Thunder Bay launches 'Welcome Project' for First Nations youth
The City of Thunder Bay announced plans Friday to create a new educational video series to help welcome First Nations youth to the city.
The Welcome Project will consist of four documentary videos, as well as a related website, containing information that will help young people and their families to navigate and adjust to the city.
The films are aimed at First Nations high school, university and college students, said city clerk John Hannam.
The videos are geared towards "helping them connect with the community, connect with the supports and services that are available to them, and hopefully better prepare them for life in an urban environment.
The videos will build on the city's earlier Walk A Mile film project, a series of short documentaries aimed at improving race relations between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Thunder Bay, he said.
While the Walk A Mile series sparked conversation, The Welcome Project will take the next step, by responding to the needs of First Nations youth, said filmmaker Michelle Derosier, who is producing the films.
"I think that as a community we are well aware ... of some very, very serious issues that we are dealing with as Canadians, and certainly in this community," she said, pointing to concerns over student safety, and the current student deaths inquest unfolding in Thunder Bay.
Derosier said she will be reaching out to community members for their input on what issues the videos need to address.
The city is currently looking for sponsors to help pay for the films. The plan is to have the videos completed in time to welcome new students in the fall, and to screen them at the annual Fall Feast and Festival of Services in September.