Young Aboriginal people from all over Canada gathered from July 14 to 18 at the Kwanlin Dün cultural center in Whitehorse to imagine and build their idea of the future in their community.
The summit is the work of the national organization Indigenous Youth Rootswhich offers subsidies, research programs and political parties.
Diego Gros-Louis (with the white stripes) is a young French-speaking Aboriginal who led a session entitled “Franco-Autochthonic voice in the context of the recovery of the language”. The young people were guided with questions to reflect and share their experiences and their relationship to language.
Photo : Indigenous Youth Roots / Marinda White
Megan Lewisthe director of the Center for Aboriginal Research and Policy Indigenous Youth Rootssays that this gathering allows young people to create relationships and show their entrepreneurial ideas, more authentic than during their virtual meetings.
We want young people to see that, whatever their gifts or talents, they are all leaders and that everyone brings something.
She explains that in five years, the organization has granted $ 9 million in subsidies to more than 1,400 young people across the country for initiatives such as pearling circles, community groups, cultural activity or skins camps.
Ashley Cummingsresident of Whitehorse and native to Nunavut, is the president of the Rally Advisory Group.
Ashley Cummings is responsible for the consultative circle of the rally in Whitehorse.
Photo : Indigenous Youth Roots / Marinda White
For her, this biennial gathering is necessary for young people to learn the customs of Inuit, other First Nations or other Métis who have a different look at their environment.
See both young people learn from their elders and elders be so enthusiastic to share and hear what young people have to say, this intergenerational sharing is necessary and so powerful for healing.
The singer Tia Wood. The theme of this year’s rally is “illuminating the connection threads: weaving earth, spirit and identity”.
Photo : Indigenous Youth Roots / Marinda White
For example, to see the light light up in the eyes of an Inuk who lives in mi’kmaw territory, and she sees another Inuk not far from her, and they manage to joke in a way that no one else could understand, it is incredible,
affix Ashley Cummings.
She adds that the real objective is to give young Aboriginal people the means to become leaders in their own communities.
