Interview
Questions:
1. Can you tell me about the role and function you play in the "Youth Justice" program?
2. How long has the Youth diversion program been available through the Wabano centre? 24 years.
3. What are the services that you offer young people?
Can you describe the young people who come to the Youth Diversion program?
4. On average, how often do youth attend?
5. Why do these youth come here? . . . what attracts them . . .?
6. What is the nature of their participation, ie. what activities or programmes are they involved in?
7. Are there differences in the interests and activities among the youth, e.g., on the basis of age, gender, neighbourhood of residence, etc.?
8. With what other public & nongovernmental organizations, associations, & groups do you communicate or collaborate? . . . and in what way?
9. Are there any areas of difficulty or challenge that you face, particularly with regard to support for youth?
10. Do you think services for youth could be improved? If so, how . . .? If not, why not . . .
I had never been to the Wabano centre before and I was blown away by what I saw. It was so uplifting to see Indigenous art and artifacts all over the walls. In the lobby where I waited the front desk in front of me was lined with flyers of different programs and activities pertaining to all ages of those within the community. Not only do they have a youth justice program they also provide facilities like a medical and dentistry centre, mental health support, childcare, and much more. Aside from the amazing programs and supports they offer, the building alone is stunning.
1. Can you tell me about the role and function you play in the "Youth Justice" program?
- The Wabano centre for Aboriginal health is a community hub designed specifically for the Indigenous people of Ottawa. We aid in the support and care of all ages and backgrounds.
2. How long has the Youth diversion program been available through the Wabano centre? 24 years.
- What are its activities & services? All medical, dentistry, and social supports are avaible for these youth.
- Who are its clientele? The “Youth Diversion” section of the Wabano centre are concerned with youth between the ages of 12-18. Youth justice/ Youth diversion program works with youth who are having issues with the law. Youth come to the program in three manners. The first and foremost is the Crown appointing the youth to this program as a requirement to complete their probation. The other two avenues are recommendation by law enforcement or self-volunteering.
- What is its staff composition: The person whom I spoke with held a coordinator position and works with a variety of people within Wabano depending on what the individual youth requires (e.g. medical, social supports, mental health).
- What are its funding sources? The government funds all of Wabano.
3. What are the services that you offer young people?
Can you describe the young people who come to the Youth Diversion program?
- Age: 12-18
- Gender: All
- size of the population: this particular program flucuates, typically has 6 from probation at a time and 20 throughout the year.
- Place of residence: Ottawa area but mostly Vanier
- Ethnic/cultural background: Indigenous Youth
- Language: variety but English dominant
- Approximate socio-economic status: Low
4. On average, how often do youth attend?
- They attend every day. More specifically Monday-Friday. It is their “hangout” spot.
5. Why do these youth come here? . . . what attracts them . . .?
- Our main attraction is the culturally appropriate practices that take place at the Wabano centre. The space and programs that have been created for these youth are allowing them to build on their self-identity as well as connecting them to the community.
6. What is the nature of their participation, ie. what activities or programmes are they involved in?
- The diversion program offers a selection of activities for these youth including Youth Kitchen, Circle Talk with Knowledge Keeper, Food: Money- Saving Tips and Tricks, Beats For Peace, PD Day Activities, NWE Kendaas “I Love to Learn,” the Dream Team, and a workshop that took place over a week period titles “Love Art?” with local artist Mique Michelle
7. Are there differences in the interests and activities among the youth, e.g., on the basis of age, gender, neighbourhood of residence, etc.?
- Indicated that the youth themselves go through waves of what they are interested in. There are the popular activites such as “Youth Kitchen and “Circle Talk,” that the youth frequent. Other activities such as “I love to Learn,” or “Beats for Peace,” vary in interest, depending on the week.
8. With what other public & nongovernmental organizations, associations, & groups do you communicate or collaborate? . . . and in what way?
- We do not typically collaborate with other public and NGOs organizations, or associations.
9. Are there any areas of difficulty or challenge that you face, particularly with regard to support for youth?
- Staff? No, we really try to keep close relationships with one another.
- Funding? All funding is covered by the government of Canada, so I don't really have any issues with funding. We typically get what we need.
- Activities? No, we are given ample opportunity to do the things that we want.
- Material & infrastructure? No, we are given the material, supplies, and space we need.
10. Do you think services for youth could be improved? If so, how . . .? If not, why not . . .
- She said that she believed that there’s always room for improvement but that there was not anything substantial that stuck out in her mind. So i then asked her to compare it to the last position/job she held. She stated that there were huge differences with this program compared to the other. Funding being the biggest one as she gets a lot of support here where at her other job she did not.
