chiefs of ontarioenvironmental studies/sciences program. juliana has been working with the ontario...

Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians • Grand Council Treaty #3 • Independent First Nations • Nishnawbe Aski Nation • Anishinabek Nation • Independent and Non-Affiliated First Nations

Chiefs of Ontario

45th All Ontario Chiefs Conference 2019

Transformation:

The Path Forward

ONTARIO FIRST NATIONS YOUNG PEOPLES

COUNCIL

Hosted by The Ojibways of Batchewana First Nation & The Association of Iroquois

and Allied Indians


Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council Annual Report All Ontario Chiefs Conference June 2019


About OFNYPC

The Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council (OFNYPC) is

mandated to discuss, address, and provide a unified voice on

regional and national priorities affecting First Nations youth in

Ontario.

Through youth engagement and capacity building, the OFNYPC

strives to empower young people to lead change and contribute to

decision-making processes in their communities.

The OFNYPC take leadership roles in the advocacy of issues

affecting First Nations youth across the province, to all levels of

governing bodies.


Kamryn Whiteye

Represents AIAI’s Youth Council and is

a Lunaapeew woman from Delaware

Nation. In September, Kamryn will

attend Nipissing University for

Indigenous Foundations. Kamryn

aspires to be a future leader

representing her community on

provincial and federal levels. Kamryn is

a fancy shawl dancer, lacrosse player

and an ambassador for her community.


Juliana Lesage

Represents AIAI’s Youth Council and is

Anishinaabe'kwe from Batchewana

First Nation and a recent graduate of

Trent University in the Indigenous

Environmental Studies/Sciences

Program. Juliana has been working

with the Ontario First People's Young

People's Council and Association of

Iroquois and Allied Indians since 2016.


Mark Hill

Mohawk Bear Clan from Six Nations

He is in his second term as co-chair of

the Assembly of First Nations

National Youth Council. Mark has

been a member of Six Nations Elected

Council since he was just 19 years old,

and brings forth a wide range of

strong leadership qualities.


Connor Martin

Mohawk Bear Clan from Six Nations.

She currently attends Ryerson University

in her 4th and final year of the Media

Production Program. Her thesis project is a

docuseries about Indigenous Success and

Resilience – in hopes to change the way

non-Indigenous people view Indigenous

people and the way Indigenous youth view

themselves. After school she plans to

continue to create spaces and work that

accurately represent who we are.


Lance Copegog

Lance Copegog has served as Deputy Youth

Chief of Beausoleil First Nation, a member

of the Ontario Premier’s Council on Youth

Opportunities, interim regional Youth

Representative for the Union of Ontario

Indians, and a member of the Ontario First

Nations Young Peoples’ Council. Lance has

been recognized across Canada by

Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders

alike, as a politically savvy young leader, a

good communicator, and a relationship

builder.


Randall Crowe

Randall Crowe is from Deer Lake First

Nations and a members of NAN’s

Oshkaatisak Youth Council. Randall has

worked as a Mental Health worker in his

community for 7 years. He is also a crisis

volunteer worker with Sioux Lookout

Health Authority. Randall is a fierce

advocate for meaningful involvement from

First Nations youth in the development of

policies and programs that affect them.


Richelle Ritchie Richelle Ritchie is an Anishinaabekwe from

Saugeen Ojibwe Nation. She represents the

Independent First Nations.

Currently wrapping up her final semester

of her Masters of Indigenous Social Work

program, Richelle is a passionate and

caring Social Worker, pushing for strong

systemic changes to Child Welfare policies

and agencies for Indigenous Children.

Richelle is also an Ontario representative

on the Assembly of First Nations National

Youth Council.


Sheldon Adams

Sheldon Adams is Ojibwe from Eagle Lake

First Nation in Treaty 3 Territory.

Sheldon represents Treaty 3 Youth

Executive Council.

He is a First Responder with Six Nations

Fire Department, a dad, hockey player and

passionate youth leader.


Members not Present:

Janine Frogg – Wapekeka First Nation

Alarice Keesick – Shoal Lake 39

Raienkonnis Edwards – Akwesasne

Darryl Hill – Six Nations (Alternate)

Mercedes Bomberry – Six Nations (Alternate)

Artist: Gerald McComb – Moose Cree Gerald is a Cree Artist from Moose Factory, Ontario. He is a graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program in Nipissing University and

is currently based in North Bay, Ontario. He is mainly a painter, but is also a Graphic Designer, craftsperson, and traditional singer.

The meaning: “I’ve created a mini-mural of symbols that are surrounded by tree roots. The symbols represent legends, stories and story-telling. The snake represents the stories that come from the Ojibway of Northern Ontario. The young boy represents the Cree story of where the “Man on the Moon” came from. The moose represents the Cree legend of how the moose ended up with a loose coat because he was late. The tent structure is our ceremonies, which were protected throughout the generations of colonialism by being told through “myths” and legends. The dancer and the constellation symbolize the ways that stories are preserved and told.”

