Organizers of a community-driven meeting scheduled for tonight in Halifax say the federal government blind-sided a local aboriginal youth program when it cut funding for the initiative.
The Kitpu Youth Program, run through the Mi’kmaq Friendship Centre on Gottingen Street, was told June 11 that funding across the country through the Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth Program was gone as part of federal budget cuts. Co-ordinator Glenn Knockwood and another employee were given two weeks notice.
That was after Knockwood was told in February that the $120,000 budget was being capped by Heritage Canada at $100,000 for this year.
About 120 young people a month would participate in the program, designed in large part to help participants get or stay in touch with their culture. Activities ranged from drumming, dancing and swimming to tai chi, talking circles, medicine walks and social support circles.
The program has operated for 14 years.
“We’ve had generations of families go through this program,” said Knockwood, who is a past participant. “It’s a very valuable program to the urban aboriginal community in Halifax, especially for any aboriginals coming off reserve.
“I experienced a huge culture shock coming off reserve and moving into the urban environment, and that was the only sanctuary in the city for me to go where I could talk to people.”
Kitpu had also received money through another federal program to help run physical activity initiatives. That funding was supposed to be verified by April 1 but Knockwood hasn’t heard anything.
“This is very shocking for our youth. For so many years this program has always been there and it’s a place that’s very accepting for the youth we have now, especially with a lot of bullying happening in the schools,” he said. “It feels like a sanctuary and they know everyone and there’s a family feeling to the environment, and now they don’t have that.”
Artist Ardath Whynacht, who once volunteered with the program, is helping to organize the meeting tonight with other people upset by the funding cut.
“We believe that this cut is an assault on aboriginal culture and an unnecessary blow to youth who benefit tremendously from this program,” Whynacht said Monday.
She said organizers want to arrange an international day of action on July 12 to demand that funding for the youth programs be restored by the government.
“We want answers from the feds. They’ve been really silent on the issue so far.”
Organizers also want to plan some emergency fundraising “because we recognize the tremendous value that Kitpu youth programs have in our city.”
Whynacht said she has seen many young people use the program with positive impacts on their lives.
A spokesperson for Heritage Canada was not available for comment Monday.
Original Article
Source: the chronicle herald
Author: IAN FAIRCLOUGH
The Kitpu Youth Program, run through the Mi’kmaq Friendship Centre on Gottingen Street, was told June 11 that funding across the country through the Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth Program was gone as part of federal budget cuts. Co-ordinator Glenn Knockwood and another employee were given two weeks notice.
That was after Knockwood was told in February that the $120,000 budget was being capped by Heritage Canada at $100,000 for this year.
About 120 young people a month would participate in the program, designed in large part to help participants get or stay in touch with their culture. Activities ranged from drumming, dancing and swimming to tai chi, talking circles, medicine walks and social support circles.
The program has operated for 14 years.
“We’ve had generations of families go through this program,” said Knockwood, who is a past participant. “It’s a very valuable program to the urban aboriginal community in Halifax, especially for any aboriginals coming off reserve.
“I experienced a huge culture shock coming off reserve and moving into the urban environment, and that was the only sanctuary in the city for me to go where I could talk to people.”
Kitpu had also received money through another federal program to help run physical activity initiatives. That funding was supposed to be verified by April 1 but Knockwood hasn’t heard anything.
“This is very shocking for our youth. For so many years this program has always been there and it’s a place that’s very accepting for the youth we have now, especially with a lot of bullying happening in the schools,” he said. “It feels like a sanctuary and they know everyone and there’s a family feeling to the environment, and now they don’t have that.”
Artist Ardath Whynacht, who once volunteered with the program, is helping to organize the meeting tonight with other people upset by the funding cut.
“We believe that this cut is an assault on aboriginal culture and an unnecessary blow to youth who benefit tremendously from this program,” Whynacht said Monday.
She said organizers want to arrange an international day of action on July 12 to demand that funding for the youth programs be restored by the government.
“We want answers from the feds. They’ve been really silent on the issue so far.”
Organizers also want to plan some emergency fundraising “because we recognize the tremendous value that Kitpu youth programs have in our city.”
Whynacht said she has seen many young people use the program with positive impacts on their lives.
A spokesperson for Heritage Canada was not available for comment Monday.
Original Article
Source: the chronicle herald
Author: IAN FAIRCLOUGH
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