IYR Indigenous Youth Advocacy Week 2023 - Final Report

Indigenous Youth Advocacy Week 2023

Final Report

In collaboration with:

About IYR

As a national Indigenous youth-led organization, Indigenous Youth Roots (IYR, formerly Canadian Roots Exchange or CRE) collaborates with communities to provide programs, grants and opportunities that are grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and being and designed to strengthen and amplify the voices of Indigenous youth. IYR is a registered charity that provides Indigenous-based leadership, learning, and experiences to every youth that participates in our programs. We envision a future where Indigenous youth are empowered and connected as dynamic leaders in vibrant and thriving communities.

Centering Indigenous youth perspectives, we have 7 deeply held principles that guide our work and guide the way we relate to each other:

Reciprocity Innovation Advocacy Reclamation Resurgence Solidarity Accountability

Together, we build the resources and capacity to respond to the needs of Indigenous youth and their communities

Overview: Indigenous Youth Advocacy Week

Indigenous Youth Advocacy Week (IYAW) is a collaboration between IYR and Deloitte’s Future of Canada Centre, and the first edition of the program launched in April 2022 IYAW seeks to provide Indigenous youth with opportunities to connect with government leaders and policymakers to share their ideas, visions, and priorities for federal policies on a range of key issues. The program also aims to bring attention to the importance of creating opportunities to include youth voices in decision-making processes.

During recruitment, youth participants were asked to identify the topics they would most like to discuss with a Senator or parliamentarian during their meetings. At the same time, IYR staff began to set up meetings with Ministers, MPs, and Senators working on committees addressing a wide range of issues affecting Indigenous youth. Efforts were also made to ensure we reached out to each political party and had a wide diversity of regional, provincial, and territorial representation Finally, we grouped the selected youth and officials together by area of interest and expertise. These areas of interest fall broadly into these categories:

The climate crisis

Health care (including mental health & sexual health)

2SLGBTQ+ rights & issues & Justice for MMIWG2S

Disability rights & issues

Landback, self-governance, and reconciliation

Housing

Education

Employment

In the weeks leading up to the meetings, participants were required to attend 4 capacity-building sessions on effective advocacy, storytelling, confidence, communicating with government officials, and caring for yourself as an advocate. Invited guests at the capacity-building sessions included Carrington Christmas, Insititute for Change Leaders, and representatives from Deloitte’s Future of Canada Centre.

Participants were also equipped with an Advocacy Week welcome package that provided introductory information relating to Indigenous rights and policy in Canada, and about what advocacy on Parliament Hill can look like. Participants also received information on how to prepare for their meetings, and a template agenda to use if needed. MPs and Senators were provided with a package outlining our community guidelines and expectations, as well as information about what to expect and what policy and advocacy issues participants identified with

Between November 21 and 30, youth participants attended a total of 14 meetings with government officials. Each meeting was 30-90 minutes long and included 3-4 Indigenous youth, as well as one or more IYR staff to support with facilitation, take notes, and document any commitments or follow-up needed after the meeting.

Indigenous Youth Advocacy Week is a collaboration between IYR and Deloitte’s Future of Canada Centre

Participant Demographics Demographic Summary

In total, 30 Indigenous youth were accepted to the program while 25 completed it. The majority of participants (72%) identified as First Nations, while 12% identified as Inuit, 4% identified as Métis, 4% as both First Nations and Métis, and 8% as both First Nations and a Person of Colour.

Nearly half of participants fell between the ages of 24-26, followed by 20% falling between the ages of 21 and 23 (see Fig. 3).

The vast majority of participants reported living in an urban setting, while 4% were living in rural areas, and 4% were living on-reserve.

Fig. 1 - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Representation

Fig. 2 - Age Ranges of Participants

Fig. 3 - Community Types of Participants

Across the provinces and territories, the three most common participant locations were Ontario (40%), Nova Scotia (16%), and Alberta (16%). Please see Figure 4 for a full provincial and territorial breakdown can be found in the graph below.

In selecting what gender they identify with, participants were able to select all that apply from a list. Overall, 30% of participants identified with more than one gender identity. Just over half of participants identified as cisgendered women, while 8% identified as a cis-man and 4% identified as trans. Of all participants, 32% selected Two-Spirit as one of their gender markers, and 16% indicated they identify as nonbinary For a more detailed breakdown, see Fig. 5.

In terms of recruitment gaps, IYR continues to build its network to better reach Inuit and Métis youth and ensure their full inclusion in our programs. We also continue to work to ensure we connect with more participants outside of Ontario, and those living rurally or on-reserve.

