Young people from various Aboriginal organizations attended the National Treaty meeting

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."

Clayton Tootoosis

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.