Donna Lerat speaks to children about sexual education and healthy relationships. (Submitted photo/Georgette Arcand)

By Ian Gustafson

Educating Youth

Sexual education focal point of healthy living conference

Oct 13, 2019 | 12:48 PM

The Prince Albert Indian Métis Friendship Centre held a “Healthy Living Healthy Lifestyle,” conference on Saturday to help educate children.

Youth from 11 to 19 years of age learned about sexual education, sexually transmitted diseases and healthy relationships.

“It’s not around anymore,” Georgette Arcand, the program director of the Prince Albert Indian Métis Friendship Centre told paNOW.

She said Prince Albert has had these types of classes for adults, but children don’t feel comfortable going to these with older people.

“I think prevention is a big thing especially for young kids. That’s why we start them at 11 at least so they have some education and knowledge of what to expect,” Arcand said.

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Donna Lerat, Cultural Advisor at Willow Cree Health, was one of the presenters at the conference.

Arcand said the way she gets the information across to the youth is straight forward.

“She tells it how it is and that’s what I want them to hear because it’s kind of a way for them to be hit with reality,” she explained.

Lerat told paNOW her presentation on sexual education takes from her own experiences in hopes the children will learn from them.

“Also talking about the risks that nobody else thinks about; things like falling in love with the wrong guy, being put out on the street the risks that are there,” Lerat said.

Lerat reflected that at a young age she went through a lot and wanted to share this information so other children can learn from her. She has been teaching about HIV education for over 30 years.

“I was on the street for a lot of years and so I know a little bit about risks,” Lerat added. “I tell stories. I’m the person who goes out and comes back and says ‘hey this is what’s happening, and this is how it’s happening.’”

She also said she shares stories about real people within the community, such as challenges facing inner-city kids.

“They still will see these things happening plus we have the 10 per cent of children who are probably being sexually abused and they’re the ones who need to hear how to keep themselves safe,” Lerat said.

“They end up trying to find love in all the wrong places for the wrong reasons. It’s just they’re hurting inside and looking for someone to love them and care for them,” she added.

She said these are all things nobody wants to talk about.

“We take care of our eyes, they go for dental checkups, but we never think about checking our nether area and we should,” she said.

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Ian.Gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @IanGustafson12