AMC MB FIRST NATIONS YOUTH COUNCIL ELECTIONS

March 15, 2024

Treaty One Territory, Manitoba

AMC Communications


JOIN US IN MEETING OUR 2024 MB FIRST NATIONS YOUTH COUNCIL CANDIDATES!

About the youth council…

We’re thrilled to announce the revival of a Manitoba First Nations Youth Council by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs! This incredible initiative stems from a resolution passed by Chiefs at an Assembly in Dakota Tipi First Nations, marking a monumental step forward. After a brief hiatus, we’re excited to re-establish this Provincial First Nation Youth Council, providing a stronger platform for us to raise our voices and enact meaningful change. Let’s unite and continue empowering the voices of First Nations Youth in Manitoba together!

About the candidates…

Each candidate running in this election represents the diversity of First Nations youth across Manitoba. Their experiences, insights, and aspirations reflect the strength of our cultural histories and the potential for a brighter future. By electing passionate and dedicated leaders, we ensure that the concerns, dreams, and aspirations of our youth are at the forefront of decision-making processes within the AMC and beyond. Their voices matter because they represent the hopes and dreams of not only their communities but also the collective aspirations of all First Nations in Manitoba.

To those voting…

As citizens of First Nations in Manitoba, your engagement and participation are vital in shaping the future of our youth council. Stay informed about the candidates’ platforms, engage in discussions, and, most importantly, exercise your right to vote. Together, we can empower our youth to become catalysts for positive change, driving forward the agenda for a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

VOTING IS NOW OPEN:

Voting Criteria & Rules…

  • Voter must be between the ages of 16-29 years of age.
  • Voter must be from a Manitoba First Nation.
  • Voter must provide treaty number for verification.

The link to vote will be shared online following the conclusion of our AMC Youth Council Forum happening on March 26, 2024, at 4 PM. Voting will close on Friday, March 29th at 5 PM.

Winners will be announced to the public the following week once votes have been verified and counted.


Watch the Full Candidates Forum Online:

Meet the Candidates…

“Tansi, Dennita Cameron nitisinihkason. Keewatiok ochi nina. My relations are in Pimicikamak, Opaskweyak and Tootinaowaziibeeng. I’m trying to participate in things going on around me in different ways. I have experience in the areas of Education, Sport, Recreation and Reforestation. I am currently working in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation while residing in Thompson. I work at the high school as an EA. I also instruct dance to the younger kids in the evening in Thompson.

I am hoping to work with other youth from the all over Manitoba. I would like to focus on areas that would help youth grow like recreation and life skills. It would be great to have activities that they are interested in and being able to do it where they live.

I am a good listener and honest woman. I look forward to working with unity and understanding of our roles as youth and the part we play. I hope to learn and contribute to this initiative to spark hope and ignite passion amongst the First Nations Youth.”

“My name is Hevyn-Lee but in my language, I am known as Oshkii Memengwaakwe (Bright Butterfly Woman). I am a proud 24-year-old Anishinaabe woman from the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, and the Wolf Clan.

I will be starting school for Business and Communications this fall but I am currently a Youth Coordinator and Speaker for my community, and Treaty One’s Promise Keepers Council. In this role, I attend and occasionally speak at events as a representative of both, as well as help plan many things, such as; community engagements, youth leadership meetings, cultural activities, conferences and career development opportunities for the youth of T1 and Brokenhead.

Having grown up in the North End of Winnipeg and on my reserve, I’ve witnessed and experienced firsthand some of the common challenges that many young Indigenous people face—from poverty, mental illness, and substance addiction to limited opportunities for education and cultural connection.

Despite these hardships, I remain hopeful and dedicated to creating positive change for the betterment of my community and people, as well as empowering my fellow Indigenous Youth, and making sure they feel safe, valued, heard, and supported wherever they go.”

“My name is Hunter Beardy I am 23 years old and a member of York Factory First Nation. I live in northern Manitoba in a city called Thompson, I have been interested in First Nation Governance and our treaties ever since I was in high-school becoming more aware of our history. I am passionate about learning our culture and decolonizing from Eurocentric perspectives and to learn our stories and cultures from our knowledge keepers. I have been reclaiming my Cree language as I have been learning from my grandmothers and grandfathers. One thing I like to advocate on for our youth is mental health, reclaiming our languages, traditional practices and also the social needs that our youth in Manitoba needs especially in our First Nation communities. I love being out in the land learning from our people from all over Manitoba to learn from our elders from different cultures. My main goal is to bring a strong voice to our youth by supporting one another and to advocate on what our needs and interests are.”

“Boozhoo aniin, my name is Jaydon Greene. I am 25 years old, I am Ojibway, I grew up in Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation MB. I began helping and volunteering within my community at a the age of 15 and its big part of my life to this day! I was inspired to start my journey because of my mom and grandma, they founded a non-profit organization, so being able to see the healing and enjoy they brought to my community with these events & programs they ran. I knew this was a movement I wanted to be apart of! I am now currently RRAFN’s Youth Council President, Ginew Cultural Groups inc VP. organizations that were built for the idea of helping, bettering and empowering our youth. since joining I’ve helped put on countless events such as powwows, sports tournaments, educational programs, holiday events, community gatherings etc. this type of work has been always will be a passion of mine, I enjoy that I get to helping others it makes me happy, I will always aim to be a good role model for my community and to help our future generations! miigwetch.”

“Jazmyn-Rae Desjarlais, a proud Ojibway woman from Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. A leader with an old soul and a young spirit. With diverse experience working in health Transformation, Food Sovereignty/Agriculture, and program development, I believe inworking towards building wholistic safe spaces for all generations to gather in communities across Manitoba. An environment that is filled with acceptance, fosters growth, and practices unity in diversity. As a high caliber athlete, with experience teaching sport in communities across Manitoba, I am passionate about creating the sense of belonging through movement. Movement is one of the secret medicines that opens opportunities for the younger generations to walk courageously in their truth and practice self-expression in a positive way. My passion for creating wholistic safe spaces comes from my experience growing up in my community. As a young girl I never had a healthy outlet to turn to or have the option to talk to a youth mentor for guidance. It is an ongoing goal of mine to pave the way for the next generation to reclaim their truth and flourish in their purpose by advocating for their voices to be heard in a safe environment and in a good way.

“Leadership is character in action.”

-James Hunter”

“Tansi,

Nitisinihkason Wapihkaniw. Ochi nina Kinosao Sipi.

Hello, My name is Julianna Albert and my spirit name is Snowy Owl. I am a 24-year-old Swampy Cree woman from Norway House Cree Nation. My grandparents are Ken and JoAnn Albert and Mona and Bugoose Clarke. I was raised in Norway House and live here when I am gone for my studies.

Currently, I am a first-year law student in a special Indigenous law program at the University of Victoria. Last spring, I graduated with distinction from the University of Manitoba in an advanced Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and Political Studies. I am a proud ininiw iskwew and have begun my journey in learning about our ceremonies. Having grown up going to church, I understand both worlds. Today, I am involved in my community of Norway House, the Indigenous university setting, and in all the sports I play such as hockey, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and rowing.

Because of all the different worlds that I have my foot in, I’d like to merge my experience in being an advocate for the youth of Manitoba. I am excited to get to know everybody, and I am truly grateful for this experience. Ekosi!”

“Hello My Name, is Keaton Thomas-Sinclair I have lived in Mosakahiken Cree nation my whole life pleased to call it my home and moved to Chemawawin Cree Nation do to work. I got married in Mosakahiken in 2018 and graduated at Frontier Mosakahiken school in 2017 and got my grade 12 diploma.

My passions lie in hunting, Fishing and traveling. Growing up I would travel a lot to different communities with my parents. Throughout my travelling I have met a lot of people in different communities and learned a lot from the elders within the communities.

I have many skills that would benefit the position with idea and plan to move and prosper for our people and for our children, helping those that unprepared and introducing a better lifestyle, plus getting in touch to our past tradition such as living off the land keeping the teaching alive through experience and hands on to whatever is presented.

I believe in honoring our elders and passing out their knowledge on their past difficulties creating a map for the future so our youth can travel this path and begin to establish for themselves a more rewarding future. Our adult population has many skills we can capitalize on and use that to teach what has been passed down from their fathers to the youth. I know I can do this job for the betterment of our nation.

With your support, let’s work together to build a stronger nation

Sincerely, Keaton Thomas-Sinclair”

“Hello, my name is Raquel Strong and I am from Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation. I am currently running to be a ‘Youth Leader’ for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. I believe that I would be a good candidate for this position, because I am someone who is passionate about the welfare of my people and community. I would greatly appreciate this title, so I can be a voice for my piers, reserve, the youth and all the generations that come after me.

I believe it is important that the issues amongst the younger generation are treated equally as others, and dealt with in the appropriate manner. I see so many of us struggling with mental health and education, and there’s even more of us who are too ashamed to show it. If I were to achieve this position I would hope to be a voice for those who are scared to speak, and those who aren’t being heard.

The younger generations are our future, lets take care of them and set them up for greatness.”

“My name is Raven Morrisseau, and my Cree name is Pinesīs, I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. My family is from Misipawistik Cree Nation and Crane River, I completed my Bachelor of Arts in 2023 with a major in Political Studies and a minor in Indigenous Studies. In 2022-2023 I was the Vice President of the Arts Student Body Council in the faculty of arts. One initiative I organized was an orange shirt sale to donate all the proceeds to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS). During this sale, we were able to provide information about residential schools to students and we raised over $1200 to donate to the IRSSS. This fall I started Law school at the U of M, and I am one of four 1st year representatives on the Manitoba Indigenous Law Students Association (MILSA). In my time away from my studies, I do beadwork with my friends, and I hope to continue learning Cree through my grandma. In the future, I hope to practice child protection law by working closely with communities that are using Bill C-92, which affirms and recognizes Indigenous communities’ jurisdiction over their child and family welfare services.”

