YOUTH CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON CRYSTAL METH

Local First Nations are not sitting back and waiting for crystal meth
to inflict damage on their communities -- they're taking action. The
Kwakiutl District Council (KDC) and the Homalco Band will hold a
Crystal Meth Awareness Youth Conference entitled Protecting Our Youth
Against Crystal Meth and it will be held Dec. 8-10 at Tsakwaluten
Lodge on Quadra Island.

"The focus is on Crystal Meth information and awareness," said Tracy
Clark a First Nations mental health and addictions worker for the KDC.

Local facilitators will host a mix of crystal meth, HIV/STD awareness
and cultural workshops.

The crystal meth and HIV/STD workshops are mandatory for registrants.
They then can choose from workshops on suicide awareness, cedar
making, traditional medicine, medicine wheel, drum making, the law of
attractions and Lahal (a traditional game).

The conference will be free and is aimed at youth 12-18 years old.
The priority will be for youth from the sponsoring communities but
the conference is open to youth from other bands, based on space availability.

A highlight of the event will be a performance by First Nations
rap/hip-hop band Similar Differences which has a member from Cape Mudge.

The conference is a partnership between the KDC Health, the Campbell
River Band, Cape Mudge Band and the Homalco Band which received
$20,000 in provincial funding crystal meth prevention and awareness
programming.

The First Nations bands are also partnering with the Campbell River
Community Alcohol and Drug Action Committee to put on a youth film
festival focusing on the impact of drugs and alcohol -- including but
not limited to crystal meth -- on the community.

Clark said action is needed now to prepare youth in the community for
the emergence of crystal meth.

"Crystal Meth is really starting to be present in Campbell River,"
Clark said. "We're starting to see an increase in it."

Youth and drug workers are aware of the drug making inroads into the
community and fear the impact it can have.

"Violence is very much a part of what happens with crystal meth
users," Clark said. "There's an increase in violence and all the
crime that goes with (its use)."

As the conference title suggests, the goal of the event is to protect
youth against the devastating drug, arming them with knowledge and
the power of their First Nations culture.

For more information, contact Tracy Clark at KDC Health, Campbell
River Band (286-9766); Louise Snowdown at the Cape Mudge Band
(286-8064 or 285-3316) or Collette Slater at the Homalco Band (923-4979).