Fig. 4 - Provincial Distribution of Participants

Fig. 5 - Gender Identity Breakdown

MP & Senator Demographics

Between November 21 and 30, youth participants attended a total of 14 meetings with government officials. These included 1 Minister, 1 Parliamentary Secretary, 6 Members of Parliament (non-cabinet), and 6 Senators. In terms of regional representation, the politicians who agreed to meet were most commonly from Manitoba or Ontario. Participating MPs were largely members of the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party, with one Conservative MP also joining.

Meeting Breakdown

14 meetings total

1 Minister

1 Parliamentary Secretary

6 MPs (non-cabinet)

6 Senators

While we also reached out to members of the Green and Bloc Québécois parties, none were available to meet. 2/3 of participating Senators were affiliated with the Independent Senators Group, and the remaining Senators were non-affiliated.

Fig. 6 - MP Breakdown by Party Representation

Fig. 7 - MP & Senator Regional Representation

Overview of Meetings

During the selection process, youth participants were able to choose their top three priority areas to potentially discuss during their meetings. The most frequently chosen topics were : Health care (including mental health care, sexual health care)

1. The climate crisis; and

3

See the graph below for a thorough breakdown of what advocacy priorities were identified by youth.

In responding to the priorities youth were bringing forward, most parliamentarians highlighted ongoing work that aligned with the youth’s priorities, and many offered to stay connected after the conclusion of IYAW In particular, the meetings with Indigenous parliamentarians created the space for an exceptional depth of conversation and connection as they shared their journeys and expertise in policy and politics. Most MPs and Senators also made a point of encouraging the youth to continue their advocacy work, whether through direct action or through programs like IYAW.

Land back, Self-Governance, and Reconciliation

Youth who centered their advocacy priorities on the fight for Indigenous sovereignty spoke to a wide range of adjacent issues, including treaty rights, law and criminal justice reform, Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ rights, and justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. While youth did not raise the concept of reconciliation generally, decolonizing the relationships between the Government of Canada and Indigenous peoples was a frequent topic of conversation.

“

"We need to find a way to get more Indigenous youth involved in these systems in a big way, because these systems are involved with us in a big way."

”

-MP Blake Desjarlais

Throughout these conversations, many youth expressed the overall need for activities in Parliament and the Senate to be more accessible and transparent.

One youth speaking to Justice Minister Arif Virani connected lessons from their kookum about how Indigenous peoples work with love and care to the overall need to empower Indigenous communities to self-govern. They also noted that the pursuit of sovereignty has to include fighting appropriation and protecting Indigenous art and intellectual property. Building off those points, another youth highlighted the regional differences in what self-governance can look like and varying understandings of what treaty rights are and how they impact communities differently. In speaking about sovereignty, she spoke about how problematic the Indian Act is, inequities in Status registration, and the government still playing such a big role in member registration, arguing that all communities need to be empowered to decide who their members are

In speaking to the need for criminal justice reform, one youth currently pursuing their degree in social work spoke about the importance of youth having a strong cultural connection to their community and identity as an effective way to divert youth away from the criminal justice system Relatedly, other IYAW participants also spoke to the overall importance of cultural revitalization – such as language learning - as key to empowering and supporting Indigenous youth.

Discussions about criminal justice reform also centered the need to honour the findings of the National Inquiry on MMIWG and the need to eliminate racism from institutions such as healthcare. One youth participant described their research on coroner reports related to missing and murdered Indigenous women, highlighting the systemic racism that leads to deaths not being thoroughly investigated or to evidence being dismissed if drugs or alcohol are detected in toxicology reports Relatedly, in a meeting with Senator Paula Simons, one youth spoke about their experience going to law school as part of a life’s pursuit to help remove the barriers faced by Indigenous people in the legal and criminal justice systems.

During the meeting with Senator McPhedran, a youth shared their experiences with land defense and opened a dialogue on how the government interacts with Indigenous communities who never signed on to treaties. The Senator shared her perspective that activism will continue to be an important part of closing the “implementation gap” between creating new laws and the effects these changes have on the ground. In the meeting with Senator Greenwood, similar themes were covered as the group discussed the criminalization of land defenders by the RCMP.

Throughout all these conversations, youth maintained the importance for government and for Indigenous organizations to have active accessible mechanisms for youth to lead conversations and decision-making, such as through establishing youth councils.

“

” We need to create more opportunities to hear what you’re doing and to act on what you’re saying.

-MP Nikki Ashton

Social Services & Infrastructure

Health care, education, and housing were foregrounded in many of the meetings during IYAW, often in direct relation to broader barriers and systemic racism faced by Indigenous youth and their communities On education, youth spoke about the need to address lower graduation rates and the need for more and better financial supports for students (both on and off reserve). Another youth participant was advocating for provincial curriculum reform that incorporates Indigenous language learning specific to the lands on which schools are located. Overall, many youth spoke to the need for all Indigenous people to have equitable access to inclusive, quality social services - as well as access to infrastructure such as internet - no matter where they live

In speaking to their interest in health care policy, one youth shared their experiences struggling to access consistent, quality health care as someone with a chronic health condition, noting that only traditional Indigenous medicines help her manage her illness. They further highlighted the need for better access to cultural and traditional medicines within the mainstream healthcare system as reflected in TRC calls.

Also on the topic of health care, one participant shared her belief with MP Hanley that one important way that we can improve access to healthcare for Indigenous peoples is by having more Indigenous medical professionals. She encouraged the MP to create initiatives that ensure better recruitment and retention of Indigenous professionals in the medical fields, citing TRC Calls to Action # 22 & 23 as guiding principles. Another youth spoke with Senator McCallum about the difficulty to get assessed for mental health conditions, and particularly noted the delays and gaps caused when admissions to Indigenous programming are limited only to those with status. In another health policy related meeting, one youth expressed their concern about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) being used instead of providing social services.

During their meetings, several youth spoke to the need for more social supports within their communities for when crises occur, but also outlined how a lack of trust towards government is a barrier to building those supports In one meeting, a participant spoke about the need for more community-led and community-based youth mental health and addiction programs, and that youth should not be removed from their communities when they are struggling – they need to be connected and supported with community-led supports and land-based learning. Another youth shared their experiences at the intersections of the addictions, mental health, and the criminal justice systems, and about the need for more legal supports for Indigenous youth and more options for types of care when battling addictions, and especially the need for accessible therapy to deal with the issues at the root of the cycle. Youth were clear that the government’s dangerous neglect when it comes to addictions must stop. In discussing solutions, one participant talked about the importance of capacitating Indigenous-led community centres (such as friendship centres) to build up their programs, both because their services and programming can be life-changing and because they are extremely important employers for the Indigenous community.

“

” Unless we sort out the last 400 years of colonial thinking, we won’t get to get to some of the broader equality rights and issues we have today.

-Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Relatedly, several youth brought forward the need for immediate reform to the child welfare system, and especially the need for supports in transitioning out of the system. In a meeting with MP Blake Desjarlais, one youth spoke about their experience aging out of the foster care system at 18 and being forced out of her foster home without supports. They pointed to the need for more federally-funded and Indigenous-led programs for Indigenous youth aging out of care, and spoke about the need for more shelters like the Tina Fontaine Safe House for youth, and the general need for more safe shelters and safe spaces for Indigenous youth.

The Climate Crisis

In relation to the climate crisis, participants spoke about the need for more spaces where Indigenous youth are meaningfully empowered – rather than tokenized – to make decisions that will protect the land and waters. These conversations often included feelings of despair and frustration, and trading encouragement to keep fighting for climate justice despite the difficulty of the situation.

In their meeting with MP Blake Desjarlais, one youth spoke about their experience doing land defense work in Northern British Columbia, and specifically about the exhaustion of being a land defender and the emotional labour involved in educating non-Indigenous allies about the importance and need for land defense as a practice and a way of life.

Youth in the meeting with Senator Rosa Galvez spoke about the importance of protecting sacred Indigenous sites from development projects like pipelines, and were interested to learn about the Senator’s involvement with Bill C-226 (National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act) and her international advocacy to build links with other Indigenous peoples around the world. Relatedly, youth meeting with Senator Paula Simons also emphasized that Indigenous land rights must be u and protected when it comes to pipeline development

In their meeting with Yukon MP Brendan Hanley, Indigenous youth had the opportunity to learn about the exploitative history of resource extraction in the region, and how communities are creating new processes to ensure that meaningful consultation happens in the future. One youth spoke passionately about the importance of protecting Indigenous water rights, and MP Hanley shared about collaboration between Yukon and Alaska to protect the waterways and salmon they share.

