Outside Looking In: A Recreational Youth Development Program for Aboriginal Youth

Programs

Publisher/Sponsor

Alberta Centre for Active Living

Description

Outside Looking In (OLI) is a youth development program created by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal people. The program offers Aboriginal youth the opportunity to be involved in arts-based physical and recreational activities. The program is also set up to provide non-Aboriginal Canadians the opportunity to learn about Aboriginal peoples through OLI’s annual multi-media performance in Toronto. To be eligible for the OLI program, an applicant community must illustrate that they have volunteers and leadership committed to collaborating with OLI, and that they are willing and able to provide a sponsorship (currently $25,000) to aid in supporting the OLI program. Successful applicant communities are chosen by OLI employees and members of its Board of Directors. At the beginning of the school year (September), key players from the participating community meet with OLI representatives. At this stage, plans are developed for the arts-based recreational activities that the youth from the community will later be engaged in, starting in January. Typically, the key players involved in the program planning include school teachers and principal(s), as well as community volunteers. In the past, the OLI program has been run as an extracurricular activity. As of fall 2011, the program can be run as a high school credit course. At the end of the school year, the students travel to the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation camp near Brantford, Ontario for a two-week stay. There, the youth participate in dance rehearsals and a wide range of camp, recreational and educational activities. After camp, the youth then go to Toronto to present their dance and multi-media performance at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.

Funding Sources

Alberta Government and University of Alberta

Strategies For Sustainability

These objectives are partly reflected in OLI’s program policy which requires that: • youth attend school on a regular basis and commit to achieving good academic standing in tests, exams, and assignments; and • youth be responsible for attending rehearsal punctually, notifying school staff prior to any absences, and for displaying positive and respectful behaviours during rehearsals. To remain in the program and earn the opportunity to perform in Toronto, participants must follow these rules, which are further detailed and enforced by the participating community.

Impact Of Program

To date, 87 Aboriginal youth from four communities have performed in Toronto.

Key Elements Towards Success

Through the credit course, students are engaged in hip-hop dance activities, with the goal of creating a dance routine. The routine is choreographed and directed by a professional dance teacher. The teacher works with the youth in their communities for 2 to 3 days every other week, for up to 6 months (January to May/June). In between these visits, the school staff and community volunteers continue to help the youth to rehearse and complete all course requirements.Although dance is the main activity, students also get the chance to take part in photography, videography, painting, journal writing, and choreography. The OLI program aims to build the self-esteem, sense of accomplishment and confidence of Aboriginal youth.