IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP

CRE holds that Indigenous youth deserve to see real action on reconciliation, and to lead and be a part of this important work that will impact generations to come. Their knowledge, leadership, and hope for future generations can only enrich the work of the Council, and ensure that dialogue, thought, and action on reconciliation is innovative. In May 2023, CRE”s Executive Director, Hillory Tenute, appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs to give our thoughts and recommendations on Bill C-29.

We emphasized that our support of this council is conditional on Indigenous youth being meaningfully included in its leadership and governance structures, and on the Council being properly capacitated. To that end, we recommended that:

The initial board include at least three Indigenous youth directors, or that an Indigenous youth steering council be formed to work alongside the board;

The initial board also include at least three Two-Spirit and/or LGBTQQIA+ directors; The bill be amended to include multi-year funding to ensure it can do its work and is truly independent; and

The bill be amended to include the legal power it needs to access data and reports to fufill its responsibilities in monitoring the state of reconciliation

You can check out the full written brief here, and watch Hillory in the senate here.