Life for a Quw'utsun' Hwulmuhw (First Nations) is often without ambition for any future, speaking through personal experience. There is no desire to change things, no apirations. This was caused by learned helplessness, which is an entire discussion in itself. A life time of being told what's best for us has led to an outlook that does not lend itself to large projects or hope for the future. While this is not always the case, First Nations people who direct their own future and the future of others is an exception not a rule.

Speaking once again from personal experience, the Youth of the First Nations are the most hit by learned helplessness, as well as continued assimilation. Again, this may not always be the case, but it has resulted in a day to day lifestyle of keeping a closed mind and only thinking about the moment with no desire to improve the future. It can be argued that such thinking has led to horrid school attendance, gang violence, and substance abuse. There is a strong desire to help, but to do so without consideration can only lead to more of the learned helplessness.

Good intentions to help do improve the initial condition, but if the leaders of tomorrow do not learn to lead, then the best of intentions merely perpetuate the problem. If there are to be leaders tomorrow to make life better for all, then they should be mentored today and yesterday. Help can not be given by having all the problems attempt to be solved by outsiders, this has defined “help” for Native life ever since human rights came into play. Even to this day outside influences do their best to help by over ruling the present people to change things to fit a new plan. The Quw'utsun' Youth Guild is a new plan.

Building off of research into previous aid attempts and the resulting negative ripples, the Guild is a plan to put power and hope back into the hands of the Youth. If there is to be any true long term and successful change for the betterment of the Cowichan Valley, for Canada, it will come from teaching the next generation of leaders to lead responsibly, intelligently, and spiritually. The power of empowerment is a truly magnificent thing. How will this be done... I have some ideas, but the ultimate goal, is having the Youth decide for themselves and see it through.

by Nicholas Peter 

See also: Quw'utsun' Youth Guild - Community Development Plan Proposal