Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth
“Leaders of tomorrow, preparing today”
Mission Statement
"The primary goal of the urban multipurpose aboriginal youth centre program is to provide the youth with a range of inclusive programs and activities that are locally controlled and designed in conjunction with aboriginal youth. Further to achieving this goal, these programs and services will be structured in a manner that will empower aboriginal youth to address the challenges they face and determine their own future with a sense of pride in a safe and culturally relevant environment."
What is C.C.A.Y.
Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth (C.C.A.Y.) is sponsored by the United Native Friendship Centre. The C.C.A.Y. program is designed for youth ages 13-24 years old both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal youth are welcome to come down. The four main program components focus on:educational, social, recreational and cultural. The youth centre is open five days a week with occasional Saturdays, the hours of operation are from 1:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. Hours may vary depending on activities being provided.
What C.C.A.Y. has to offer:
Each program is available on a designated day and here is a taste of just some of the things we have to offer:
Cultural Activities
Cultural Activities focus on understanding and valuing Aboriginal culture.The program components involve respecting others, our community and ourselves. While inside and outside of the youth centre the youth whom attend respect these values and respect others and the property of others. Focus is on bringing the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual components of the human personality together as youth grow and are lead towards becoming whole.
- Ojibway language camp
- Crafts
- Regalia Making
- Youth drumming
- Youth dancing
- Cultural nights
- Medicine harvesting
- Powwow trips
Recreational Activities
Recreational Activities are a way for youth to feel good, improve self image and self confidence. These activities focus on teaching the importance of healthy living.
- Camping & Canoeing
- Active Activity Nights
- Seasonal Activities:
- Road Hockey
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Rollerblading
- Hockey/Skating
- Golfing
- Bowling
- Baseball
Educational Activities
Educational Activities involve three main components: job skills training, citizen/leadership and life skills training. All involve teaching new skills and hoping to improve and shape old skills to better equip our youth to better face many real life challenges such as: coping with peer pressure, how to apply for a job, how to manage money or how to prepare a healthy well-balanced meal. All of the above focus on "developing positive emotional and moral maturity."
- Workshops
- Nutrition/cooking Classes
- Youth Resources (info. available on Aids/HIV, drugs and alcohol and sexuality located @ Youth Centre)
- Participation in Awareness Week
- Youth Council
Social Activities
Social Activities focus on "keeping youth occupied after school and on weekends as alternatives to hanging around places where there are greater chances of negative temptations or running into trouble with the law." Social activities teach youth to get along with others in a positive and productive manner, that will go on to show as they mature into healthy and loving adults in our community.
- Community Dances
- Movie Nights
- Computer/Internet Access
- Art/Craft Nights
- Game Nights
- Youth Council
- Community Drum Socials
- Chefs R Us
- Cooking for seniors
- Fundraising
Fundraising Activities
Fundraising Activities provide youth with the skills needed to raise their own funds to create self-reliance. Youth gain great marketable skills as well as the knowledge and skills necessary to go into business for themselves.
Youth organize, promote and carry-out fundraising activities. The youth are always being encouraged to come up with fresh, exciting, new ideas so that they may never become bored. They are also encouraged to improve on old ideas so that maybe the next time around the outcome of the event is an even greater success.
Equipment
Equipment that is available to youth both native and non-native who come to the centre include:
- Playstation 2, Rockband
- Fooz ball Table
- Big Screen T.V., Playstation, VCR
- Computers with internet access
- DVD Player
Monthly Calendars of programming are available at the Friendship Centre
For more information:
Mandi Olson - CCAY Worker
Desiree Alfred - CCAY Worker
Phone: (807) 274-0561
Youth Centre
616 Mowat Avenue
Fort Frances, ON
Mailing Address
516 Portage Avenue
P.O. Box 752
Fort Frances, ON
P9A 3N1
Email: unfcumayc@jam21.net
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