April 24, 2000 For Immediate Release

More than 300 teenagers from across northern BC and Alberta will be visiting the University of Northern British Columbia's Prince George campus on Thursday, April 27th, to participate in the Retain 2000 conference's Youth Day.

The Retain 2000 conference is dedicated to improving retention and graduation rates of indigenous students at colleges and universities. The Youth Day will provide students with opportunities to participate in workshops, entertainment, a career fair, and motivational presentations:

9am	Canfor Theatre	opening presentations by Chief Barry Seymour, Tribal Chief Mavis Erickson, and UNBC President Charles Jago
9:30	Agora rooms	workshops on health, history, empowerment, and theatre
11am	Canfor Theatre	keynote address by Evan Adams
1pm	Agora rooms	workshops on health, university programs, and job skills
	Canfor Theatre	workshop on native youth development
2:30	Agora rooms	student panel and workshops on university and job skills
4pm	Canfor Theatre	"I am Alcohol" play
7pm	Canfor Theatre	"Misty Lake" play

The students attending will represent many First Nations communities from northern BC and northern Alberta: Haida, Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Wet'suwet'en, Liard River, Lower Post, Blueberry, Slave Lake, Nakazd'li, Stellat'en, Saik'uz, Nad'leh Whut'en, Lheit lit'en, Tl'azt'en, and the Cariboo-Chilcotin.

Aboriginal students have traditionally been very under-represented in colleges and universities. A 1999 Statistics Canada report indicates that 4% of aboriginal people have a university degree, compared to 19% of non-aboriginal people.