By Derek Cornet

Advocate for children and youth supportive of more recreation opportunities in North

Apr 4, 2018 | 5:00 PM

Saskatchewan’s Advocate for Children and Youth was in Air Ronge today speaking about his special report on the youth suicide crisis in northern Saskatchewan.

“We were invited specifically to talk to groups of recreation coordinators in the North, and one of the themes of our report talks about the lack of activities as one of the causes of youth suicide,” Corey O’Soup said. “There’s a lot of sporting activities and things like that. The kids are saying they don’t all like sports. They’re calling out for different activities like art, drama, theatre and music.”

As part of meetings arranged by the Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District, O’Soup was already in Deschambault Lake before his stop today at Air Ronge’s Gordon Denny Community School. Tomorrow he will also visit Jans Bay and O’Soup said he enjoys travelling across the North because it shows him a small piece of the challenges northern people face.

“It’s important we come do this face-to-face because it really validates what the kids have had to say,” he said.

According to the report released last year, nearly half of the young people who died of suicide in Saskatchewan during the past five years were Indigenous. It noted the suicide rate for First Nations people is 4.3 times higher the non-First Nations people The report was compiled through interviews with 264 Indigenous youth and stops in 12 northern communities.

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The report also recommends the establishment of a province-wide suicide prevention strategy, as well as the implementation of Jordan’s Principal which calls for child welfare agencies to focus on the interests of children and ensure there are no service gaps by government.

“I’m really hoping by having these meetings and speaking with the people on the frontlines, we can inspire them to make a difference in those kids lives,” O’Soup said. “They should really respond with what the kids have to say in this report. That will help them do their jobs better than they’re already doing them.”

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno