Who are you picking on?! Challenging the Media.

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You wouldn't pick on a child would you? NO. You know that the consequences of your actions will effect the child and their upbringing. Now how does this differ with the media? The media loves to highlight negative events and uses various techniques to stereotype and create profiles based on negative events, framing and emphasizing the negative in each circumstance, distorting our visions. Now look at the case of Hobbema, an Alberta reserve. Hobbema is a provincial and a national highlight in the news for negative events. How does constantly putting down the community make a difference? It makes situations much worse rather then instilling hope in individuals and communities. There are plenty of phenomenal programs running in this community that need to be recognized and promoted.
Maybe the key to success lies within support from others and positive output.
Have a valuable influence and see the positive!

Little Warriors Boys Cultural Camp

This past weekend marked the date of the Boys Traditional Winer Camp, hosted by AYCES and MJS.

This weekend provided an opportunity to both learn and grow from the community elders. Cree stories and values were passed down to the youth, and they had the chance to grow by learning hands on,  while embracing their culture. A major thank you to all the elders and volunteers who made this weekend such a huge success! 

Drum making!

The Boys with there finished drums!

Gathering Fire wood

Chopping wood

Maskwacis Girl Guides Gets Published!!

Our girl guides have been published in the First Nations Resource Magazine !

Its YOUR Turn!

New for Maskwacis Justice Society and AYCES (Aboriginal Youth and Community Empowerment Strategy) of Alberta Health Services is to assist and promote the start of Maskwacis Youth Chief and Council program..

This program is geared for the youth to have a say with issues for themselves...NO adults will be organizing this...only our youth!...So lets get started....place to meet, discuss issues and solutions...and AYCES will even start you off with partial funding......Lets do this Generation Y.....its your turn to lead!

Maskwacis ONYX'

Maskwacis ONYX’ is a new program starting in Maskwacis to assist teen girls to take a proactive look at the challenges they face on a daily basis in today’s society. Participants are dealing with many difficult life challenges and Maskwacis ONYX gives them a voice to address some of the mixed messages that they are receiving through various forms of media including television, internet, music and print. ONYX aims to help young women become consciously aware of the gender stereotyping and underlying messages that are portrayed every day through the media contributing to a distorted sense of self and inaccurate creation of identity that can result in a low self esteem. Maskwacis ONYX was created to address these issues, to empower young women to have their voices heard; to provide them with the skills to think critically; and guide them in making positive decisions in their lives all while honoring the Cree inherited culture.

Please call Luci Johnson, Spirit of Onyx Facilitator as program will be commencing in January 2012 @ 780-585-2330.  

Check out the Facebook group attached on the link below!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maskwacis-Spirit-of-ONYX-Teen-Girls-Program/264939986892651

Maskwacis Horsemanship Club !

Alright guys, this is a program you do not want to miss out on !!! Head on down to register. I had the opportunity to work with Dion this summer as he ran this program. Now, he has paired up with MJS to offer horsemanship lessons to the youth, oh and did I mention, its FREE to Maskwacis youth! Dion is a fantastic role model with great experience working with horses. He is great with the kids and enables himself to teach valuable lessons while the youth are still having a great time!!! Don't miss out!

Boys Cultural Camp Ready to Roll!!!!

Register quick as there are only 15 spots available! Head to NEA or call to register!