When We Overlook!
Political banter has the potential to do damage!
There has been a subset of Canada’s youth that is experiencing the effects of political banter, not to mention the restrictive consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic more than others:
The Indigenous Youth.
From all across the country these Canadians are struggling, trying to decide if they have the financial resources necessary to return to school (if there even is a school to go to this Fall?). We, (Canada), have been embroiled in a controversy over a $900 million dollar support program for students. While the news and media focus on blame and conflict of interest, its the students who are suffering! The funding was approved so let’s find a way to move forward!
Lets be more solutions orientated!
These young, but growing leaders all across Canada are looking for innovative ways to provide themselves the resources and financial assistance required for them to enter or return to their respective post-secondary programs. With the crushing loss of summer job opportunities and part-time work since the beginning of the pandemic, Indigenous Canadians now have to deal with more problems added onto the pile of unresolved issues, crumbling social infrastructure that was already in distress – pre-pandemic!
So, why are these young folks navigating new waters without further assistance; especially when prior issues have not been successfully addressed (e.g. environmental damage, cost of living, internet access, etc)?
Michael Macleod, MP NWT asked a great question in the Finance Committee hearings last week asked, “what can we do now?” There was a sincerity embedded in his tone that made you aware of his intimate knowledge of the struggles of Indigenous youth who would have depended on that funding.
While politicians strive to blame one another, the fact remains that the essence of the $900 million-dollar program was to help students who would normally depend on summer employment to offset the costs of obtaining a higher education.
Let’s not overlook the importance of stimulus in times of crisis, lets not overlook the role that charities and non-for-profits can provide, lets not paint with a wide brush! In the great words for Gord Downey of the Tragically Hip, “It’s time to get to work Trudeau,” but we mean it in the sense that there are grass-roots opportunities that can solve macro-level barriers!
To see how we plan to mobilize Indigenous students in 2021 see this https://www.itstimeforchange.ca/summer-employment.html
As always; It’s Time for Change.
