Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about a young, made-in-the-NWT, well-known mental health program for youth; specifically, FOXY, which stands for Fostering Opening eXpression among Youth.
FOXY is a participatory action research project. Big words which means that youth are involved in all aspects of the project, from its development to its implementation and then evaluation. The research component involves looking at the effectiveness of FOXY and empowering NWT youth, and facilitating dialogue about sexual health issues in the NWT.
The NWT has one of the highest rates for sexual abuse in Canada. We have many young girls and women who are unsure how to handle themselves in a sexual environment and who are hesitant to talk about sex, sexual orientation and sexual activity. Young women who need what the FOXY program provides: the empowerment of young NWT women and open dialogue about sexual health.
FOXY uses storytelling, drama and art to talk with girls about building empowered decision-making skills and about sexual health. The girls act out real-world scenarios, like being approached by older men on Facebook, for example, and they take part in positive body image activities in a safe, non-judgemental environment.
Over the past year, thanks to partnership with Canadian North Airlines, the FOXY crew has visited almost a dozen NWT communities, Aklavik, Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope and Tulita among them. Since its inception, FOXY has had several retreats with participants from 11 of our communities: Ulukhaktok, Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Fort Good Hope,
Norman Wells, Fort Smith, Whati, Hay River, Fort Liard, Fort Providence and Yellowknife.
FOXY receives funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada but has also developed numerous other partnerships with schools, youth centres and community agencies, including the Northern V Network, which is a non-profit who is fighting to end gender-based violence.
FOXY’s funding is in place until March 31, 2015, but that federal funding will then end, not to be renewed until April of 2017, a two-year gap. It’s very uncertain if the program can continue over the next two years.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted