Resources
2021 Youth Summit for Mother Earth Resources
2020 Virtual Youth Summit for Mother Earth
Highlights from 2020
From August 22 to September 19, 2020, environmental leaders from across the province gathered virtually for our first ever Virtual Youth Summit for Mother Earth.
92 young leaders and 12 youth mentors representing 55 communities across Ontario as far as Windsor, Cornwall Island and Kenora, with youth identifying from Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and cultures around the world.
Workshops focused on traditional medicine, environmental policy, manoomin (wild rice) and more. Participants were able to participate in online discussions and youth-led sessions on baaga'adowewin (the sport of lacrosse and its importance to Indigenous peoples), learning Inuktitut, nature dance class, and story sharing.
Congratulations to Camryn and Orthi for completing the most individual challenges, and to the Earth 4 team (Francesca, Jackoby, Kaitlyn & Sissy) for their Run 4 Water event.
We were also lucky to have Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm from Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation as our keynote, who inspired participants to seek the truth and see the world from different perspectives.
2020 Keynote Speech: Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm
Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm has been an outspoken voice and activist, both nationally and internationally, on everything from climate change to Indigenous rights. Upon election as Chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation government in 2018, Chief Tizya-Tramm highlighted youth involvement as a priority, reflecting the type of community leadership he has long demonstrated. Among his many accomplishments, Chief Tizya-Tramm was a founding member of “Youth of the Peel”, and was an inspiring cross-cultural leader in the movement to protect the Peel River Watershed (an area the size of Nova Scotia located in Northern Yukon that was recently protected thanks to the sustained efforts of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples across the north).
2020 Virtual Youth Summit for Mother Earth Playlist
How to Be A Good Mentor
Originally held on September 8, 2021
Maggie Cummings and Jaida Ponce lead a training session on how to be a good mentor on September 8, 2021 to prepare mentors for the 2021 Youth Summit. In watching this video we recommend thinking about the following questions:
Think about a mentor you have had in your life...What sticks out about them and that relationship to you?
What is one special thing that you bring to a mentor-mentee relationship?
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Maggie Cummings ndizhnikaaz. Ngig ndodem. Wshkiigomaang ndoonjibaa.
Maggie Cummings is an Anishnaabekwe, Otter clan, from Wshkiigomaang (Curve Lake First Nation). Maggie Cummings is the Interim TRACKS Co-director, Oshkwazin. She is in charge of the Oshkwazin Youth Leadership development program, TRACKS' newest initiative providing leadership opportunities to high-school aged Indigenous youth.She completed her B.A. in Linguistics, with a minor in First Nations and Indigenous Studies, at the University of British Columbia. Maggie is passionate about Anishinaabemowin (the Ojibwe language), language revitalization movements, and uplifting youth voices. Youth are our future and Maggie is excited to help empower them on their journey in the physical world.
Jaida Ponce is a Kichi Siibi Anishinabe-Kwe from Ardoch Algonquin First Nation. This past year Jaida has worked at TRACKS in the Oshkwazin team in the Development and Delivery position and this summer in the TRACKS Oshkwazin Summer Youth Supervisor position. Jaida has also been teaching beading to organizations as a facilitator independently for a long time. While working for TRACKS she has taught many youth various beading projects. As a learning and growing person Jaida looks forward to teaching and growing in her skills as a beader and facilitator.
What's A Two-Eyed Bioblitz?
Originally held on July 15, 2021
Gary Pritchard discusses how participants can apply Two-Eyed Seeing to community science and the Youth Circle for Mother Earth (YCME) BioBlitz, bringing the best of Indigenous Knowledge and Western science to Indigenous-led conservation.
Gary Pritchard's Biography:
Gary is a Conservation Ecologist and Indigenous Engagement Specialist from Curve Lake First Nation and brings over 20 years of environmental experience. He has worked with and travelled to over 280 Indigenous communities throughout Canada and the United States. He has extensive knowledge of conducting environmental assessments, implementing environmental policy, project planning and permitting while working in conjunction with a variety of multi-disciplinary sectors. He has successfully collaborated with many stakeholder groups, researchers, institutes, government agencies and First Nation communities and political organizations to address environmental concerns and identify practical solutions to environmental related issues. Gary also serves as a technical advisor and past professor at two post-secondary institutes within Ontario.
Virtual Tour of Potawatomi Prairie
Originally held on February 23, 2021
In this virtual tour, Montana will guide you through Potawatomi Prairie, tall grass prairie habitat located in Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island First Nation).
Tour Guide: Montana Riley is from Walpole Island First Nation. A member of the Youth Circle for Mother Earth’s Coordinating Circle, Montana works at Nin.Da.Waab.Jig/Walpole Island Heritage Centre leading environmental and cultural initiatives in her community.
Tech Facilitator: Emma Kirke is a settler living in Algonquin Anishinaabeg traditional territory/Ottawa. She has maternal ancestral roots in Germany, Denmark and the British Isles, and paternal ancestral roots in Québec. A member of the Youth Circle for Mother Earth’s Coordinating Circle, she is a student at University of Waterloo in Environment, Resources and Sustainability Studies and an alumna of the Ontario Nature Youth Council.