The Ontario Advocate for Children and Youth has released a new report by First Nations youth that calls for partnership to create healthy, safe communities for northern, remote and fly-in communities. The report is entitled Feathers of Hope: First Nations Youth Action Plan. The report is based on a series of forums that took place in 2013 in Thunder Bay and Kashechewan. More than 160 youth from 64 northern Ontario First Nations communities participated. Mental health, youth suicide, and drugs and alcohol were among the 15 priority issue areas identified for action.
Three key recommendations included:
- Provincial, federal and First Nations leadership and other stakeholders must work together to take immediate action on the needs and challenges faced by First Nations youth
- First Nations youth must be equal partners in creating the actions and strategies to address the identified issues
- A five-year strategy be developed to addresses the issues raised.
For more information and to read Feathers of Hope, please visit the website of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth.