HAZELTON

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HAZELTON
A Great Place to Raise a Child
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• Village of Hazelton
• Located in northwest BC on the traditional
  territories of the Gitxsan First Nation
• 1300 acres
• 362 Village of Hazelton residents
• 13 neighbouring communities

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• Village of Hazelton
• Municipality incorporated in 1956
• Long term commitment to children
  and youth
• Continually supports opportunities for youth
  engagement

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Our Community
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Total population Upper Skeena 6,500

• 70 under age of 30
• In this segment
• 67 have no, or less than six months, of work
  experience
• 60 lack high school graduation

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The Village of Hazelton and other community
groups understand the necessity and importance of
collaboration Partnerships are the most
effective way to achieve goals in rural
communities
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Gitxsan Girls Group

• Group of girls ages 11-14 from 2 reserves
• Concept
• If we can empower youth to think for
  themselves and make safe choices, their mental
  and physical health will improve.
• Participation through interactive play with
  indoor and outdoor games to promote safety in all
  aspects of life

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Gitxsan Girls Group

• Partners supporting Gitxsan Girls Group
• Literacy Now
• Positive Living Northwest
• Storytellers Foundation
• Gitsegucla Elementary School
• Gitsegucla Health Station

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Gitxsan Girls Group

• Some of topics we covered
• Safe places in their villages
• Photography positive events in their
  communities
• Journal writing
• Media messages
• Safe teen workshop

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Gitxsan Girls Group

• Outcomes from the project
• Enjoyed activities and want more adventures with
  adult involvement
• Developed collaborative poster with messages of
  empowerment from participants
• Love Avril Lavigne and her positive messages in
  her songs
• Mastery knowledge
• equals personal power
• and confidence

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Village of Hazelton Eagle Down Trail

• Trail designed for walking, jogging and cycling
  joining
• two First Nations communities, two municipalities
  and a
• community in the Regional District

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Village of Hazelton Eagle Down Trail

• Community collaboration with local partners
• Village of Hazelton
• District of New Hazelton
• Gitanmaax Band
• Hagwilget Band
• Kitimat Stikine Regional District

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Village of Hazelton Eagle Down Trail

• Common Vision
• To promote
• Spirit of community
• Safety
• Healthy lifestyle/
• recreation
• Tourism

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Village of Hazelton Eagle Down Trail

• Three years to complete with commitment from all
  partners as well as other community organizations
  and individuals

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Village of Hazelton Eagle Down Trail

• Trail name comes from white eagle down (mixkaax)
  which is a traditional symbol of peace and
  friendship for the Gitksan people

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Village of Hazelton Eagle Down Trail

• Trail now used by residents, visitors, schools
  and groups on a daily basis
• Currently maintained with donations from
  municipalities, community groups and volunteers
• Future goal is to obtain funding for maintenance
  through Adopt a Block concept

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Hazelton - A great place to raise a child

• Other activities for children in our communities
• Starting Smart Pre/post natal toddler
  weekly drop ins
• Lit Limo Book bus visits all communities
• HEAL Healthy Eating/Active Living events
• Good Food Box
• Community kitchens
• Girls/boys clubs youth groups on reserves
• All Clan dancers

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HE/AL Healthy Eating/ Active Living
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We need flexibility and openness to walk our
own path creating a situation in which no
condition for learning is scarce. And where
opportunities to learn with and from each other
are plentiful. And there as citizens, more and
more, we discover ourselves, who we are, in the
eyes of our friends. Gustavo Esteva