Parliamentary Processes & Career Paths

Youth were particularly interested in learning how Indigenous MPs and Senators wound up in their positions within government, and were inspired and grateful to hear their stories. Youth were also keen to better understand processes related to how bills move through the House of Commons and Senate, and how standing committees work

“

” It wasn't all that long ago that I was doing what you're doing now, so this is like looking in a mirror.

-MP Blake Desjarlais

Impacts, Learnings, & Next

At the end of the program debrief and share their fe unfolded, what impacted session was attended by t by Brittany Datchko from section.

The aim of Indigenous Youth Advocacy week was to provide space for Indigenous youth to not only meet with government officials, but to do so with tools that left them feeling ready to advocate for their priorities in those meetings. That goal was further supported with built-in mentorship opportunities and networking time in the month leading up to the meetings. Ultimately, IYR wants youth to feel empowered and capacitated to continue working in policy and advocacy, and to help them access those spaces and build their confidence that they belong there.

In their program applications, participants indicated that they were eager to gain experience doing advocacy work and that they were hoping to build networks and community with other Indigenous youth leaders. Our closing engagement indicates that the program was effective in meeting these needs and also illustrated the appetite for more initiatives that build hard policy and advocacy skills while creating space for connection and community-building. Participants also gained knowledge about how the government and advocacy works, and felt that the sessions were informative, judgementfree, accessible, and conducive to teamwork and connections with other youth

Participating in Indigenous Youth Advoca youth feeling activated, connected, and i continue their work in policy and advocac at the end of the event why the spaces cr were important, participants clearly asse voices were important and needed in pol decision-making processes. They also exp excitement and gratitude about simply sh and stories with each other and the comm made possible by the event

“

It was really important for me to be able to feel connected again and that my voice actually matters. I think that alone, for me, was enough.

-IYAW Participant

”

Capacity-Building Sessions

Youth expressed that the capacitybuilding sessions were useful, especially where they centered on storytelling and provided an opportunity to learn directly from Indigenous advocates. Overall, they felt positively about the range of topics covered within the capacity-building sessions, and the format in which the speakers relayed their knowledge.

We also received some important and constructive feedback about the capacitybuilding sessions, and learned where there could be room for improvement.

For future iterations of IYAW, participants suggested that they would benefit from a refresher course on how government structures and roles function, and several requested that the capacity-building section of the program be longer in future iterations to provide more time to prepare for meetings. The youth provided feedback on the facilitation styles and types of activities that were the most useful to them, sharing that they prefer hands-on practice and accessible language As always, we are grateful that youth trusted us with their feedback and look forward to using that feedback to build the third iteration of the program.

Support and Logistics

When asked what youth liked about the structure, supports, and logistics tied to the event, the IYAW participants reiterated the importance of having access to spaces like those provided by IYAW. Participants also expressed some difficulty in being present and feeling prepared for each meeting, as some scheduling details came in at the last minute, though they understood the intensity of the Parliament schedule.

Communicating through Slack helped with making these quick changes, and with communicating in their groups. Participants expressed that having the support of IYR staff during the meetings helped them to feel more secure and comfortable, and that it was very helpful to have the meeting minutes provided to them afterwards so that they could reflect on the conversation. The presence of an Indigenous Elder at the capacity-building sessions and closing engagement was also very appreciated. Several youth who are also participants in the Indigenous Youth Policy School commented that participating in Advocacy Week provided them with valuable hands-on experience that was very complementary to the more philosophical approach of the policy school

“

Through IYR programming, especially during Advocacy Week, it’s helped me feel like my life is moving again and there is hope for the future. There is a way to make change in the world. Advocacy is worth it. You can come out on the other side and do something with it.

-IYAW Participant

Advocacy Week Meetings

When asked why being provided with opportunities to engage with MPs and Senators to do advocacy was important, the youth's answers were both diverse and coherent. Participants expressed the importance of intimately learning the systems they wish to reform and were acutely aware of the lack of Indigenous voices in both houses of government, and particularly the lack of Indigenous youth voices. They also discussed the power that lies in connecting with other Indigenous youth and building kinship across nations, coasts, and disciplines. Youth were very attuned to their responsibilities as caregivers to future generations and tied their interest in and passion for advocacy to their roles as future ancestors. Doing this work in a collective with other Indigenous youth helped them feel connected, empowered, and inspired by each other, across a range of experiences and backgrounds.

