1 CRPG Junior Canadian Rangers and Cadets Take in Arts Program
By: Capt Steve Watton
IQALUIT, NU - Royal Canadian Air and Army Cadets from across Nunavut gathered with their counterparts the Junior Canadian Rangers (JCR) in Iqaluit, NU on January 30 - 31 to take part in the Joint Task Force North (JTFN) Northern Youth Arts Forum.
The JTFN Youth Arts Program was inspired by the Governor General's forum held last spring in Iqaluit that focused on reaching youth through urban arts.
The theme for the arts program was "Positive self expression through art." The forum was designed to engage and foster an interest in the arts, provide a collaborative forum for positive youth engagement, and to provide both JCRs and Cadets with a means for positive self-expression.
During the arts program, JCRs and Cadets participated in a hip hop dance workshop presented by Blue Print for Life, and carving, jewelry making and print making classes presented by Nunavut Arctic College.
"Hip Hop was awesome," said 13 year old Lindsay Audlakiak, from the JCR Patrol in Qikiqtarjuaq, "I hope to have the opportunity to do this again."
"Moving as one group, you can feel the energy in everyone," said 14 year old Christopher Watsko of 795 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron (RCACS) in Iqaluit, "we had the opportunity to learn from each other and this experience can create a lot of positive possibilities."
Blue Print For Life runs "Social Work Through Hiphop" programs throughout Northern Canada. They believe that people make changes in their lives based on the relationships they have with others and how they see themselves fitting into the world.
"We enjoyed our time working with the Cadets and JCRs," said Raul Guevara, Blueprint for Life Instructor, "Different methods of hip hop were used to create a positive experience for these youth."
Cadets and JCRs also had the opportunity to create traditional crafts, jewelry and prints during an afternoon session at Nunavut Arctic College. Items included making a seal or Inukshuk from stone to jewelry pieces designed from copper and prints of whales or seals in water.
"These are the types of opportunities which make it exciting to be a part of Cadets and JCRs in the North. The weekend's activities were an overwhelming success. I even learned how to hip-hop dance!" said Brigadier-General David Millar, Commander, Joint Task Force North. "We plan to adopt the arts program into our regular curriculum as yet another way for our children to express themselves and acquire new skills and experiences."
Regional Cadet Support Unit (Northern) and 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group collaborated to offer this program to their young members. As the two largest youth programs in the North, both the JCR and Cadet programs focus on developing positive role models, citizenship, leadership and the opportunity for youth to learn traditional skills.
