Success In The City Examining Aboriginal Youth Moving From Rural To Urban Communities

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Success In The City Examining Aboriginal Youth
Moving From Rural To Urban Communities

• Vancouver Native Health Society

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Overview

• Research Need
• Description of the Project
• Community Engagement
• Research Benefits and Best Practices

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Project Background

• United Native Nations and Vancouver Native Health
  Society identified a gap
• Poor transition of youth from rural communities
  to urban centres
• Many factors contribute to youth moving to the
  city (i.e. Employment, education, poor housing,
  abuse)
• Youth are often unprepared for the move

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Project Background

• The study was to determine the causes of the poor
  transition from rural communities to cities
• The project suggests ways to support and ease the
  transition
• Consultation with various community groups
• Funding from National Crime Prevention Centre

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Description of Project

• Purpose of project
• to examine the tendencies of rural Aboriginal
  youth moving to urban centres.
• To identify and share innovative ways to ensure
  the smooth transition of Aboriginal youth from
  rural communities to urban centres

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Description of Project

• Objectives
• To identify potential risks and positive supports
  for youth moving from rural to urban settings
• To raise community awareness of potential risks
  for youth relocating
• To provide a concrete resource for both rural and
  urban communities to successfully integrate youth
  into new environments

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Methodology

• Established contacts in communities
• Literature Review
• Focus Groups (based on gaps in literature review)
  
• Addition of Metis focus group
• Community Forums
• Questionnaire

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Advisory Committee

• Circle of Eagles Lodge
• Vancouver Aboriginal Council
• Vancouver Native Health Society
• Luma Native Housing
• Urban Native Youth Association

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Community Input

• What we were trying to achieve
• Understand service providers awareness of the
  issues
• Existing barriers
• Available supports to remove barriers
• Suggested support services
• Useful tools for youth moving to city

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Research Benefits

• Justified funding for concrete programs and on
  the ground initiatives
• Community based solutions
• Built community awareness of the issues
• Increased focus on the issues
• Peer support and advice (Focus Group)

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Best Practices

• Recognize diversity of communities
• Do your homework
• Dont make assumptions
• Build in ample time for consultation/scheduling
• Be prepared and flexible
• Community relationships
• What is in it for them (not paternalistic)
• Hire locally, advisory committee,

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Best Practices

• Bring the right team
• Cultural sensitivity training is a must!
• Encourage funders to pay for food
• Give the research back to the community

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Cole Rheaume

• Cole Rheaume
• 604-253-2395
• 1-866-929-2395
• Mikmwesu_at_telus.net
• www.nationtalk.ca

• Community Development
• Community Bridging
• Aboriginal Awareness Training
• Stakeholder/Community Consultation
• Fundraising
• Proposal Writing
• Event Planning
• Organizational Development
• Program Planning Implementation
• Facilitation