The meetings were positive overall, but there were moments that were difficult as well. Participants mentioned that there were times that they felt dismissed or talked over by the parliamentarians, and stressed the need for politicians to be ready to listen when attending similar meetings. They also mentioned that it would be useful to stay with IYR staff briefly after the meetings, to have a chance to debrief any vulnerable or difficult conversations that had occurred

Participants expressed feeling particularly empowered through their meetings with Indigenous MPs and Senators, sharing that it built confidence in what is possible in their own lives. They expressed being interested in having the opportunity to meet with Indigenous leaders in non-governmental roles, for example those with experience as activists, land defenders, community leaders, or educators. Many people walked away with a greater sense that their individual voice matters and that they could impact the large structures in society.

“

It's so nice to see that even through all the trauma...there's a way of being successful despite everything that has happened to you and...you can do it too.

-IYAW Participant

When asked what advice they would give to parliamentarians and policymakers to ensure that they are better including Indigenous youth voices, participants encouraged them to pay for youth’s time, knowledge, and consultation, and not request free labour from them. Other recommendations for politicians and policymakers include:

Creating opportunities for Indigenous youth to shadow or receive in-person mentorship from politicians;

Creating regular space in their calendars to meet with youth;

Displaying active listening and offering tangible solutions when meeting with community members;

Doing outreach to meet us where we’re at and in the spaces where we’re comfortable.

The Indigenous youth we worked with during Advocacy Week were excited to begin their advocacy journeys and through their participation in the program, provided an immense amount of wisdom and insight into what government can do to better connect with them and their communities. IYR looks forward to continuing to grow Indigenous Youth Advocacy Week and facilitate these important conversations.

“

The opportunity to talk to representatives of the government about policies they implement onto Indigenous communities, that feels like a second thought to them but directly impacts my life, is incredibly valuable to me in knowing that my voice and lived experiences matter.

-IYAW Participant

”

Appendix A - Closing Engagement Graphic Recording

Appendix B - Questions for Parliamentarians

Questions the youth asked MPs:

What are your personal thoughts about Indigenous language revitalization and what the government can/is doing to help?

What kind of work do standing committees do, and how?

How do you stay connected to all the communities in your riding?

What can the government do to help Indigenous people have equitable access to services and infrastructure such as internet, no matter where they live?

How has your view on youth advocacy changed during your time in office?

What is your knowledge and work around environmental racism in the Yukon (related to the history of mining and other extractive practices)?

Are there any specific initiatives you are working on that are working to protect Indigenous water rights?

Are you aware of any initiatives to ensure better recruitment and retention of Indigenous people in the medical fields?

What is happening regarding language revitalization in the Yukon?

When will the Haida Title Recognition Act go through?

Would you consider advocating for an end to mandatory minimum sentences, and for access to therapy for youth going through the criminal justice system?

Can you tell me about your position on the Languages Committee, and whether Indigenous languages are prioritized and discussed on the committee?

How much does parliament know and understand about Indigenous ways of life?

Questions the youth asked Senators

How did you become a Senator?

How do you take care of yourself while doing so much work?

How does the scheduling for the Senate work?

How does the political/legal system interact with Indigenous nations that never signed a treaty with Canada?

Do you feel hope when looking at the implementation of new legislation you are currently working on?

Do you believe that the proposed amendments to Bill S-3 will help to close the outstanding gaps in gender inequity in registration?

Does Bill C-29 have any potential impacts on treaties that are being negotiated or renegotiated?

What are your thoughts on what we’re seeing around the backlash to gender diversity in Canada?

Appendix B - Questions for Parliamentarians

Questions the youth asked Senators (continued)

Please tell us about your work on Bill C-226, addressing and preventing environmental racism.

What is being done to protect sacred Indigenous sites from development projects like pipelines?

Is there any legislation in the works that will improve the rights of Indigenous disabled people?

How will the ongoing legislation around Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) ensure that it isn’t used in the place of providing health care and other social services?

Youth and other community members following their lders' guidance to protect the land are criminalized by the RCMP Is the Senate doing anything about this?

Do you see any need for additional legislation to have Gladue meaningfully incorporated into conviction decisions?

How can the Transportation Committee can help protect land rights when it comes to pipeline development through Indigenous lands?

Participating

MPs and Senators

Senator Michele Audette

MP Blake Desjarlais

MP Brendan Hanley

Senator Paula Simons

Minister Arif Virani

MP Arielle Kayabaga

Senator Mary Jane McCallum

Parliamentary Secretary Jenica Atwin

Senator Rosa Galvez

MP Niki Ashton

MP Lori Idlout

MP Eric Melillo

Senator Margo Greenwood

Senator Marilou McPhedran