Bridge Through Sport
Musqueam Youth Project - Creative Writing Workshop

September 2005 - april 2006

Richard Van Camp, an acclaimed First Nations author and UBC sessional instructor, met each Wednesday night with 10 Musqueam youth aged 15-29 years. The youth ate dinner at the Band Office with elders participating in another, non-related project, then Richard Van Camp interactively engaged and instructed the youth around the areas of creative writing, Aboriginal literature, film and music.

Students worked on writing projects throughout the year, including poetry and short story writing, and shared their work with the class. Youth were also instructed on protocol around collecting stories from elders, and for one assignment, interviewed an elder or community member to collect stories to share with the class.

Guest presenters included First Nations musicians, film makers, animators, and cultural leaders.

Musqueam Youth Project Goals and Objectives

• Foster and retain an interest and passion among Musqueam youth in the academic areas of creative writing, film, literature, and music

• Improve the skills of Musqueam youth in the areas of writing, grammar, and critical thinking, while also discussing and highlighting post-secondary opportunities that draw on these skills

• Connect Musqueam youth with positive Aboriginal role-models

• Introduce Musqueam youth to various Aboriginal youth forums, such as Redwire magazine, to create awareness that Aboriginal youth’s experiences, opinions, and interests are of value, while empowering youth to find their own voice

• Create a powerful sense of accomplishment by having youth submit their writing projects for publishing or print in magazines, anthologies, the Musqueam quarterly newspaper and the Musqueam newsletter.

Other Bridge Through SPort Programming

September 2005 – August 2006

"Bridge Through Sport" Reading Club
UBC Aboriginal Youth Leadership Fair
Annual Musqueam and UBC Youth Soccer Tournament