First Nations youth call for five-year action plan – Toronto Star

Aboriginal youth, in an “ultimate act of reconciliation,” are seeking an equal seat at the table to address long-standing needs, from the legacy of residential schools to corruption on reserves.

Feb 24 2014

Ontario’s First Nations youth are calling for a five-year provincial action plan to address a wide range of urgent needs, including the legacy of residential schools, substance abuse, suicide, education, cultural heritage and even corruption on reserves.

The “Feathers of Hope” report released Monday at Queen’s Park, on Parliament Hill and in Thunder Bay, urges federal, provincial and First Nations leadership within 60 days to endorse the concept and create a formal body to get to work.

The report recommends, by the summer, hiring at least five youth to work with government and First Nations leaders to ensure the action plan moves “from paper to implementation to achieve real change.”

“We believe strongly that the active participation of First Nations youth at every step of the process is necessary for its success,” the report says.