FIRST NATIONS POSTER CONTEST WINNERS NOTED

The winners of a youth poster contest intended to discourage the use
of crystal methamphetamine have been announced.

Representatives of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation announced the winners in
a written statement May 7. Posters were required to contain original
traditional or contemporary aboriginal content in any medium and
contain an anti-meth phrase. Aboriginal youth attending schools in
North Vancouver were invited to participate in the contest.

All three winners attend Windsor secondary.

The first place entry was described by contest organizers in the
statement as a "chilling picture of a young person sitting on the
street smoking meth, with a rap written down the right side column,
ending with the lines, 'Hoping and praying for death, with my last
breath, I have to ask: Life or meth?'"

Winners were chosen by a panel of three judges: Joe George,
Tsleil-Waututh Nation elder; Jaimie Ireland, teacher and First
Nations co-ordinator at Seycove secondary; and Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong,
North Vancouver RCMP.

Prizes for first, second and third place were two Canucks tickets, an
MP3 player and a $50 gift certificate to Park Royal
respectively.

The winning entries have been made into professional posters and will
be distributed to schools and organizations throughout the Lower
Mainland. Organizations interested in obtaining winning posters can
contact Andrew Van Eden.

The project was hosted by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation with financial
support from the Union of B.C. Municipalities and Service Corporation
International. Support was provided by the North Vancouver RCMP and
the North Vancouver school district.