Alberta Health Services Come to MJS

Eating and sharing stories

Alberta Health Services brought a group out to Maskwacis Justice Society on Friday. The group came out, and were able to experience picking and learning about sweet grass from a community Elder, Norma Crane. During this time I was able to talk with some of the teens about issues they felt faced by Aboriginals in Canada. It was good to be able to exchange stories and experiences with people from other communities. A huge thank you to the community Elder, Norma Crane, who shared her wisdom and teaching with myself and the group of youth.
For lunch we had bannock tacos, and Paula taught me how to make bannock! :) We all ate together as a group and in the afternoon the group made collages about positive self-identification.

Making Bannock!! :)

Yum!

Meaghan's Visit!

Luci, Myself and Meaghan =)

Last week, Meaghan came out to Hobbema with me from the LaB office to check things out. In the morning we went to check out a Pow wow in the Hobbema Jail, which was a pretty neat experience. We got searched by the dogs to get in, and even got to chat a bit with one of the inmates. Again I was reminded about the kindness of the people in the Hobbema area. What was really awesome about this Pow wow being in the jail was that it allowed for inmates to celebrate their culture, and also allow for a sense of healing.
In the afternoon, we went with a group of youth out to Louis Bull First Nation, where we got to go through the process of picking, and braiding the sacred sweet grass. This wisdom was taught by a community Elder, Norma Crane. This also was a great experience, and what was even better was seeing the youth's excitement while learning this process, and the great respect they showed for the Elder. The day was a great success in teaching the youth about their culture.

The Elder leading us in a prayer before going to pick the sacred sweet grass.

MAMAWOKETEYOWITAN through (AYCES)

MAMAWOKETEYOWITAN -Cree translation refers to
Lets Grow Old Together

Aboriginal Youth Community and Empowerment Strategy (AYCES)

2 Day Youth Symposium!

Maskwacis Justice Society and Girl Guides took part in the 2 day Youth Symposium in the townsite of Hobbema. Youth from the community gathered and were able to look at the booths of organizations in the community, as well as watch and listen to some amazing guest speakers and role models. This was from musicians to Canada's next top model! Overall, it was a fun exciting experience, which provided a great example for the communities youth!

The Booths set up and ready to go! 

Luci doing air brush tattoos on the young girls

ASIST Training- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

Monday and Tuesday marked the two day intensive ASIST Training, held right here at our offices.
"The ASIST workshop is for caregivers who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Over one million caregivers have participated in this two-day, highly interactive, practical, practice-oriented workshop."
The workshop was an overal success and all participants agreed that we had learned and grown in the area of a first aid to suicide. The workshop not only trained us with how to properly intervene with those with thoughts of suicide, but it also provided us information and facts, that changed a lot of our attitudes on the topic of suicide.

ASIST Training 2011

In session

The Rural Life

As a rural capacity intern, we often talk of what it means to be rural, what is the rural lifestyle?

As I pulled into my office yesterday morning, I saw that Hobbema had it all figured out!

Girl Power Program Kicks off!

Girl Power program is kicking off here at Maskwacis Justice Society. It will run Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer with the key theme of building self-esteem in these youth girls.

My collage for Girl Power