On Nov. 22 Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) announced that it will be working with non-profit organization Live Different to bring the Youth Empowerment Ice Road Tour to 13 remote communities across Manitoba in January.
Live Different co-ordinates inspirational presentations that encourage youth to lead positive, resilient, and compassionate lives; a team of five to six team speakers describe their childhood struggles, how they overcame them, and how listeners can use those experiences to create a more positive environment for both themselves, and those around them.
The announcement was made at Winnipeg’s Southeast Collegiate, and was accompanied by one of Live Different’s motivational presentations, with speeches from young adults who had overcome everything from reading disabilities to a life of drug dealing and abuse. The speeches were punctuated with audiovisual presentations reinforcing key concepts, including #listeningfail, a comical representation of poor but common conversational habits.
For the ice road tour, Live Different Canadian programs director Ryan Wood noted that an all-indigenous team would be assembled to present to youth.
In a press release, MKO Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson noted, “Through our collaborative efforts, we are striving to support and inspire northern indigenous youth by providing opportunities and access to indigenous role models, resources and training that will enable them to develop and thrive in their communities. Live Different and supporting organizations will be working with communities in a meaningful way to achieve this and we look forward to the positive outcomes and achievements for our youth.”
The Youth Empowerment Ice Road Tour is a joint effort between MKO and Chemawawin First Nation, and is supported by the Samantha Mason Foundation, WestJet and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