I had never been to the Wabano centre before and I was blown away by what I saw. It was so uplifting to see Indigenous art and artifacts all over the walls. In the lobby where I waited the front desk in front of me was lined with flyers of different programs and activities pertaining to all ages of those within the community. Not only do they have a youth justice program they also provide facilities like a medical and dentistry centre, mental health support, childcare, and much more. Aside from the amazing programs and supports they offer, the building alone is stunning.
History
The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is an award winning centre that accounts for one of†ten Aboriginal Health†Access Centres in Canada. This health centre supports over 40,000 Indigenous people in the Ottawa Ontario area by providing medical clinics social services and youth programs.
The Youth Justice program specifically works with youth who are coming out of incarceration and it is a requirement of their probation, recommended by law enforcement, or self-volunteer. This program works with youth between the ages of 12-17. They offer a wide variety of opportunities for youth and are delivered through culturally appropriate practices. The Youth Justice program has been apart of Wabano since they opened their doors 24 years ago.
The Youth Justice program specifically works with youth who are coming out of incarceration and it is a requirement of their probation, recommended by law enforcement, or self-volunteer. This program works with youth between the ages of 12-17. They offer a wide variety of opportunities for youth and are delivered through culturally appropriate practices. The Youth Justice program has been apart of Wabano since they opened their doors 24 years ago.
Programs
Youth Kitchen: This program is run weekly. The youth can come in after school and they all start preparing dinner together. The room that this is held in consists of a conventional kitchen with a large community island that provides seating to all the youth. After the preparation of dinner, they eat!
Circle Talk with Knowledge Keeper: During this activity, they open with smudging and the youth gather in a circle. The coordinator stated that some days the conversation is really light and relaxed, where other's can be very deep and emotional.
Food: Money- Saving Tips and Tricks: This little workshop helps those youth who are about to become adults (18 years of age) or plan to be living on their own soon, some healthy living tricks that will help them succeed.
Beats For Peace PD Day Activities: Rapping, music, and deejaying are a pass time that these youth have really enjoyed in the past and future. It encourages them to write their own music, and produce it. Not only can these youth work on their solo careers but they have collaborated with one another on certain projects.
NWE Kendaas “I Love to Learn”: The learning of cultural background takes place in this program. This gives the youth an opportunity to gain insights from their cultural heritage, ways of thinking, beliefs and spirituality.
Dream Team: The youth from the justice program have a created space at Gloucester High School. Every Wednesday the program is run out of the school and they also have access to a lodge on cite. Provides opportunity for others in the community to experience their ways of life. It also intersects the different worlds in which these youth participate in.
Love Art? March Break Mique Michelle: This was a workshop that was put on during the March Break of 2018. A local artist by the name of Mique Michelle was the instructor for said workshop. The youth who were involved learned painting and different art skills from a graffiti perspective. Throughout the week the youth worked collaboratively and created a mural that will be displayed somewhere in Downtown Ottawa.
Circle Talk with Knowledge Keeper: During this activity, they open with smudging and the youth gather in a circle. The coordinator stated that some days the conversation is really light and relaxed, where other's can be very deep and emotional.
Food: Money- Saving Tips and Tricks: This little workshop helps those youth who are about to become adults (18 years of age) or plan to be living on their own soon, some healthy living tricks that will help them succeed.
Beats For Peace PD Day Activities: Rapping, music, and deejaying are a pass time that these youth have really enjoyed in the past and future. It encourages them to write their own music, and produce it. Not only can these youth work on their solo careers but they have collaborated with one another on certain projects.
NWE Kendaas “I Love to Learn”: The learning of cultural background takes place in this program. This gives the youth an opportunity to gain insights from their cultural heritage, ways of thinking, beliefs and spirituality.
Dream Team: The youth from the justice program have a created space at Gloucester High School. Every Wednesday the program is run out of the school and they also have access to a lodge on cite. Provides opportunity for others in the community to experience their ways of life. It also intersects the different worlds in which these youth participate in.
Love Art? March Break Mique Michelle: This was a workshop that was put on during the March Break of 2018. A local artist by the name of Mique Michelle was the instructor for said workshop. The youth who were involved learned painting and different art skills from a graffiti perspective. Throughout the week the youth worked collaboratively and created a mural that will be displayed somewhere in Downtown Ottawa.
Institutional Linkages
When it comes to the well being of the youth, the only other partnerships that they have are with other government connections. This being said although they are not collaborating with any other organizations, the youth's caseworker is typically in close contact with the individual's legal and other outside social services.
Big Thanks
I would like to just take the opportunity to thank the Wabano centre and particularly the Youth Justice division for allowing me to partake and experience the great work that they are conducting.