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Melissa Renwick

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snapd Annex is a FREE monthly print publication and website specializing in a "non-political" friendly and entertaining photographic view of living in our community. Big or small, we cover them all from home, business, birthday and surprise parties, sporting events, business openings, festivals & concerts and all aspects of life in the community.

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JAYU is a program all about human freedom. They provide a platform to share human right stories. They use art and engaging dialogue to share these stories and to make social change.

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Colourful graffiti covers a massive wall next to a rumbling subway station. But it's something far more mundane that's caught the eye of budding photographer Jeremiah McLaughlin-Assinewai.

The 16-year-old sits on the ground to get the right angle with his smartphone, training his lens on a tangle of green weeds bursting through the pavement.

The affable teen considers himself a city boy, but says his newfound interest in photography is opening him up to seeing the world - and himself - in a new light.

"My whole life I never really wanted to pursue anything, it was always about my sports, hockey and everything, but this really changed (things) and now I have a fun hobby that I enjoy," says McLaughlin-Assinewai, who lives in Sudbury, Ont.

"It expresses the way I feel and it's just making memories. Every photo is a memory to me."

Later, he darts into the brush at a nearby park to capture more images with eight other young photographers, all Indigenous youth taking part in a photography project centred around truth and reconciliation.

The outing has been organized by the charitable organization Jayu in partnership with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. Over the course of two weeks in August, seasoned photographers led classes in storytelling and photography, with Graeme Roy, director of news photography for The Canadian Press, among those involved.

It all leads up to a two-month photo exhibit in Toronto beginning Friday, with all proceeds going to the youth.

Stephanie Fox-Assinewei, a youth co-ordinator at the Native Canadian Centre, says it's about more than just encouraging a new skill, but building self-esteem and pride in Indigenous culture.

Fox-Assinewei brought three of her sons to the project, including McLaughlin-Assinewai, and is happy to see interest in their heritage grow. The family is from the Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island.

"They take the culture more seriously as they're getting older. They used to dance when they were small but they kind of grew out of that," she notes.

"This program is giving them encouragement, empowerment, to let them know that it's OK to identify as First Nations and that we are working on breaking those barriers to have reconciliation."

Those are lessons that Cedar Landon says she's seized on, noting that although she's spent most of her life in Toronto and Vancouver she calls the Georgian Bay community of Neyaashiinigmiing home.

The 22-year-old says photography has helped her connect with her heritage, and focus on taking the first steps towards a career as a chef.

"I've always been living in the city and moving place-to-place and photography has really helped me just be in the moment, capturing what's around me right then-and-there and the people who I'm with right then-and-there," says Landon, who enrolled in a culinary program in Toronto that started in September.

"Drinking and drugs is a lot of my peers' outlet in trying to fill a void, but photography's helped me stay on my right path and use my outlet in a positive way."

Previous incarnations of Jayu's iAm program focused on homeless youth and young newcomers from the Middle East, including refugees from Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Jayu founder Gilad Cohen says he's been impressed by how quickly this group of youth - aged 13 to 25 - responded to the program.

McLaughlin-Assinewai says it won't be hard to apply the lessons he's learned elsewhere in his life, especially a newfound drive to embrace his family's culture, language and history.

"Being in the city, you kind of lose that, you lose that way of how you were raised. But this program's really connected me back to that."

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'Every photo is a memory to me:' Indigenous youth finding voice, culture in photography

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Colourful graffiti covers a massive wall next to a rumbling subway station. But it's something far more mundane that's caught the eye of budding photographer Jeremiah McLaughlin-Assinewai. The 16-year-old sits on the ground to get the right angle with his smartphone, training his lens on a tangle of green weeds bursting through the pavement.

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- Colourful graffiti covers a massive wall next to a rumbling subway station. But it's something far more mundane that's caught the eye of budding photographer Jeremiah McLaughlin-Assinewai.

The 16-year-old sits on the ground to get the right angle with his smartphone, training his lens on a tangle of green weeds bursting through the pavement.

The affable teen considers himself a city boy, but says his newfound interest in photography is opening him up to seeing the world - and himself - in a new light.

"My whole life I never really wanted to pursue anything, it was always about my sports, hockey and everything, but this really changed (things) and now I have a fun hobby that I enjoy," says McLaughlin-Assinewai, who lives in Sudbury, Ont.

"It expresses the way I feel and it's just making memories. Every photo is a memory to me."

Later, he darts into the brush at a nearby park to capture more images with eight other young photographers, all Indigenous youth taking part in a photography project d around truth and reconciliation.

The outing has been organized by the charitable organization Jayu in partnership with the of . Over the course of two weeks in August, seasoned photographers led classes in storytelling and photography, with Graeme Roy, director of news photography for The Press, among those involved.

It all leads up to a two-month photo exhibit in beginning Friday, with all proceeds going to the youth.

