The Inspire Hope Youth Conference is a space where youth from all over the Cree Nation come together to inspire, connect, and learn from one another. The Cree Nation Youth Council and the Cree Nation itself are dedicated to empowering young people, providing them with the tools they need to win in life.
Hands on Skills and Traditional Trades
The conference was a hub of activity, focusing on hands on experiences that allow the youth to learn by doing. While cultural days in the community often involve traditional land skills like tanning hides, this conference focused on trades and artistic expressions that the youth can carry into their future careers.
- Culinary Arts: Youth had the opportunity to learn from professionals, gaining experience in how to cook and manage a kitchen environment.
- Painting and Heritage: Workshops explored the history of painting in our culture, highlighting traditional painted caribou coats used before embroidery and beading.
- Barbering and Hair: Participants engaged in practical skills like cutting hair, offering a look into how a trade can become a sustainable business.
- Candle Making: This workshop proved to be a great success, teaching the youth about craft making and the potential for starting their own small businesses.
Breaking Down Doors
The ultimate goal of the Inspire Hope conference is to create safe spaces where youth can discover their own value and voice. The facilitators aim to equip the next generation with the knowledge they need to enter industries like fashion, music, and business.
The message to the youth is clear: their presence is needed and their gifts are valued. We want to see our young people occupying seats at the table, breaking down doors, and pursuing careers that they once may have only dreamed of.
Music as a Tool for Identity
Music served as a powerful medium for growth during the conference. Through song production and writing workshops like Rhyme and Reason, youth explored themes of community, resistance, and identity.
- Language Preservation: A driving factor for the music created was the desire to keep the Cree language intact and utilized.
- Self Expression: The verses written by the youth touched on the struggle to belong and the journey of finding oneself.
- Collective Power: By sharing their stories and rhymes, the youth inspired one another to chase their dreams together.
Special Thanks
We want to extend a special thanks to the leaders and mentors who shared their time and energy with the youth: Scott Wabano, Jomarie Einish, Eddie, JayMak, and Jade Mukash. Your presence helped make this an unforgettable week in Nemaska.
We are incredibly proud of the work done by the participants and thankful to the leaders who invested their time to show these kids that they have a community standing behind them.