MANDATE
The Wawate Miguam has for mandate the optimal development and improvement of the lives of Young urban Aboriginals by an empowerement and dynamic involvement for the well being of the young Aboriginal community. The enhancement of the lives of the urban Native youth is defined in 4 major themes: culture, education, community health and recreation.
OBJECTIVES
• To inform the community in general of the urban realities of Aboriginal youth;
• To develop partnerships in order to enrich young Aboriginal people’s social life;
• To involve the Aboriginal youth of Val-d’Or in the administration of the 13 to 29 years youth project.
• To promote the development of the youth’s aboriginal pride in regards to their culture and heritage.
• To encourage young Aboriginals to persevere in school and education.
• Offer sport, social and cultural activities to the youth;
• To be instrumental in the well being of young people by promoting their autonomy and self-sufficiency by finding balance within the body, soul and spirit.
ACTIVITIES
• The Youth Centre is opened at lunch hour and after school on school days, in the evenings and on week end’s.
• Partnerships with different local organizations.
• Youth Committee for the administration of the Youth Project.
• Arts and crafts, cultural workshops and cultural emphasis at each activity.
• Graduate agenda, Gala and graduate recognition.
• Activities underlining special dates that mark the school calendar year, such as the first day of school, Spring break, last day of school, etc…
• Sporting, social and cultural activities such as pool tournaments, video evenings, movie evenings, hockey, gym activities, Kokom soup.
OPENING HOURS FOR THE YOUTH CENTRE
Monday thru Friday, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Monday to Thursday, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
TARGETED CLIENTELE
Young Aboriginals from 13 to 29 years of age.
FUNDING
Funding by Heritage Canada via the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Center Initiative Program (U.M.A.Y.C.)
BACKGROUND
The Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Center are born from a national initiative set up in 1998. In Canada, these Centres serve youth aged from 13 to 24, while in Quebec, the age limit is set to 29. In Val-d’Or, the UMAYC was inaugurated in 1999.
SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES
Activities for young people in general, not focusing on specific individual problems. Approach based on the strengths of young people and not on the problems.
