Métis Youth Whispering Winds... the voice of the Métis Community in British Columbia BCUMYC cont. Updates UMAYC Funding for Community Youth Projects The BCUMYC is currently finishing up this fiscal year and planning for 2007/2008. The BCUMYC's has completed its annual Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centre (UMAYC) Request for Proposals. The BCUMYC would like to thank all of the com- munities who submitted youth project propos- als for 2007/2008. The Committee received a total of twenty (20) proposals. Successful applicants will be notified by letter shortly. All of the 2006/2007 Community Youth Projects have either been completed or are in the process of being completed before March 31st. Past projects have included: Métis canoe journeys, cultural workshops, trips to Batoche, etc. LearnM ichif.com The official launch date for the LearnMichif.com web site is set for March 31st 2007. A formal press release will be sent out announcing the launch date with further details. The BCUMYC and its partners have applied for an additional year of funding through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Gateway Fund to continue the development of the site. Planning Ahead for 2007/2008 In looking ahead, the main focus for the BCUMYC in the next fiscal year will be: youth engagement at the community level, establishing 35 Métis Local Community Youth Representatives, strengthening rela- tionships between the Regional Youth
BCUMYC Regional Youth Representatives voting seats on Regional Governance Councils • Since September, each Regional Youth Representative has had the opportunity to participate and vote at their first Regional Governance Council Meeting • As of November 2006, BCUMYC now has a full Committee of Representatives, fol- lowing the addition of Casey Nault, our new North Central Regional Youth Representative • Regional Youth Representatives participat- ed in the Regional Community Consultations across the province • Electoral Act passed at the 2007 Métis Nation Governing Assembly which in effect creates a democratic process for the election of the Regional Youth Representatives and the Provincial Youth Chairperson Upcoming 2008 MNBC Election The BCUMYC is strongly encouraging Métis youth (15-30 years) in BC to apply for their MNBC Citizenship card before the upcoming 2008 election in order to vote in the election. To obtain an application, please contact MNBC head office at (604) 801-5853 For more information, please contact: Ginny Gonneau, Director of Youth (604) 801-5853 ext. 232 ggonneau@mnbc.ca
Representatives and their respective commu- nities, effective communication and a lobby- ing action plan for full integration of the BCUMYC Governance Structure and increas- ing communities knowledge, and understand- ing of the BCUMYC Five Year Plan, Youth Act and Strategic Governance Plan. Accomplishments for 2007/2008 Resolution passed at 2006 AGM to give Spring 2007
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Essay Contest MIKI'SIW Métis Nation is proud to present the winners of the High School Métis Essay Contest. Each winner received a cash prize. Following a winning submission.
The Métis: A Culture Of Diversity By Ervin Ironstand The word originally comes from the Latin word miscere meaning "to mix". In history the Métis were known by other names given to them by various other tribes like the Ojibwe that called them wissakoddewinmi, which means " half burnt woodsmen". The Métis people come from a mix of Aboriginal and European heritage, specifically from a French or Scottish European background, and an Ojibwe or Cree native background. In short the Métis have a diverse and original culture similar to some European or Aboriginal cultures but also different in its own way. So the question is: what differenti- ates the Métis culture from other European or Aboriginal cultures? In this essay I am going to describe just a few of the many components in the Métis culture. The sash is finger woven using many colours all with a special mean- ing. It is approximately three meters long and was traditionally used as a belt, scarf or rope. The Métis flag of infinity had two variants: blue and red. The flag has either, a red or blue background and bears in the middle a white horizontal figure eight, which represents the coming together of two vibrant cultures. There were more than one language spoken amongst all the metes but one most common language was the Michif language. This lan- guage was composed of Cree and French put together. The flag of infinity was the first ever, patriot- ic flag indigenous to Canada. The Métis flag came before Canada's maple leaf flag by about 150 years. The infinity symbol (the horizontal figure eight) represents the coming together of two nations. The blue background emphasizes the symbol and represents the Métis people living forever. The two back- ground colours used were red and blue. They