Youth Programs
FLOW - Future Leaders On the Water
First Nations Youth Leadership Shellfish Program
The Centre for Shellfish Research began in 2001 to support the research and training needs of the BC shellfish farming industry. We received provincial funding to develop a comprehensive vocational level shellfish aquaculture training program with seventeen courses ranging from beach management to business management. This training program has been largely focused on First Nations, as coast wide there are nearly 30 First Nations active in, or planning, shellfish aquaculture businesses. Over the years we have been working with First Nations from Sooke to Haida Gwaii to assist them with their shellfish aqua-business aspirations. We have realized that training is but one aspect of the challenges they face in the pursuit of any economic development opportunity.
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Learning about marine biology |
First year group |
Due the decline in the salmon fishing industry, young people do not have a chance to become involved in commercial fishing. First Nations advisors have indicated that the new generation has lost their connection to the water – a situation that troubles them deeply. Also of concern for communities is the availability of future aquaculture workers for their shellfish operations. Communities with test sites found that children and young people showed a real interest and excitement to be involved in monitoring the growth of their shellfish test stocks.
The CSR is trying to address these challenges and ignite the passion of First Nations youth by developing a summer leadership program for First Nations Youth at Moorecroft Camp in Nanoose, which ran as a pilot from July 2 – 6th, 2008. Our summer program for teens is designed to improve their awareness and knowledge of shellfish aquaculture, and provide them with leadership training that will allow them to share their enthusiasm within their communities. It will also open up new horizons for them at Vancouver Island University (VIU) and other opportunities that are available to them. Ten percent of the enrollment at VIU – nearly 2000 individuals- are First Nations.
The FLOW program, which targets youth ages 13 – 18, includes leadership training, traditional knowledge, marine ecology, conservation and preservation through sustainable aquaculture. The participants learn transferable skills through experiential learning, interactive team building and effective communication. The five-day program re-connects them with the ocean and their history by combining activities and field trips related to marine biology, ecology, shellfish aquaculture and traditional knowledge. The program includes field trips, marine species and native plant identification, historical significance and importance of shellfish to First Nations, both culturally and currently.
The objective is to bring together inter-generational groups of youth and adult mentors from different B.C. Coastal communities. The Centre for Shellfish Research would like to share our vision of empowering our future leaders on the water. Our target is five youths and one adult mentor per community, but this may increase as levels of interest are determined.
FLOW 2009
The FLOW 2009 program, delivered earlier this month, was a resounding success and was jointly funded by BC Hydro, the Vancouver Island University Foundation, the Hamber Foundation and the Centre for Shellfish Research, whom we would like to thank for their generous support.
Youth, student mentors and Elders from nine Vancouver Island communities participated in five days of fun-filled activities, which included leadership workshops, traditional knowledge and activities, such as pit cooking and native crafts; chemistry labs, marine biology and botany field trips and tours to Milner Gardens, the CSR’s Deep Bay field site and Vancouver Island University. Read more...
FLOW 2008
