People First Media program archive
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The story of a young Indigenous woman coming of age in Canada in the 1980s

July 29th, 2014 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on The story of a young Indigenous woman coming of age in Canada in the 1980s)

Creative nonfiction story Tilly: a Story of Hope and Resilience captures spirit of hope, recovery

monique gray smithMonique Gray Smith, an accomplished consultant, writer and speaker, was at the Gabriola Island Public Library earlier this year discussing her new book about a First Nations woman’s journey to sobriety.

The book is called Tilley: A Story of Hope and Resilience. “It’s the story of one woman’s journey from early addiction and alcoholism to discovering who she is as a mixed heritage person,” Gray Smith told the Nanaimo News Bulletin. “Even though it’s a story based on First Nations people and history, it really is a story of common humanity around recovery and the ability to move past early obstacles in life.”

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Not enough Canadian youth are getting the mental health care they need

June 30th, 2014 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Not enough Canadian youth are getting the mental health care they need)

New research network will develop strategies to ensure that more young people are connected to the mental health services they need

picture 557In Canada, one-in-five people experience a mental illness in their lifetime. However, it is young Canadians that suffer the most, with 75% of mental health problems and illnesses beginning prior to the age of 25, and more than 50% beginning between the ages of 11 and 25.

An estimated 1.2 million Canadian children and youth are affected by mental illness—yet less than 20 per cent will receive appropriate treatment. With more than two-thirds of adults living with a mental health problem reporting that symptoms first appeared during their youth, establishing the foundation for healthy emotional and social development is vital to ensuring the mental well-being of all Canadians as they progress from childhood to adulthood.  [Mental Health Commission of Canada]

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Gabor Mate on the hungry ghosts of addiction

June 3rd, 2014 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Gabor Mate on the hungry ghosts of addiction)

gabor matepfr banner working In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction takes a panoramic yet highly intimate look at the widespread and perplexing human ailment of addiction

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Mining company empowers First Nations

January 22nd, 2014 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Mining company empowers First Nations)

Largest private sector employer of Aboriginal men and women invests in education and training

minetrainingBC Aboriginal Mine Training Association is a large organization with locations in Vancouver, Kamloops, Williams Lake, Cranbrook, New Aiyansh and Merritt.

They are working proactively to support the participation of Aboriginal individuals in the exploration and mining industry.

Nancy and Ashta will speak with Leonard Jackson, Director of Operations, about the history of BC AMTA, their philosophy and methods for achieving their goal.

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VIU Prof speaks about constructed images of indigenous peoples

January 16th, 2014 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on VIU Prof speaks about constructed images of indigenous peoples)

What are the policy and cultural relations implications of inaccurate and constructed images?

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On Friday February 4th 2011, Vancouver Island University professor Keith Smith gave a talk called “On Black Hawks, Pontiacs, and Crazy Horse Malt Liquor” about the policy and cultural relations implications of “constructed images‟.

Smith raises questions such as:  Where do the images of Indigenous people come from that news media and advertisers offer up so regularly? Does it matter if these images do not accurately reflect the reality of the First Nations students and staff, for example, who study and work at Vancouver Island University?

We spoke with university-college professor Keith Smith about his presentation and his assertion that “inaccurate imaginings of Indigenous people affect popular perceptions” in a rebroadcast from February 3, 2011 on Indigenous images & imaginings.

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Human rights for women is under an international spotlight in British Columbia

October 24th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Human rights for women is under an international spotlight in British Columbia)

West coast legal group releases report card on women’s rights in B.C. as international groups hear testimony about the disappearances of indigenous women and girls

picture 507West Coast LEAF has released its 5th annual report card on women’s rights in British Columbia. The CEDAW Report Card is West Coast LEAF’s annual assessment of how well BC is measuring up on international legal standards of women’s equality set out in the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). (more…)