Young leaders take initiative at national Treaty meeting
- Jamin Mike | October 24, 2015
200 People from across Canada participated in discussions about Indigenous sovereignty and Treaty alliances on a nation-to-nation basis at the National Treaty Meeting held in October at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina. Grand Chiefs and youth from various Aboriginal organizations were in attendance discussing the issues First Nations people are facing including treaty relationships, sovereignty and youth empowerment, as well as some radical ideas that got the young leaders thinking.
The event started with a youth
forum.
“The youth are starting to rise
up," said Clayton Tootoosis, who has worked with youth for many years.
"They are starting to find the knowledge and they are beginning to
seek it out. It’s often unilaterally imposed as if us young people don’t know
or understand. But from what I have seen here, the best speeches and best
action plans come from the young people."
Throughout the conference, the
youth were encouraged by Elders, Chiefs and leaders, who reminded them that
they are the future leaders.
Leah Gazan from the Wood Mountain
Lakota Nation in Saskatchewan teaches in the faculty of Education at the
University of Winnipeg and facilitated the forum taking notes on attendees’
thoughts.
“ youth voice is not just important," said Gazan. "I think they have valuable wisdom that they have to share with all of our nations in terms of giving good guidance and direction...there are difficult challenges and it is important to create a united front to deal with them."
Grand Chief Derek Nepinak of the
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs agrees and uses science as an example. “Are we
going to look to our young scientists, to help us find a new way to live effectively
and efficiently with sustainable sources of energy?” Chief Nepinak wants to
move forward and take initiative by implementing ceremonies as a foundation for
these meetings. “This forum is rooted and grounded in the right way,” he
says. People at the Treaty Gathering speak openly in a transparent way.
Honorary visitors like Grand Chief
Stewart Phillip, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs and his wife Joan
Phillip were very pleased with the outcomes of this meeting. “I think that
our young people need to get involved," he said. "They need to
understand that being Indigenous carries serious responsibilities.” He also
pointed out that these types of movements are important for the existence
of Indigenous rights.
Although the conference was
intended to focus on Treaties 1 to 11, the youth brought up the topics of
self-determination and Indigenous connections with the land.