Cultural Intervention on Suicide Prevention Measures Conference in Fort Chipewyan
Posted on March 11
Athabasca Delta Community School hosted a Cultural Intervention Suicide Prevention Measures Conference from March 3-5, 2015.
The three day conference was designed to educate Fort Chipewyan residents about how to deal with self-harm behaviours and suicide. Students, parents, grandparents and community members gathered wisdom while interacting with guest speakers and Dené drummers from Meander River. Elders Fred Henry and Larrane Leech spoke about the importance of weaving culture into the curriculum and Amelia McComber discussed how culture impacts a persons journey. Opi Oppenheim, artist and comedian, shared his sense of humour to help residents development confidence and Beverly Lambert, Métis Cultural Facilitator, focused on the youth's self-esteem and encouraged students to take pride through dance therapy. Youth speaker Honesty Grandjambe addressed issues students tend to face on a daily basis and expressed a need for youth to "reach out" when they feel down.
One of the powerful moments during the conference was when students took it upon themselves to serve Elders in the circle by mopping the floors. They did it with respect by being very quiet as speakers spoke. The Cultural Intervention Suicide Prevention Measures Conference was sponsored by David Tuccaro, Mikisew Group of Companies, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations, Athabasca Tribal Council and Mikisew First Nation and Acden.