Stephanie Fox-Assinewei, a youth co-ordinator at the , says it's about more than just encouraging a new skill, but building self-esteem and pride in Indigenous culture.

Fox-Assinewei brought three of her sons to the project, including McLaughlin-Assinewai, and is happy to see interest in their heritage grow. The family is from the Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island.

"They take the culture more seriously as they're getting older. They used to dance when they were small but they kind of grew out of that," she notes.

"This program is giving them encouragement, empowerment, to let them know that it's OK to identify as First Nations and that we are working on breaking those barriers to have reconciliation."

Those are lessons that Cedar Landon says she's seized on, noting that although she's spent most of her life in and Vancouver she calls the Georgian Bay community of Neyaashiinigmiing home.

The 22-year-old says photography has helped her connect with her heritage, and focus on taking the first steps towards a career as a chef.

"I've always been living in the city and moving place-to-place and photography has really helped me just be in the moment, capturing what's around me right then-and-there and the people who I'm with right then-and-there," says Landon, who enrolled in a culinary program in that started in September.

"Drinking and drugs is a lot of my peers' outlet in trying to fill a void, but photography's helped me stay on my right path and use my outlet in a positive way."

Previous incarnations of Jayu's iAm program focused on homeless youth and young newcomers from the Middle East, including refugees from Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Jayu founder Gilad Cohen says he's been impressed by how quickly this group of youth - aged 13 to 25 - responded to the program.

McLaughlin-Assinewai says it won't be hard to apply the lessons he's learned elsewhere in his life, especially a newfound drive to embrace his family's culture, language and history.

"Being in the city, you kind of lose that, you lose that way of how you were raised. But this program's really connected me back to that."

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Toronto photo project focuses on Indigenous youth and reconciliation

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Colourful graffiti covers a massive wall next to a rumbling subway station. But it's something far more mundane that's caught the eye of budding photographer Jeremiah McLaughlin-Assinewai. The 16-year-old sits on the ground to get the right angle with his smartphone, training his lens on a tangle of green weeds bursting through the pavement.

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Photo project focuses on Indigenous youth and reconciliation

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Photo project focuses on Indigenous youth and reconciliation

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Photo project focuses on Indigenous youth and reconciliation

TORONTO - Colourful graffiti covers a massive wall next to a rumbling subway station. But it's something far more mundane that's caught the eye of budding photographer Jeremiah McLaughlin-Assinewai.

The 16-year-old sits on the ground to get the right angle with his smartphone, training his lens on a tangle of green weeds bursting through the pavement.

The affable teen considers himself a city boy, but says his newfound interest in photography is opening him up to seeing the world - and himself - in a new light.

"My whole life I never really wanted to pursue anything, it was always about my sports, hockey and everything, but this really changed (things) and now I have a fun hobby that I enjoy," says McLaughlin-Assinewai, who lives in Sudbury, Ont.

"It expresses the way I feel and it's just making memories. Every photo is a memory to me."

Later, he darts into the brush at a nearby park to capture more images with eight other young photographers, all Indigenous youth taking part in a photography project centred around truth and reconciliation.

The outing has been organized by the charitable organization Jayu in partnership with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. Over the course of two weeks in August, seasoned photographers led classes in storytelling and photography, with Graeme Roy, director of news photography for The Canadian Press, among those involved.

It all leads up to a two-month photo exhibit in Toronto beginning Friday, with all proceeds going to the youth.

Stephanie Fox-Assinewei, a youth co-ordinator at the Native Canadian Centre, says it's about more than just encouraging a new skill, but building self-esteem and pride in Indigenous culture.

Fox-Assinewei brought three of her sons to the project, including McLaughlin-Assinewai, and is happy to see interest in their heritage grow. The family is from the Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island.

"They take the culture more seriously as they're getting older. They used to dance when they were small but they kind of grew out of that," she notes.

"This program is giving them encouragement, empowerment, to let them know that it's OK to identify as First Nations and that we are working on breaking those barriers to have reconciliation."

Those are lessons that Cedar Landon says she's seized on, noting that although she's spent most of her life in Toronto and Vancouver she calls the Georgian Bay community of Neyaashiinigmiing home.

The 22-year-old says photography has helped her connect with her heritage, and focus on taking the first steps towards a career as a chef.

"I've always been living in the city and moving place-to-place and photography has really helped me just be in the moment, capturing what's around me right then-and-there and the people who I'm with right then-and-there," says Landon, who enrolled in a culinary program in Toronto that started in September.

"Drinking and drugs is a lot of my peers' outlet in trying to fill a void, but photography's helped me stay on my right path and use my outlet in a positive way."

Previous incarnations of Jayu's iAm program focused on homeless youth and young newcomers from the Middle East, including refugees from Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Jayu founder Gilad Cohen says he's been impressed by how quickly this group of youth - aged 13 to 25 - responded to the program.

