribution of power;
Social participation, which relates to community involvement and the peer group;
Cultural participation, which relates to the arts, music, cultural values and expression, and spirituality
The philosophy underlying the NAN Decade for Youth & Development is the concept of youth empowerment that concentrates on the growing opportunities for young people and their achievement in society, but recognizes that much of the potential of youth is yet to be realized.
The Decade office has been set up to:
Enhance awareness of the NAN Decade for Youth & Development, its goals, objectives and philosophy
Enhance awareness of the situation of youth and increase recognition of the rights and aspirations of youth
Promote NAN youth policies, NAN youth coordinating mechanisms and NAN youth programmes of action as integral parts of social and economic development
Strengthen the participation of youth in decision-making processes at all levels in order to increase their impact on the development of NAN communities.
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| NAN Decade YC members and Kingfisher Lake youth at National Cree Gathering in Moose Cree First Nation, August 2006 | NAN Drum at Mishkeegogamang Powwwow, August 2005 |
For more information about programs and activities of the Decade, and to find out more about the NAN Decade Youth Council, please click on the NAN Youth logo and visit our Decade Website
