One Young World Summit Montréal/Tiohtiá:ke, 2024

Indigenous Insights on The Seventh Generation Principle

• 18:22 - 18:52, 19 September
• Palais des Congrès
• IKEA Open Home

Speakers

• Audrey Poitras

  Past President, Métis Nation of Alberta

  Audrey Poitras

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  Past President, Métis Nation of Alberta
  Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA)

  Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) Past President, Audrey Poitras, remains one of the highest-profile Métis women in Canada. Audrey was elected as the first female president in 1996 and, after 27 years in office, remains the longest-serving president of the MNA. For over a quarter of a century, Audrey Poitras has been synonymous with the strength, resilience, and tenacity of Alberta Métis citizens. The credibility of the MNA continued to surge, with its legitimacy and accountability rising to unprecedented heights under her leadership.

• Justin Langan

  Executive Director of O'KANATA

  Justin Langan

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  Executive Director of O'KANATA

  Justin Langan is a 25-year-old Métis, LGBTQ2+ national activist from the rural town of Swan River. He is the Curator of the Indigenous Film Archive, and the Executive Director of O'KANATA, a federal non-profit dedicated to advancing Indigenous youth prosperity. Some of his personal achievements include the 2021 Métis Youth Indspire Award, the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, the Top 25 Environmentalists under 25, the National Champion of Mental Health for Youth, and more. He is entering his fourth year of majoring in political studies and will use his knowledge to become a more decisive leader within his community. He hopes to become a lawyer and politician who advocates for Canadians' rights internationally, where he can create the most effective change. Some of his interests include volunteering on committees and councils, working out, photography, watching movies, going out with his friends, and working on philanthropic projects. He has worked with Indigenous youth and students since 2015 and understands how to teach and mentor them with the knowledge he has gained through his journey as an Indigenous activist.

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  Brayden Sonny White

  Deputy Director, HETF

  Brayden Sonny White

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  Deputy Director, HETF

  She:kon, my name is Brayden Sonny White. I come from the Shohskoharó:wane/Great Branch Family of the Bear Clan of the Kaniehkeha:ka/Mohawk Nation & live on the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. I currently work with Haudenosaunee Communities to help them combat environmental issues and serve as a liaison between environmental organizations. In the University field, I have served as a Student Government President and Budget Director as well as Diversity Officer with our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In other fields, I have been a White House Tribal Nations Conference Presidential Panelist, where I sat on a panel with the President of the United States, Barack Obama, and had a discussion on bridging the gap for Indigenous youth pursuing higher education as well as having a discussion around destigmatizing the talk around mental health. In addition to that, I have also sat on numerous boards and executive committees, which were geared toward serving Indigenous youth and connecting them with opportunities. I founded Ratitsienhanónhnha, which is an initiative geared towards bringing language and culture back into the households. I understood there were limitations for people to access cultural knowledge, so instead of the students going to the teacher, I brought the teacher to the students. I believe that re-instilling cultural identity is vital for one’s mental health and well-being.

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  Tristen Schneider

  Executive Assistant at Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin

  Tristen Schneider

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  Executive Assistant at Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin

  Tristen Schneider is an Anishinaabe-Dene facilitator, advocate, consultant, and entrepreneur from Shawanaga First Nation Ojibway Territory. She is recognized for her extensive trilateral political advocacy work for First Nations Youth across Canada, including involvement with the Independent First Nations, Ontario First Nations Young People’s Council, Feathers of Hope: Justice & Juries Youth Advisory, Chiefs of Ontario, Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, and the Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity.

  Driven by curiosity, Tristen seeks to diversify her experiences across various sectors, especially in spaces where youth voices are often absent. Her passion for youth empowerment stems from her early career as a youth representative within her community. Currently, she works as an Executive Assistant at Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin, focusing on treaty governance and education engagement with 21 First Nation communities.

  Following the sudden loss of her fiancé in the summer of 2022, Tristen returned to her community. She traveled across Western Canada and Northern Manitoba with LiveDifferent, sharing her story of hope, belonging, meaning, and purpose.