Special Projects
In addition to reading about the projects below, you can view some videos youth have been involved with by clicking here.
2011
A Piece of Me
Our OCM Program hosted an exhibition of artworks by urban Aboriginal youth which was inspired by a piece in the collections at the UBC Museum of Anthropology, each student in the Native Youth Program and OCM Program created their own artwork. The resulting work reveals the diverse identities the students have carved out for themselves, and the strength they have gained in the process. Collaboratively presented by the UBC Museum of Anthropology and UNYA's OCM Program.
Rookie Radio - March
A partnership with the Brooke Forbes Legacy Fund and CBC Vancouver led to three Native youth participating in the CBC Rookie Radio Program where they learned about radio, journalism, and performance aspects of radio broadcasting including using a sound board and microphones, interviewing, editing, and on-air reporting. Youth had the opportunity to produce their own radio piece in an area that is of interest to them, and the CBC team helped them to develop and produce the story or interview that was presented on air in March 2011.
Parenting Booklet – Happening Now!
Youth Film Screening – Wednesday March 9th
Anti-Violence Video
K'wam K'wum Q'ulumuy' (Strong Young Women) is a 10 minute educational anti-violence video made by 5 young women with UNYA and our partners. The video was developed in partnership with the BCWCH Aboriginal Program and is available in limited quantities to schools, organizations, and others working on this issues.
Cree Language Classes
We partnered with UBC to offer free Cree language classes here at UNYA at no cost. We are very excited to be able to offer this unique opportunity to youth.
Education Capacity Cafes
We have been hosting community meetings to provide Native youth with a safe place to talk about ways that their educational experience can be improved within the Vancouver School Board. We pass on this information to help the VSB to better meet the needs of Native youth. The Cafes happen twice a year.
2010
Back to School Backpacks - September
This year, we were thrilled to partner with the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre to ensure Native youth had access to backpacks with basic supplies to start their school year right. We also were able to put together 20 more backpacks for youth 18 – 24 who were in need.
Block Printing Workshop
Favianna Rodriguez of Justseeds Artists’ Collective and the Eastside Arts Alliance (Oakland, CA) lead a workshop on the historical context of linoleum block printing as agit prop, along with practice in the techniques needed to produce linoleum block prints without studio facilities or expensive equipment.
On August 26th, we held a fundraising concert featuring Murray Porter, Shona Le Mottee w/Tim Readman, and Skeena Reece. There was also a silent auction, dinner, 50-50 draw, Howling at the Moon contest, and much dancing. This fun-filled event raised $9,614. Thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors, and donors who made it such a great success! In June, we welcomed twelve Maori students who were visiting Vancouver to find out more about our local ways of doing community development and youth work. They shared their songs and dances and our Young Women’s Drum Group shared a few songs. Our Music, Arts & Culture (MAC) Program hosts art shows, talent nights, and other fun activities that you should come check out sometime. We partnered with a University of BC First Nations Masters candidate to work with Native youth to help her gain insight into the experiences of youth participating in Aboriginal youth organizations in Vancouver. Youth gave input on successful education initiatives and Indigenous Knowledge. Her work culminated in a community exhibit and celebration held in April. Over 40 people attended to hear Amy Parent present an overview of her thesis work. Download the community report here. We partnered with the Talking Stick Festival to host a workshop for youth with Pacific Curls, a Maori/Pacific Island group. Everyone had a great time doing the team-building activities. We partnered with Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas on an Olympic legacy project that was made using reclaimed car parts, including the hood from our van that was heading to the car cemetery! The final products included 'Take Off', a large Thunderbird sculpture at UBC, and a functional, contemporary, copper-plated drum for UNYA. We partnered with a University of Massachusetts First Nations Masters candidate to create a PhotoVoice project with youth, which culminated in a community exhibit and celebration held in January. Over 175 people attended to hear Robin Gray and youth participants present their work. W2 Community Media Arts filmed the event, and created a youtube video featuring youth. Click here to watch a video of the event. UNYA’s Executive Director became a member of the City of Vancouver’s Dialogues between First Nations, Urban Aboriginal and Immigrant Communities in Vancouver Advisory Committee which is working towards fostering better understanding between our communities. We hosted four youth forums in Vancouver to share info about UNYA and find out what youth think is needed in the areas where they live and hangout. Country music star Crystal Shawanda visited UNYA and the Friendship Centre to share a few songs with the local community. Crystal shared ten songs, signed and posed for pictures, and was a welcome summertime visitor. Thanks Crystal for staying connected to the community. UNYA hosted the Seeing is Believing Tour twice in 2008. Many CEOs from various companies learned about what we do, Native youth strengths and challenges, and how they can partner with us to progress in our work. The Native Youth Centre Capital Campaign Committee was proud to offer gift bags to the amazing Aboriginal nominees for the Juno Awards in Vancouver in 2009. We partnered with VACFSS and MCFD to host a staff training session with the Just Therapy Team from New Zealand. This team focuses on the social justice aspects of a person’s life and how those either negatively or positively affect their well-being. Our Alcohol & Drug Counsellors hosted the Supporting Our Sisters Conference to raise awareness about sexual exploitation, self-care, and how to better support women who are involved in, trying to leave, or have left the sex trade. We partnered with the Native Women's Association of Canada to launch thier Violence Prevention Toolkit through an all day workshop that was open to the community. UNYA was proud to welcome 130 delegates from across Canada in April 2008 to the National Aboriginal GLBTQT Summit. Delegates included GLBTQ/Two-Spirit, families, service providers, allies, and policy makers who came together to help bring light to the important health issues of Aboriginal GLBTQT individuals, as well as cultural roles within traditional First Nations communities. Youth from our two schools, Aries & Cedar Walk, worked with Andrew Dexel to create an awesome mural on the back of our building as a way to let youth claim ownership of the building and beautify the alley. Howling at the Moon Benefit Concert - August
Maoris In the House - June
Art Shows May and Art / Fashion August
Keep Them Coming Back For More - April
Pacific Curls – February
Olympic Legacy – January/February
Photovoice - January
Dialogues Project – All Year
2009
Youth Forums - November
Crystal Shawanda - August
Seeing is Believing Tour
Juno Awards - July
Just Therapy - May
Supporting Our Sisters Conference - March
Violence Prevention Toolkit Workshop - February
2008
National Aboriginal LGBTQT Summit
All Our Relations Mural