OSKAYAK News
February 2011
U-Roc Awards
Youth Corner
The City of Richmond hosts the U-ROC Awards each
year during Youth Week to celebrate the achievements
and dedication of youth, youth groups and asset
champions within the Richmond Community. These
awards acknowledge those who have made a significant
contribution to youth and their community.
Nominations can be submitted by March 14 2010 at:
www.richmond.ca
The OSKAYAK Youth Committee has been
talking about community and where they
came from, in a traditional context. The
story was chosen by the Committee as an
example of possibilities . . .
Pathways Aboriginal Centre - Richmond Youth Service Agency
Cree - World Parent 100-7900 Alderbridge Way
When light first came to the earth, O-ma-ma- Richmond, BC V6X2A5
ma the earth mother of the Cree people gave Phone: 604.271.7600
birth to the spirits of the world. The first born Hours of Operation:
was Binay-sih, the thunderbird who protects Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9:30am-4:30pm
the animals from the sea serpent, Genay-big. Thursdays & Fridays 12pm - 7pm
Thunderbirds shout out their unhappiness or Saturday 10am - 5pm
anger with black clouds, rain and fire flashes in
the sky. The second born was Ina-kaki, the lowly Check out www.rysa.bc.ca for a special events and
frog who heightens the sorcerer’s powers and Follow us on Twitter @RichmondYouth
helps to control the insects in the world. The third
born was the trickster Wee-sa-hay-jac, who can
change himself into many forms or shapes to
protect himself. The fourth child was Ma-heegun,
Wee-sa-hay-jac’s little wolf brother. They travel
together with Wee-sa-hay-jac on his back. The
fifth born was Amik the beaver, who is greatly Page 2
respected because he is an unfortunate human Rally & HFHC Updates
from a different world. Fish, rocks, grasses, and Page 3
trees all came from the womb of the great earth
mother O-ma-ma-ma. The earth was inhabited CCAY Update & Sustainable Transportation
a long time by only animals and spirits because
Wee-sa-hay-jac had not yet made any people. Page 4
Missing and Murdered Women’s March
AYC Events
James R. Stevens, McClelland and Stewart Ltd, 1971.
Healthy Families Healthy
RALLY Update
Children
RALLY participants have been having a blast this winter The Healthy Families Healthy Children Program (HFHC) meets
from snow tubing at Cypress Mountain to creating a short on the third Tuesday of every month for traditional or recreational
claymation film with REELYOUTH. activities at Pathways Aboriginal Centre. In January the group
visited the Vancouver Friendship Centre for Powwow night.
While having fun and exploring traditional Aboriginal culture
through participating in activities like sweats and learning The group was greeted by Peete, a Hoop Dancer. Peete taught
about the medicine wheel. Through workshops the youth the families a few traditional moves at the Friendship Centre.
also continue to explore their dream careers and what After enjoying the amazing drumming and a little dancing the
community means to them. group returned to Richmond with new found inspiration.
In January Interested youth in the career stream of On the drive back the children were so excited and asked if they
the RALLY Project had the opportunity to take a tour of could go “every Tuesday night because it was AWESOME!”.
EBCO. A big thank you goes out to Cathy, EBCO’s Human
Resource Representative, for making this possible. In February the families will be having a feast and a visit with a
nutritionist.
While the older youth have been exploring their dream
careers the younger RALLY participants have been The HFHC program is winding down with the last event in March.
brainstorming “what community” means to them. The HFHC will be hosting a resource fair to help connect the
families with other community resources and services.
The community explorers will be doing a final community
project in March. Stay tuned for your invitation to the If you would like to attend the resource fair as a community
event. service provider, please contact Cara Lenoir at:
604-271-7600 or at cara.lenori@rysa.bc.ca
for more information
for a detailed calender of events go to www.rysa.bc.ca
2
OSKAYAK Youth Program Salish Seas
Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth (CCAY) is a Presented by Gallery Gachet and the Aboriginal Writers
program for Aboriginal Youth between the ages of 14-24 Collective West Coast
years old. The program is cost free and offers traditional,
recreational and social activities for Aboriginal youth. SALISH SEAS
February 4th- February 27th 2011
If you are between the ages of 14-24 and want to meet
some new friends while experiencing traditional and non Salish Seas is an exhibition of works by prominent and
traditional workshops drop by during program hours or emerging Aboriginal artists in conjunction with the upcoming
give Raven, the CCAY Youth Worker, a ring at Salish Seas: An anthology of text and images. The project
604-271-7600 or you can reach her by e-mail at: offers perspective to urban Aboriginal peoples living within
raven.baruidn@rysa.bc.ca these Coast Salish lands who are influenced and inspired by
the Salish Sea and its associated rivers.
CCAY runs from 2pm-7pm Thursday’s and Friday’s and Curated by Tania Willard and featuring works by artists
from 10am-5pm on Saturdays, at Pathways Aboriginal Sonny Assu, Janice Toulouse, Charlene Vickers, Merritt
Centre in Richmond, BC. Johnson, Kevin McKenzie, Duncan Murdoch, Dionne Paul,
joAnne Noble, Cease Wyss, Kelly Roulette, Kamala Todd
for a detailed calendar of events visit www.rysa.bc.ca and Michelle Sylliboy.
Gallerygachet
88 East Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1K2
ph 604.687.2468
Open from wed-sun, 12-6pm
www.gachet.org
Talking Stick Festival and the Aboriginal Writers Collective
West Coast present an evening of readings featuring: Lee
Maracle, Russell Wallace, Janet Rigers, Michelle Sylliboy,
Joanne Arnott, Greg Coyes and Wanda John at the Pond,
1441 Commercial Drive, Vancouver on Monday, February the
7th at 7pm.
3
Womens Memorial March
20th annual February 14th Women’s Memorial March February 2, 9, 16 & 23
for Missing and Murdered Women. On February 14th, RALLY Workshops
a gathering will start at Carnegie Community Centre Pathway’s 4-6pm
Theater, 401 Main Street where family members speak Aboriginal Youth between the ages 14-24
in remembrance. At 1pm, the march takes to the streets
February 3, 10, 17 & 24
and proceeds through the downtown Eastside, with stops
Drop-in
to commemorate where women were last seen or found. Pathways 2-7pm
For more details go to www.rysa.bc.ca or Aboriginal Youth between the ages 11-24
http://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com
February 3, 10, 17 & 24
OSKAYAK Youth Council
Pathways 5pm-7pm
Aboriginal Youth between the ages 11-24
February 4, 11, 18 & 25
Movie Nights
At Pathway’s 2-7pm
Movie starts at 5pm
Aboriginal youth between the ages 14-24
February 5, 12, 19 &26
RALLY & OSKAYAK Youth Program
Pathways 10-5pm
January 18th
Healthy Family Healthy Children Program
Family Night
CHIMO Crisis Line: 604-279-7070 or www.chimocrisis.com Pathways at 5 -8pm
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
VACFASS-Vancouver Aboriginal Children and Family Services For a detailed calendar of events please check out www.
rysa.bc.ca.
Society: 604-872-6723
The Healthy Aboriginal, is a non-profit website promoting of
health, literacy and wellness: www.thehealthyaboriginal.net
Agencies & Organizations: Individuals:
Pinnacle Pusuits
REEL Youth
EBCO
Kids Up Front
The OSKAYAK Youth
School District #38
Advisory Council
Richmond
MAVUS
CCAY
