EAGLE LAKE FIRST NATION – The newly formed Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council has received a huge boost in its development thanks to a 4 year grant worth over $500,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

“This grant will help the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council (OFNYPC) to achieve their goals by providing the resources to coordinate First Nations youth in Ontario,” says Grand Chief Angie Barnes of Akwesasne. Grand Chief Barnes is the youth portfolio holder for the Chiefs of Ontario. “The OFNYPC is determined to provide a voice and forum for all First Nations youth to lay the groundwork as an advocating body for youth issues,” she says.

During an Indigenous Youth Symposium on Economic Development hosted by COO in November 2003, the youth in attendance called for an Ontario wide youth council. As a result, a working group of youth from across the province was formed to set the foundation for the OFNYPC. That goal has now been realized and the OFNYPC is poised to begin its activities representing the youth of 134 First Nations in Ontario.

The OTF grant will provide the resources to begin leadership training for members of the OFNYPC. The council will then be in a position to provide leadership training to Ontario’s First Nation youth. The next step will be the development of community First Nation youth councils across Ontario.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives annually $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario’s charity casino initiative. The Foundation allocates grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts and culture, environment, human and social services and sports and recreation sectors.