McLaughlin-Assinewai says it won't be hard to apply the lessons he's learned elsewhere in his life, especially a newfound drive to embrace his family's culture, language and history.

"Being in the city, you kind of lose that, you lose that way of how you were raised. But this program's really connected me back to that."

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Photo project focuses on Indigenous youth and reconciliation

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TORONTO - Colourful graffiti covers a massive wall next to a rumbling subway station. But it's something far more mundane that's caught the eye of budding photographer Jeremiah McLaughlin-Assinewai. The 16-year-old sits on the ground to get the right angle with his smartphone, training his lens on a tangle of green weeds bursting through the pavement.

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A photo by Jeremiah McLaughlin-Assinewai who took part in a photo mentoring program led by charity Jayu in partnership with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Jayu, Jeremiah McLaughlin-Assinewai)

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A photo by Christopher Wyldes who took part in a photo mentoring program led by charity Jayu in partnership with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Jayu, Christopher Wyldes)

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A photo by Troy Obed who took part in a photo mentoring program led by charity Jayu in partnership with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Jayu, Troy Obed)

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Don Lane

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Indigenous youth explore reconciliation through photo project

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Indigenous youth explore reconciliation through photo project

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Indigenous youth explore reconciliation through photo project

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A charity is helping a group of Indigenous youth build pride in their heritage through taking photos that will be featured in a Toronto exhibit, starting Friday. Participant Cedar Landon says photography gives her a healthy "out."

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JAYU is a charitable organization that shares human rights stories through the arts and engaging conversation.

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(Past participant who has returned as mentor)

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David Vella

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Saskia Rinkoff
Sergei Petrov
Ron Samson
Sannah Choi
Trevor Toombs
Jack-Kim

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Art is a universal language that everyone around can understand and JAYU feels theirs no better way to share their human rights stories then threw art form.

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JAYU provides a program for youth called "iAM". They made this program to help young people see their art talents. This program started off with only 6 participants in 2015 and then led to 25 in 2016. They have art mentors which also has grown at the same pace as participants. They have taken youth off the streets through this program and some of these kids have even later on com back and mentored others. 100% of their profits go to the artist.

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I would like to teach people actually in the shelter system. Why? Because I’ve been through it and it’s not fun going through it, and now that I’ve been through this program, I love it.

— Nathan (iAM participant)

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1 of 7

Mohamad

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"I would like to teach people actually in the shelter system. Why? Because I’ve been through it and it’s not fun going through it, and now that I’ve been through this program, I love it."

— Nathan (iAM participant)

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How your support helps make a difference

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1 of 6 directors

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"Cedar Landon, an Indigenous youth with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto takes a picture on a smartphone in Toronto's High Park as he participates in Jayu's "iAm" program this summer". - Chris Young,The Canadian Press

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Another program provided by JAYU is "The Human Podcast" One way these stories are told are through podcasts. These stories are first-hand uncensored and real people podcasts.

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Described by North Korea as the most dangerous American they've ever imprisoned, Kenneth Bae talks about spending 735 days in a forced labour camp. He chats with us about faith, grilled cheese sandwiches, becoming a counsellor to his guards and Dennis Rodman.

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Britta Badour
A proud and recognizable resident of Toronto’s Regent Park, Britta B.is an artist, spoken word poet, public speaker, special events host, mentor and arts educator. Britta features as a lead cast member in the musical, The Journey, based on the revitalization of Regent Park. She provides ongoing mentorship for “at-promise” youth, facilitates spoken word and leadership programming, and oversees a self- care project with UNITY Charity for youth residing on the Fort Chipewyan reserve. Her spoken word performances have featured in over a dozen cities across North America including New York City, Vancouver, Detroit, Montreal, and New Orleans.

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Szklarski, Cassandra. “Photo Project Focuses on Indigenous Youth and Reconciliation.”CTVNews, 31 Oct. 2017, www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/photo-project-focuses-on-indigenous-youth-and-reconciliation-1.3656699.
Snapd Annex - Community Events Media, annex.snapd.com/events/view/1005800.
Press, The Canadian, and Cassandra Szklarski. “Indigenous Youth Learn to Take Stunning Images: ‘Photography’s Helped Me Stay on My Right Path.’” National Post, 31 Oct. 2017, nationalpost.com/news/toronto/photo-project-focuses-on-indigenous-youth-and-reconciliation.
Press, Cassandra Szklarski The Canadian. “Photo Project Focuses on Indigenous Youth and Reconciliation.” CityNews Toronto, 31 Oct. 2017, toronto.citynews.ca/2017/10/31/photo-project-focuses-on-indigenous-youth-and-reconciliation/.

“What We Do.” JAYU, www.jayu.ca/about/.