AFN National Youth Council
The Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council (AFN NYC) operates as a 20-member council representing First Nations youth from each of the 10 First Nations regions (each region has one male and one female representative).
This national body, based within the structure of the AFN, represents First Nations youth across the country on issues that impact them on a daily basis. The Council provides insight to many committees and working groups, as well as the AFN Secretariat, on various youth-related issues.
Key Issues and Activities
The AFN NYC has had an active period that saw them participate in a number of initiatives and on a number of committees beyond their own Council activities. This participation has ensured that these various initiatives and groups are more reflective of youth values and input, and thus are more representative of what amounts to a significant segment of the First Nations population in Canada.
IndigenACTION
The AFN NYC has taken a lead role in establishing this exciting new initiative that will carry forth the energy of the Olympic Games into Indigenous communities and the realities/mind-sets of our people. IndigenACTION will enhance existing relationships and develop new partnerships to help improve the quality of life for Indigenous peoples by promoting healthy lifestyles, community togetherness and community-based economic spin-off opportunities. This will include securing greater investment and support for our own athletes, as sport has great potential to encourage, motivate and create confidence in our young people.
During the Annual General Assembly (AGA), the AFN NYC, along with the National Chief and Waneek Horn-Miller, helped launch IndigenACTION with a 5 km run at the University of Winnipeg. The AFN NYC are excited by the success of the launch and hope to carry that momentum forward in the coming months as the initiative kicks into its roundtable phase.
Raising Awareness
The AFN NYC finalized seven short videos on sexual health promotion with funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada (HC). The videos have been launched on the AFN website coinciding with the beginning of Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week (December 1-5) and World AIDS Day (December 1). The AFN NYC has also presented the video campaign before the Senate Committee on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth.
Education – National Week of Action
The AFN NYC participated in events taking place during the National Week of Action on Education in September. The AFN NYC was well represented at both the Advocacy Day on Parliament Hill and the rally which took place on the Hill, later in the week. Education and the movement to improve the quality and access to education for First Nations youth remains a priority for the AFN NYC and they look forward to continuing their role to bring substantial change and progress to this fundamental aspect of First Nations development and success.
Looking-Forward Agenda to Annual General Assembly – July 2011
- The AFN NYC will take a lead role in the delivery of the IndigenACTION roundtables which are slated to begin in January.
- Substantial results in addressing the problems of gang and criminal culture among First Nations youth.
- The AFN NYC will begin the planning and delivery of the 4th National First Nations Youth Summit, which is to take place in 2012.