KL's Youth Advisory Council Empowers Through Music
Kw’umut Lelum's Youth Advisory Council (YAC) embarked on an inspiring journey, teaming up with N’we Jinan, a renowned production studio and platform dedicated to Indigenous youth across Canada. This collaboration presented our young talents with a unique opportunity to delve into sound recording, music production, songwriting, and performance.
In the summer of 2023, seven remarkable youth poured their hearts and souls into an original song titled "One Heart, One Mind." This soulful creation is not merely a song but a profound exploration of personal themes like navigating the system, embracing cultural identity, conquering personal struggles, self-acceptance, and unleashing one's true potential.
Throughout this transformative project, our young visionaries bravely stepped out of their comfort zones and wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to sharing their voices through the power of music. The bonds they formed with each other and the profound connections they developed with their inner selves were nothing short of awe-inspiring. As Carly Foster, KL Post Majority Worker, puts it, "I witnessed team building and encouragement as they celebrated one another on their accomplishments. To see their hard work, both as a group and as individuals, was such a beautiful thing. I am proud of their work, I am proud of their bravery, I am proud of their stories and their voices."
This endeavor stands as a living testament to the transformative impact of the Government Engagement Mechanisms (GEMs) conference in October 2022. Supported by Indigenous Services Canada, this conference brought together current youth in care, those aging out of care, and former youth in care to gather feedback, share stories, and make recommendations for enhancing the lives of Indigenous youth in our province. Carly Foster summarizes it beautifully: "We all gathered to share our stories and make recommendations about what the youth felt needed to change."
The key takeaways from the GEMS conference were crystal clear:
· Youth do not feel prepared to age out at 19.
· Culture is a wellspring of strength for our youth.
· They wanted more opportunities to share their stories and have their voices heard.
Fast forward to April 2023, and the voices of our youth were not only heard but acted upon. A crucial extension was introduced, supporting youth aging out of care from ages 19-21 to help them build independence. This pivotal change directly aligned with the feedback provided by our youth. In a sincere effort to honor their requests and amplify their voices, we sought a creative avenue. "The opportunity to work with N'we Jinan was something I was aware of from my experience as an educator," shares Carly Foster. The pieces fell into place, and the result is the remarkable video we are thrilled to share with you today.
Thursday, Tth’al’xwumutsun (November) 2nd, Kw’umut Lelum hosted a Video Release Celebration where many guests gathered at the Stz’uminus Community Gym to celebrate the youth as they debuted their home-grown music video. We raise our hands to every youth involved in this project for sharing your story, using your voice, and making an impact.
Click here Watch “One Heart, One Mind” music video
Click here for more information on KL’s Youth Advisory Council
Click here to learn more about N’we Jinan Productions