Youth need more attention

There are things that are not discussed enough, so I would like to enlighten the issue of suicide and youth.

Like many other Inuit youth, I find myself with a lot of time on my hands, and have come to realize that there are not many activities for people my age and therefore turn to other leisure interests, which may not be the best at times.

There are activities that are designed for the younger adolescents, but not many for the older youth who are left with other problems to deal with. The people who represent us in the political world have to realize that most of the population of our region is made up people under 25 years of age.

There are a lot of good things that are coming from self-government and in the economic field, no doubt about that, but there should be more emphasis on the concerns of our youth today so that we can improve our lives.

We are not brought up in the traditional ways nor the ways of the older generation, for example our parents. We are more open to the outside world and to the technological civilization.

My main concern is our future, but the issue that makes me really think twice, are the facts about suicide rates and substance abuse amongst youth. They should be a big indicator showing that the youth are asking for help, through a very deadly means, which is not good for us nor our culture.

It is a scary fact that many of our youth, mostly male adolescents are the most vulnerable to suicide and substance abuse. I hear about many suicides in other communities as well as my own, so I believe it has been a long calling that have been waiting on an answer, so who will answer the call for help?

We all need to work together instead of fighting against each other. Personally I would like to see more attention placed on Inuit youth, so that there would be a better future for us. We will be the leaders of our people and our lands when your time has gone, so to act now is an investment in our future for the betterment of our people.

We have a unique culture, and we are all strong, and we can beat this disease that has been affecting our lives for enough time now.

The last thing I would like to say is that today is our future. We have act now before our future is out of reach for all of us.

Sarah Lisa K. Alaku
Salluit