If Jaylene Delorme-Buggins could tell her younger self something, she would say, SA国际影视传媒渉old on, there really is a light at the end of the tunnel and there's hope for the future.SA国际影视传媒�

The 24-year-old member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation had some dark years.

She ran away from home in Yellowknife, cut class, drank and used drugs.

At 14, she was sent to a treatment centre in Calgary for 11 months. She spent time in a young offenders' facility.

SA国际影视传媒淚 never really thought that I would come out of that,SA国际影视传媒� said Delorme-Buggins, who now lives in Hay River.

SA国际影视传媒淚 never thought that I would make the change.SA国际影视传媒�

But about a year ago, Delorme-Buggins found her voice through Daughters of the Vote, an initiative that selects young women from across Canada to represent their communities on the national stage.

SA国际影视传媒淚t gave me the courage and empowerment to put my voice out there, and I really wanted it to be heard,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Now Delorme-Buggins is using her voice to help other young people who may be going through a rough time.

She is the northern youth representative for the Native Women's Association of Canada and a regional volunteer with the We Matter campaign, which uses YouTube videos to send messages of hope and support to Indigenous youth. Her activism takes her all over Canada.

Delorme-Buggins said she wouldn't be where she is today if it wasn't for her tough experiences.

Kelvin and Tunchai Redvers, siblings from Hay River, founded We Matter in 2016 recognizing that Indigenous young people struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide may not have someone to lift them up in their own community.

SA国际影视传媒淲e're not here to tell you everything is going to be rosy all the time,SA国际影视传媒� said Kelvin Redvers. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause it's just not.SA国际影视传媒�

We Matter aims to give young people resources and encouragement to get through hard times.

SA国际影视传媒淓verything that we go through makes us who we are,SA国际影视传媒� said Redvers.

No one should have to experience violence or abuse, he said, SA国际影视传媒渂ut it's not a doomed sentence if you go through that kind of stuff.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭here is a lot of strength in using the sadness or the anger that you have to put it toward something that can bring positivity to the world,SA国际影视传媒� said Redvers.

Delorme-Buggins is a prime example of that, he added.

SA国际影视传媒淪he's been through so many hard things but it has made her such a strong, proud person who speaks so well and is so passionate.SA国际影视传媒�

We Matter website

On We Matter's website and YouTube channel, there are videos from rappers, comedians, elders, kids and politicians. Undoubtedly, all of them have experienced their own dark times.

Olivia Haines lives in Alexis Creek, B.C. She was 16 years old when she made her We Matter video.

SA国际影视传媒淗ere are some hardships I've faced,SA国际影视传媒� said Haines, within the first 15 seconds of the recording.

First, her grandmother died, which left Haines feeling depressed and alone.

Then she found herself in an abusive relationship.

SA国际影视传媒淭hrough this time, I was really, really depressed and suicidal,SA国际影视传媒� said Haines. SA国际影视传媒淚 was cutting a lot and I wasn't asking for help.SA国际影视传媒�

She goes on to say that in January 2017, her boyfriend posted explicit pictures of her online and police got involved.

Haines said from these experiences, she learned to let bad things to roll off her, like SA国际影视传媒渨ater rolling off a duck's back.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚t doesn't work for everybody but it personally works for me right now,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淪ure I have my bad days but they aren't as frequent and they aren't as bad as they were before.SA国际影视传媒�

Haines said seeing a counsellor, talking to her parents and hanging out with her friends are things that help her feel better.

She encourages young people feeling down to call a suicide hotline (in Northwest Territories, 1-800-661-0844) or the toll-free Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868).

Sometimes, said Delorme-Buggins, young people benefit most from the support of others their own age.

SA国际影视传媒淕rowing up, my mom would always be like, 'back in my day SA国际影视传媒� 'Yeah but this is my day, it's not the same,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou want to listen to your peers, people going through the same things.SA国际影视传媒�

It doesn't matter how a person looks on paper, where he lives, or what she's been through, said Delorme-Buggins.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou don't have to be anybody to be somebody ... there's a chance for change, there's a chance to become somebody, to become a leader, if that's what you want to do.SA国际影视传媒