Trickster?

In the Aboriginal culture and legends, exists a mysterious character called the Trickster - or the one-who-does-tricks. He can be at the same time a disdained foreigner and a cultural hero. Beyond his appetite for games, he is often known for bringing the necessary balance for the well-being of communities: he makes people laugh in times of sadness, and he moderates the most optimistic ones. The Trickster and all its symbolism largely inspired the name of this project.

The Trickster Effect?

The Trickster Effect is a sociocultural intervention program based on a series of activities implemented jointly with a group of young people and a group of elders, both from the same community. The program is provided by two counselors-artists, one of which is an Aboriginal, ideally from the same community where the program takes place.

With the young people...

Young people are progressively led into staging a traditional Aboriginal tale which they will then present to their community at the end of the program by mixing tales, circus workshops, games, and other exercises. But mostly, the activities aim at accompanying young people in their identity quest by offering them means to physical and emotional expression, while developing their sense of belonging, their self-confidence, and their self-esteem. Thus, the program helps them become more conscious of healthy life habits via attractive physical activities, or via healthy eating habits for snacks and traditional meals.

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With the elders...

Activities organized with the elders are slightly different; nevertheless, the process remains the similar since led in parallel. Their program includes songs, exercises of corporal expression, exchange and discussion circles, or even games. Gradually, the elders gain psychological tools that enable them, session after session, to interact and exchange with young people, especially via "homework". These tools are directly beneficial for their personal well-being.

Bring the Aboriginal culture to life...

Using songs and traditional tales, having one Aboriginal counselor-artist, using their language, creating exchanges between young people and the elders, and organizing a traditional meal during the last session, are elements which are part of the program and contribute to conserving and vitalizing the Aboriginal culture.

A socio-professional reintegration project...

The Trickster Effect also includes aspects of training and socio-professional reintegration. Several adults (called interns) observe, take part of, and then carry out the program in such a way that the community can get a hold of it in the long run. The interns are of course helped and trained by the counselors.

To summarize, the Trickster Effect offers young people and the elders, and more globally the community, a place for peers to meet, but also a place to express, learn, exchange, and enhance their experiences. This program aims at enabling young people and the elders to express sometimes harsh realities that they live and vitalizing the richness of their culture. Thus, young people are encouraged to develop a feeling of pride and a renewal of their Aboriginal identity, while having a healthy physical activity and developing their creativity.

Objectives :

• Enable young people to live successful situations, to develop their self-confidence and self-esteem, and thus, to help prevent potential dropouts (suicide, psychological distress, and so on) via artistic and physical activities.
• Help secure the cultural identity and to rehabilitate the sense of belonging
• Give the elders psychosocial tools that stimulate intergenerational communication and exchanges
• Help preserve and vitalize Aboriginal cultures and languages
• Enable professional reintegration for several members of the community by training and integrating them to the ongoing process of the program
• Build a long-lasting program by developing independent communities, and promoting their communitarian autonomy.
• Help young people adopt healthy life habits thanks to physical activity and healthy eating habits.