Pauktuuti Sexual Health Conference

by Jennifer Williams

February 24 – 27, 2009. Kuujjuaq, QC

I had arrived in Kuujjuaq and met up with a lot of people I had known from previous conferences and had not seen in a long while so that was great! There were also a lot of new faces that I was glad to meet. The area where the conference was being held was very open and great, I was glad they had the tables all put in a very large circle.

The community was very welcoming and the land very beautiful. I met a girl who was wearing a very beautiful caribou fur kamiks and told her I HAD to have a pair like it, so I got her email and name to keep in contact. Later that day I looked at the name and noticed it was “Mesher” which is my Great-Grandfather’s last name. So I asked her where her family was from and she told me Labrador, so we found out that her Grandfather and my Great-Grandfather were brothers and I had a whole lot of cousins who lives in Kuujjuaq that I didn’t even know about!

We cisited the high school as well and that went very good, I seen all of these years role model’s posters laminated, some of the kids recognized me from the poster. The presentations all went very well and I hope to visit Kuujuaq again some time for sure!!

At the conference I gave a 20 min. presentation, first I spoke about who I was, where I am living now and where I am from. I told them about the many travels I have been on and told it all in order from when I started travelling as a teenager. I spoke of the hard way I had to grow up and the many obstacles I had to overcome to get where I am at today and told them it is very possible for them to do the same.

I had a slideshow presentation of photos to show starting from about 5 years ago up to now all in order from the things I have been doing. I played music in the background and also had inspirational quotes in between each phase of what I was doing in the photos. The presentation went very well and everyone was very quiet and concentrated on what I was saying and showing them. There were about 50 or more youth.

I also facilitated the group workshops for the conference. I did a presentation in the high school as well with about 10 students. There were 3 other youth from the conference learning facilitating and helping out to speak. We spoke to the kids about sexual health and playe some games where we asked them questions about sexual health and when they answered I gave them a prize from the NARMP box I had with me.

I explained about the role model program at both presentations and also went to a few other classrooms after my presentation in the high school class to tell the students about the program and to hand out brochures and info, I also dropped off info at the school office to be handed out if anyone wanted it. Everything went very well and it was a successful trip.

I had a lot of positive feedback from the youth at the conference, I was told by them that they did learn a lot and were inspired by what I had to say.

Middle Years Respect Assembly

by Channing Lavallée

February 6, 2009. Yellowquill School: Portage La Prairie, MB

My visit to Yellowquill School was a very great experience. When I first arrived at the school I was very nervous to be presenting to such a large group of youth.

However my nerves calmed once I got to meet some of the students.

Mrs. Adamson as well as the rest of the Yellowquill faculty and students were very hospitable.

I truly enjoyed presenting to the students and hope that I was able to have a positive influence on them. I look forward to my next community visit.

Junior High School and High School Presentations

by Jenna Kilabuk

February 2-3, 2009. Pond Inlet, Nunavut

I had lots of fun in Pond Inlet, even though I was there for a couple of nights – it was amazing.

The youth were very welcoming & enjoyed my presentation. The students were athletic too, as I played volley ball with the Junior Girls.

Lots to learn about the community and their way of life. Thank you so much!