Ahousaht First Nation Youth Centre Visit

Thank you to Ahousaht First Nation wellness councillor Darlene Dick for welcoming me to the Ahousaht youth centre this week. Darlene and I bumped into each other at the opening of the wonderful new Orca Lelum youth centre at Snaw-naw-as First Nation a few months back and she invited me to come to the community to learn more about the issues facing Ahousaht’s young people and the work of her fellow team members. The community is coping with a state of emergency related to the toxic drug crisis.
Allison and Whelan are the recreation coordinators and my old friend Daniel who now lives and works at Ahousaht is working on building a basketball team with twelve young people already signed up. We met at the Chahchumhiiyup Centre and heard about how the community gym is crowded with 45 to 60 kids until 11 pm. They need safe healthy spaces.
The community hopes to open another youth centre and I promised to continue speaking out for them on my return to Ottawa. Klecko Klecko for making a difference in the lives of Ahousaht youth.

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