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By Courtney Almeida

2019 Spirit Seekers Youth Conference hits Grande Prairie

Mar 10, 2019 | 7:00 AM

The 2019 Spirit Seekers Youth Conference is set to take place March 15-16 at Grande Prairie Regional College. The 20th annual event meant to empower youth age 11 to 29 also features several free public offerings like the 10th annual Spirit Seekers Round Dance.

“This event is important because it gives the opportunity for Indigenous and non-indigenous youth to come together and it really helps Indigenous youth reconnect with our culture and provide cultural teaching,” says Delaine Lambert-English, Conference Coordinator for Spirit Seekers.

The conference was initially created out of a need for local programming and now draws attendees from surrounding areas and some from out of province.

“It’s inspiring and empowering for the youth to come together and meet other youth from different communities,” said Lambert-English. “We have a lot of youth come in from small remote communities and there are no geographical restrictions to this conference.”

This year’s conference is being hosted by Grande Prairie Friendship Centre in partnership with Grande Prairie Regional College and the Circle of Indigenous Students.

Although events are set up for youth to enjoy, young people, play a big part in conference planning and organization too.

“The unique thing about our conference is that its foundation is the Youth Committee. The Youth Committee actually chooses all the facilitators and this year for the 20th annual, we’ve bumped the number of facilitators up to 15 from 12.”

Workshop topics include Healthy Relationships, Pow Wow Dancing, Sexual Health, Suicide Prevention, Warrior Bloodlines, Storytelling, Advocacy, Inner Healing, Arts, Empowerment and more.

Unique in its offering of private workshops and publicly inclusive events, this year’s Spirit Seekers Youth Conference theme is Continuation of Resilience.

Scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, March 15, the opening ceremony and Indigenous Youth Awards are open to the public. Lambert-English says attendees can expect the ceremony to be “infused with culture and pow dancing”.

Following the opening ceremony, a free concert will be offered by Dani and Lizzy.

Another public event will be held in the GPRC gymnasium, when a Stew and Bannock and Round Dance is set to take place beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 16.

“For our Round Dance, we’re highlighting youth drummers,” says Lambert-English. “We want to highlight and empower and give youth the opportunity to be the drummers at the round dance and that’s something new that we’ve added this year.”

All drummers are welcome but preference will be given to that are 29 years old and younger.

A career fair, pipe ceremony, various vendors and several raffles/giveaways have also been organized.

Workshop facilitation will be led by Cowboy Smithx, Vincent Rain, Dyami Thomas, Clinton & Venessa Soto and Mary Jo Badger, to name a few.

“Students can have the opportunity to see four workshops throughout the day and the earlier they register, the more likely they are to get into the workshops they want.” 

At a cost of $150, registration for the weekend conference includes three meals and is available here.

by Courtney Almeida