Northern Youth in Crisis: a Challenge for Justice. INSTITUTION Simon Fraser Univ., Burnaby (British Columbia)
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 287 652 RC 016 465 AUTHOR Griffiths, Curt Taylor, Ed. TITLE Northern Youth in Crisis: A Challenge for Justice. INSTITUTION Simon Fraser Univ., Burnaby (British Columbia). SPONS AGENCY Department of Justice, Ottawa (Ontario).; Ministry of the Solicitor General, Ottawa (Ontario). REPORT NO ISBN-0-86491-075-4 PUB DATE 87 NOTE 172p.; Publication based on materials presented at the Annual Meeting of the Northern Conference (2nd, Val d'Or, Quebec, Canada, November 1985). AVAILABLE FROMYouth in Crisis/Northern Conference, c/o Continuing Studies, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6 ($30.00 Canadian, $25.00 U.S. Currency, plus $4.00 postage and handling). PUB TYPE Guides - Non-Classroom Use (055) EDRS PRICE MF01 Plus eostage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS Academic Failure; Adolescent Development; Alcoholism; *American Indian Education; American Indians; *Canada Natives; Child Welfare; *Community Role; Community Services; Correctional Institutions; Cultural Differences; Daily Living Skills; *Delinquency; *Dropouts; Drug Abuse; Juvenile Courts; Mental Health; Minority Groups; Parent Role; Prisoners; Problem Solving; Social Problems; Tribal Sovereignty; Underemployment; Young Adults; *Youth; Youth Problems; Youth Programs IDENTIFIERS Canada (North); Wilderness Education Programs; Young Offenders Act 1984 (Canada) ABSTRACT Northern youth increasingly find themselves in a state of crisis--separated from family and community for the purposes of further education, exposed to the temptations of alcohol and drug abuse and facing the prospect of underemployment, they often come into contact with the justice system at an early age. Fascinated by and indoctrinated with the pervasive electronic culture of the south, but still rooted in a distinctive northern lifestyle, they are living between different worlds, cultures and races. This resource publication is based on materials presented at the second meeting of the Northern Conference (Quebec, Canada, 1985) which sought creative, indigenous solutions to the problems confronting northern youth and explored innovative, aboriginzl and community-based alternatives to the present justice and child welfare approaches imported from southern Canada. The information is divided into eight modules: youth in the community; youth mental health; program initiatives for youth--creating alternatives; program initiatives for youth--teaching survival skills and cultural awareness; youth and the law; youth and the circuit court; youth in confinement--philosophies and programs; and; youth in care. Modules contain a summary of major issues, discussions among participants, a bibliography including audio-visual materials where appropriate, and information on program initiatives. A list of 29 resource persons is appended. (JMM) M NORTHERN YOUTH IN CRISIS: A Challenge for Justice U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization oinatino it nor changes have been made to improve A of the Northern reproduction Quality publication Conference Points of view or opinions stated in this docu- ment do not necessarily represent official and Simon Fraser Universit:, OERI position or policy 1 HIS "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE MATERIAL IN MICROFIC3E ONLY HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Edited by Curt Taylor Griffiths TO TE ECUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC): 4, BEST COPY AVAILABLE This volume is a publication of the Northern Conference and Simon Fraser University, which pro.ect the copyright for the volume. Northern Youth in Crisis: A Challenge for Justice © 1987, Simon Fraser University for the Northern Conference. All rights reserved. ISBN 0-86491-075-4 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Northern Conference Board of Directors would like to recognize and express its gratitude to the many individuals and organizations that contributed ideas and resources to the second meeting of the Northern Conference held in Val d'Or, Quebec in November, 1985. In the workshops and short courses held throughout the week, participants from Canada and Alaska shared their experiences, expertise, and creativity and provided the materials tha( have been .ncluded in this edited volume. The invitation to hold meetings of the Northern Conference in Quebec was issued by the Department of Justice of Quebec, which also supported the program in significant ways. And much appreciation for support is due to the City of Val d' Or and the justice community there. The success of the p, ogi am was due in large measure to the ongoing support of the Department of Justice, Canada, which again made possible the participation of community-based persons from