Watch the video above: First Nations youth at national summit looking for change.
SASKATOON – Hundreds of aboriginal youth from across Canada have gathered in Saskatoon for the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Summit.
Leadership is the theme of this year’s summit empowering youth to have a voice and it is clear many want to see change.
“We need more education in my community,” said Austin Dorion, from Pelican Narrows.
“I believe that there is a lot of issues that a lot of us across the country share and a lot of thoughts that we could share with one another,” added youth participant Reubin Bugler.
Over the four-day event, participants aged 16 to 30 are taking part in workshops.
“We always talk about how youth need to be tomorrow’s leadership, they are today’s leadership,” said Simon Bird, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Vice Chief.
“The idea is to start engaging our youth on the most pressing matters affecting First Nations and aboriginal youth, for example, we have cyber bullying, we have self-esteem workshops, indigenous governance issues.”
The owner of award-winning clothing company Neechie Gear, Kendal Netmaker, shared some words of wisdom with youth on Wednesday.
“We need these kinds of events where there’s lots of role models that are here to say, you know what, we’ve done it, we’ve been in your shoes, now it’s your turn,” said Netmaker.
The summit is held every five years at which time a five-year action plan is renewed.
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