Media Advisory - First Nations youth attending forum to revitalize their culture

THUNDER BAY, ON, July 8, 2016 /CNW/ - More than 130 First Nations young people from 55 remote and fly-in communities will convene at the "Feathers of Hope: Culture, Identity and Belonging" forum hosted by the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth from July 11-15, 2016 in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  

In the groundbreaking Feathers of Hope: A First Nations Youth Action Plan report, First Nations young people called for opportunities to build a stronger sense of identity tied to revitalizing their culture and move forward as individuals and as a community on a path toward healing and reconciliation.

This year's forum marks the one-year anniversary since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its summary findings on the devastating experiences of residential schools survivors over a period of 150 years. The TRC found the erosion of Aboriginal languages as one of the legacies of residential schools. Today, many survivors from those schools have "lost" their ability to communicate using the language of their people, knowledgeably speak about or share the ceremonies or cultural practices of their heritage with young people and their communities.

At the forum, young people will engage with elders and "knowledge carriers" who will pass down traditional knowledge and teachings, while learning and participating in cultural workshops ranging from a sweat lodge, powwow, indigenous cooking classes, beadwork and dance ceremonies. On the final day of the forum, young people will present their perspectives on culture with respect to service resource delivery at a listening table attended by First Nations leaders and elders, government officials and stakeholders from the education, healthcare and community service sectors.

What:	"Feathers of Hope: Culture, Identity and Belonging" youth forum
When:	Tuesday, July 12 from 9:00-10:30 am for the Official Opening Ceremony
Who:	Irwin Elman, Ontario's Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth
	Youth Amplifiers, Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth
Where:	Best Western Nor' Wester Hotel and Conference Centre
	2080 Hwy 61, Thunder Bay ON P7J 1B8
	Thunder Bay, Ontario

For more information, visit: www.provincialadvocate.on.ca For updates, read the Advocate's Blog and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth

Image with caption: "The Feathers of Hope: Culture, Identity and Belonging forum is the fourth forum hosted by the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth since it launched the Feathers of Hope initiative in 2013. (CNW Group/Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160708_C6853_PHOTO_EN_729937.jpg

Akihiko Tse, Media and Communications Coordinator, Cell: 647-458-1204 or Tel: [phone], [email protected]