Handbook for aboriginal mentoring

Aboriginal wisdom suggests that there are certain things without which young people cannot survive and flourish. Mentoring is one of them (Weinberger, 1999). Although the term mentor is uncommon in Aboriginal communities, the concept of mentoring is not. Mentoring preserves a way of life based on spirituality, sacredness, reciprocity, education and social responsibility by helping to integrate cultural factors that preserve and protect the health and well-being of the young (Weinberger, 1999).

Mentoring is a primary intervention to prevent or address many of the problems that youth face today. By supporting and redirecting young people, mentoring focuses attention on successful behaviours and encourages the attainment of potential, provides direct assistance to young people, promotes school achievement and helps youth to avoid violence and abstain from drugs and alcohol.