“Aaniin! My name is Shelby Sinclair and I am from Pinaymootang First Nation in Treaty 2 territory. I am currently in my last semester of law school at the University of Manitoba and will receive my Juris Doctor degree this June. In 2020, I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in Psychology and Indigenous Studies at the University of Winnipeg. I am passionate about helping First Nations youth reach their full potential and I am set on creating positive change within First Nation communities and organizations. I am Vice President First Nations of the National Indigenous Law Students’ Association and Vice President Professional Development of the Manitoba Indigenous Law Students’ Association. This September, I will be completing my articles at Cochrane Saxberg LLP, an Indigenous law firm in Winnipeg. I will receive my Call to the Bar in June 2025. Upon graduating law school, I hope to be an advocate for First Nations people across Canada.”

My name is Sonia Stevens from Winnipeg, Manitoba. As someone born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, I have always felt a strong pull towards my Indigenous roots, and I am now actively working towards reconnection with my community. I am using my voice and platform to empower and advocate for First Nation youth. I will actively find ways to support those displaced in the foster care system and raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

My mission is to serve and uplift our future generations and to address the issues of generational trauma in our communities. I am passionate about sharing and connecting with First Nation youth who are on similar journeys to my own. In honour of Tina Fontaine, I would like to support our First Nation youth, advocate for policy changes, and hold our government agencies accountable for their lack of action and pressure them to implement the recommended protocols to support young Indigenous girls like Tina. I seek your support on this journey.

I am the founder and owner of Prairie Digital Agency, a local creative marketing agency based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Through my agency, I provide web design, branding, event planning and content creation services for organizations, small business owners, artists, and service providers in Manitoba. My professional work allows me to express my creativity while also supporting local businesses and individuals in achieving their goals.

“My name is Tabitha Stormy Harper, I am a proud First Nation Ikwe from Kinonjeoshtegon, First Nation. Growing up it was strongly encouraged to pursue post-secondary education, learn physical wellness, appreciate, and respect the land I walk on. Although I had a connection with my family and community, I still felt disconnected from my identity because of intergenerational effects. Because of this, I left travelling with a fair after I struggled academically in university at 18 years old. However, I missed my home and felt a strong urge to help my people and relations; I retired from the fair and came home after 5 years of being away. I would like to be the bridge for building Indigenous capacity and to that I will be graduating with Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship and have a passion to fill the gap of Indigenous perspective in the workplace. Given my deep ties and connection to my family, community, and land, I feel a sense of duty to my ancestors who had prayed, fought, and bled for me to be here; as well for the next generations so that they may not face the same barriers, burdens, or cycles from past.”raising awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.”

“Hello, my spirit name is Thunder Sound of the Universe and my westernized name is Tim Folster. I am 22-years-old from Norway House Cree Nation. I am a proud Cree Napew who is rooted in my culture and language.

I am guided by the teachings of my late papa Albert Tait Sr., a respected knowledge keeper and lodge keeper, who I carry forward the teachings I’ve learned from him with deep pride. As a traditional powwow dancer, I aim to keep the strong tradition of our Ininiwak alive.

I am also a proud member of my community, which I have lived and continue to live here since I was born. I am an active member, which I enjoy hunting, fishing, and spending a lot of time on the land. It is through the land that I’ve gotten through many of my own tough times, which is something I’d like to bring to the table for AMC youth. I am excited to get to know all the youth in bringing us all together towards a healthier future that is grounded in our culture, traditions, and teachings.

Ekosani Kinaskomitinaw!”

“My name is Zackery Anderson. I come from Nisichawayasihk and Opipon Na Piwin. They are located on Treaty Five territory, Northern Manitoba. My community ties to both Nisichawayasihk and Opipon Na Piwin are equally as strong and valid through Basil Colomb and Joseph Hartie.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the impact, guidance, and the relationship I have with mother. I grew up in a single parent house and faced many adversities throughout my life. Growing up, my mother built and fortified my self-esteem enough to not succumb to the oppressions she faced growing up. She is the reason I am who I am today. Her name is Tracey Anderson.

I am 27 years old and a second-year law student. Education has played a major role for me in my pursuit of pimatisiwin – a good life. Not only has it provided me structure and dignity, but it will also help me set a positive example for the ones that will come after me, the next generation. When I complete law school, I aspire to become a practicing lawyer right here in Manitoba. I would like to work with our First Nations communities in pursuit of treaty enforecement.”