Think Indigenous holds first youth conference
- Andréa Ledding | March 19, 2016
The Think Indigenous Conference, in its third year, has now founded an annual Youth Conference. This inaugural conference was held at Nutana Collegiate on March 15th, 2016, where delegates from schools across the city were welcomed and taught in inspiring breakout sessions.
“Sometimes we take things for granted...when you guys get older and you’re reflecting, you’re going to say this was an amazing day — you’re going to say that today but it’s not going to sink in until ten or fifteen years later,” noted Chris Scribe, Think Indigenous Conference Chair, in his welcoming speech. “These types of things did not happen twenty years ago in Saskatoon. Your parents never got to experience this. These things were not allowed and discussions were not able to happen. But today they are.
“You’re going to hear from great people, people that I respect with all my heart and soul. You’re going to be inspired, you’re going to get back to your classrooms and make a difference - to make Saskatchewan better, to make Canada better, and to create space for all Indigenous students.”
He added that the students need to stand up and create space for Indigenous thinking and Indigenous students, and create success.
“You have this opportunity, now take advantage of it,” noted Scribe. “Our conference was put together to help people think differently, so that we could include the original knowledge that exists here on this territory.”
Presentations were made by activist Colby Tootoosis, theatre artists Curtis Peeteetuce and Johanna Angus of Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre, basketball star Mike Linklater, comedian Ryan McMahon, musicians Fawn Wood and Dallas Waskahat, and teachers Melissa Morrison, Candace Gadwa, Laryn Oakes, Michelle Whitecalf, Andre Bear, Lavina Moosomin, Clayton Tootoosis, and Terrance and Roxy Boyer.
Entertainment was provided by Thunderchild First Nation’s Miyo Pimatsowin drum group and many dancers including the Saskatoon Public School’s Indigenous Ensemble.
Ryan McMahon provided a keynote speech with a lot of laughs, about technology and asking for help in times of trouble from the sacred world around us.
“It’s awesome that we have this opportunity,” noted a female student from a local high school, who didn’t want to be identified. “To really focus in on Indigenous knowledge and then be able to share that back with our classmates and our school, it shows that we are being recognized for that knowledge, that it is an important contribution.”