Today, Yukon students and guardians gathered at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, alongside Minister of Education Jeanie McLean and media, to celebrate the opening of the Youth Roots: Photovoice project. This project aligns with the Yukon government’s commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of youth in response to the Substance Use Health Emergency.
The Photovoice project presents an exhibit of photos from Yukon youth expressing how they promote mental wellness. In total, 39 Yukon youth from five communities participated in the project.
Students learned photography skills from Yukon photographer Mark Kelly, which helped the students express themselves through the images they took. The initiative also encouraged youth to explore beauty and joy in their communities.
Photos will be displayed at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre until May 30, 2023. Each image will feature a caption and the youth artists’ name.
Initiatives such as the Yukon Roots: Photovoice project help youth develop skills, knowledge and self-confidence while exploring themes of health and wellbeing in their communities. These skills are extremely important to building strong, resilient Yukon communities. They are also crucial to supporting our broader goals of preventing substance use, addressing root causes and promoting connections and wellbeing.
It was an honour to join students and guardians at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre to celebrate the opening of the Youth Roots: Photovoice project, and to recognize the hard work of participants. We know that initiatives such as this are crucial in supporting the mental wellness of youth and the health of Yukon communities. I look forward to following the positive impacts that will no doubt come from helping students find meaningful ways to connect to their communities and express themselves through art.
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The Youth Roots project helps prevent substance use among Yukon youth. It facilitates grants for researchers, policy makers, practitioners and community members
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The Youth Roots project was implemented to support the wellbeing of Yukon youth following the release of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study.
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Youth Roots: A Substance Use Prevention Gathering was held November 2022 to discuss and promote approaches to prevent youth substance use by emphasizing long-term, upstream solutions.
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Youth Roots: Photovoice Project challenged Yukon youth to highlight protective factors in their lives through their own lens.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Greta Powell
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-332-0180
greta.powell@yukon.ca