across the country. The Board of Directors would like to specifically note the contributions and support of Mr. Dan Prefontaine, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Planning, and Mr. Eddie Gardner, Chief of Native Programs and Special Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Northern Conference. Publication of this resource document was made possible by a joint grant from the federal Department of Justice and the Young Offender Unit of the Ministry of the Solicitor General, Canada. At Simon Fraser University, expert production work was done by Ellen Sangster, Alison Hatch, Lois Reid and Les Dobbie. Scecial recognition goes to Carol Knight, Director of Program Information, Continuing Studies, SFU, for her ongoing review of and contribution to the production quality of all Northern Conference publications. Finally, a debt of gratitude is owed to the School of Criminology and to Continuing Studies at Simon Fraser University for continuing to provide a home for the Northern Conference. 4 iii The Board of Directors of the Northern Conference has designed this publication to be of use to all those involved in the delivery of justice services in nc tern and rural areas of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. The ideas and materials presented are those of the individuals directly involved. We hope that this makes the publication not only unique, but increases its usefulness to those in the community, bands, and government. Margit Nance Executive Director Northern Conference and Director, Public Policy Programs Simon Fraser University 5 iv PREFACE Northern youth increasingly find themselves in a slate of crisis. Fascinated by and indoctrinated in the pervasive urban electrcnic culture of the south but still rooted in a distinctive northern lifestyle they are often living in a no man's land between different worlds, different cultures and different races. Separated from family and community for the purposes of further education, beset by the temptations of alcohol and drug abuse and facing the prospect of unemployment and underemployment, they often become entangled in the justice system at an early age. The second meeting of the Northern Conference held in Val d'Or, Quebec, brought together individuals from across the north to search for creative, indigenous solutions to the problems confronting northern youth and to explore innovative, aboriginal and community-based alternatives to the present justice and child welfare approaches imported from southern Canada. This resource publication is based on materials presented in the workshops and short courses in Val d'Or. It is organized into eight to modules, each of which contains discussions which took place among participants, resource readings, and, where appropriate, audio-visual materials. Space limitations required that the vast amount of material presented throughout the week be edited down and it is hoped that both the spirit and substance of the ideas and discussions have been captured in this volume. It should be noted that the opinions and ideas expressed by the participants who appear in this resource publication are their own and do not necessarily represent the policies and position of the Northern Conference, its Board of Di1ectors, or the agencies and organizations with which the individuals are affiliated. Curt Taylor Griffiths, Ph.D. Asscniate Professor School of Criminology Simon Fraser University and Director, Northern Conference Resource Centre About the Northern Conference The Northern Conference is an education and information network for those in- volved in the delivery of justice services across the north. It serves professionals, paraprofessionals and communities interested in developing community-based justice services and in increasing the efficiency and responsiveness of existing services. Program information can be obtained from the Northern Conference Office, c/o Continuing Studies, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, or telephone (604) 291-3792, 291-3393. Requests for materials on program initiatives, resource persons and organizations, and research literature on northern and rural justice issues, with particular reference to native North Americans, should be directed to the Northern Conference Re- source Centre, c/o School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, or telephone (604) 291-4239/ 291-3792. 7 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY Module 1 YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH Module 2 PROGRAM INITIATIVES FOR YOUTH: CREATING ALTERNATIVES Module 3 PROGRAM INITIATIVES FOR YOUTH: TEACHING SURVIVAL SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS Module 4 YOUTH AND THE LAW Module 5 YOUTH AND THE CIRCUIT COURT Module 6 YOUTH IN CONFINEMENT: PHILOSOPHIES AND PROGRAMS Module 7 YOUTH IN CARE Module 8 vii 8 NORTHERN YOUTH IN