Stories from our Roots PhotoVoice Facilitator Training

SAFEtalk Training – Allows youth participants to recognize signs of suicide in their peers and equips them with the tools needed to take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources

Sharing Circle – Facilitated by an Elder to check-in, debrief and provide supports to youth participants as suicide is a heavy topic filled with relatable triggers

PhotoVoice – Illustrates what photovoice means, goals for training, Photography 101 and introduces basic elements of photography

Workshop Facilitation – Tips and tricks for facilitating PhotoVoice workshops in communities. (for example, Grants, Fundraising, Booking a Space, Creating an Agenda, Budgeting, Facilitation 101)

Youth Trained to Date: 90

PhotoVoice collaboration with international organization TakingITGlobal February 4-8, 2019 London, ON 37 Youth Participants From 23 Communities Media Mentors from imagineNATIVE film festival OFNYPC Youth Mentors Tech Kits: Drone, Ozmo Video Stabilizer, microphone, iPhone, macbook pro Each community in attendance, PTOs, IFN, OFNYPC received kits – ensures all communities have access when required Communities to make plans for use/borrowing/storage/insurance, etc.

OFNYPC Youth Gathering

On Tobacco & Cannabis

March 30-31, 2019 Delta Hotel Toronto Airport 100 Youth Participants

-Tobacco Tie Teachings/Making

-Breakout Sessions: -Traditional Tobacco teachings with Norma General-Lickers & tobacco seed planting -Cessation/Quitting Smoking -Smoke-free Spaces – community public health Policies (Resolution – “Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council – Smoke Free Spaces”)

-Awareness and Education – creation of awareness material for distribution

Day 1 - Tobacco

Overview of Legalized Cannabis – Barret Dokis, COO Six Nations Community Cannabis Law/Youth Empowerment – Mark Hill, Six Nations Elected Council Legal Overview of Cannabis Legalization – Jason Mercredi, OKT Law Youth Mental Health Impacts of Cannabis Use – Jasmine & Rachelle, Thunderbird Partnership Foundation “Cannabis Café” – Youth Toolkit Discussions -“Weed CPR” -Peer-to-Peer education (by youth, for youth) - Education around positive AND negative impacts -“Hear my Voice - Reduce the Stigma” -How to budget if you want to use cannabis -Debunking the Myths -Youth engagement in the creation of Community Cannabis Laws -Indigenized Processes

In order to ensure youth safety, accountability and overall success of sponsored events, the OFNYPC and COO will strategize a protocol to be used at any future gathering to minimize conflict, crisis and excessive travel costs.

This protocol will include:

• Need for professional mental health supports and increased security;

• Working with communities to recruit suitable participants (for example, developing criteria and guidelines);

• Creation of a Code of Conduct for participants and chaperones;

• Work with communities for support and accountability of youth participants (community contacts for emergencies, assistance with transportation arrangements, etc.);

• Administrative procedures needed in case of emergencies (for example, flight cancellations, hotel rooms, etc.).

We welcome any input and recommendations from Leadership. The safety and wellbeing of our young people at any event will always remain our first priority.

Youth Council Retreat/Meeting

On March 30-31, 2019 OFNYPC and members of Six Nations Youth Council participated in a retreat facilitated by Sasha Maracle. The retreat allowed youth representatives to revisit the mandate of the council as it has evolved and to re- vision the strategic direction of the OFNYPC. Members recognized the need to create more space for youth engagement, leadership development, and to work with funders to secure resources to create opportunities for young people to gather.

Ontario Joint Gathering

OFNYPC attended the Ontario Joint Gathering hosted by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). OFNYPC had the opportunity to address the delegation, and to connect with various ISC Directors and stakeholders to discuss priorities such as core funding and youth engagement. Additionally, OFNYPC met with Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation to discuss a partnership in recruiting First Nations youth for training and to consider a career as Water Treatment Plant Operators within First Nations. Partnerships were developed with Right to Play to identify common goals such as skill/leadership development, building capacity within communities and youth engagement. This gathering was successful for OFNYPC as it granted leads on funding, partnership building and exposure to government processes.

Next Steps

•Follow-up from Youth Forum on Tobacco/Cannabis; includes the creation of a Youth Cannabis Toolkit; and securing funds to further Resolution 06/19 Smoke Free Spaces, which includes creating a youth advisory body to lead the development of a framework that will assist communities in creating smoke free spaces;

•Creation of Youth Conference Protocol to address ongoing issues arising at various youth conferences and events;

•Youth Coordinator will work with ISC to submit funding proposals to advance priorities and develop youth-led initiatives; and

•Distribute updated draft Terms of Reference and create opportunities for youth engagement and input.

Thank You Miigwetch Nia:wen Anushiik Yaw^ko

Meewetch

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