Indigenous young leader shares his ideas for change on national stage
- Tiffany Head | June 18, 2015
Out of hundreds of applicants, only 64 top youth leaders were chosen to go to the nation’s capital for the Annual Youth Ambassador Caucus (NYAC). Global Vision, who endorses the event, chose these youth for their inspiring ideas and leadership skills in business, education, government and community.
Randall Fiddler, 22, from Waterhen Lake First Nation, was among the selected applicants. As a young man, Fiddler is inspired and motivated by many Indigenous leaders who have paved the way for young leaders. It’s important to him that First Nations youth understand that everyone has a role to engage, empower, and mentor one another, to see the change so many have envisioned.
“My participation would recognize the nation’s efforts of inclusion and reconciliation with Indigenous people at home. Opportunities exist for our people and I truly think that we as Indigenous youth need to understand that our late ancestors did not have these opportunities we have today,” said Fiddler.
The Caucus was held on June 5-9, 2015. This year marked the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the National Flag of Canada, the young ambassadors were challenged to develop a strategy to market Canada’s 150th anniversary. Fiddler submitted a 250-word essay showcasing his idea for a community celebration leading up to Canada’s 150th Anniversary in 2017.
Fiddler says his idea was unique and very simple; he wants to bring together all community stakeholders to a community engagement meeting to develop a new partnership on their respected regions whether it’s with a Regional Health Authority, Employment Agency, or a College of First Nation/Métis community.
“I want to bring home what I’ve learned thus far; I want to continue that conversation to foster that new relationship in Northern Saskatchewan by hosting this very long-overdue meeting,” he said.
Fiddler was also responsible for raising $350 in order to attend the NYAC. He said out of the 64 selected applicants, 2 of 64 were Indigenous. He expressed that there should be more Indigenous voices at the national and global level.
He knows that there is a gap exists and in expressing AFN Chief Perry Bellegarde’s sentiments, “we need to begin closing that gap."
“TRC’s Justice Murray Sinclair spoke a few weeks back on the TRC findings and what he said stuck with me: 'the cost of doing nothing is worse than the cost of doing something,'” said Fiddler.
Fiddler is confident that community stakeholders will meet to begin this conversation of share programming and services with one vision. He expresses that band-aid solutions do not work for our people and wants to bring together those knowledge holder (Elders) program and service providers, elected leaders, and youth to the table to that conversation.
With 2017 coming around the corner an excited Randall Fiddler said that, “work needs to get started yesterday."
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