Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders 2024

Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders recognizes the outstanding achievements of First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth. 

Every year, the Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples invites Indigenous youth aged 18 to 35 to share their leadership experiences, stories and calls to action to help inform senators’ work. 

Select participants are also invited to Ottawa to participate in activities, meet with senators and appear as official witnesses before the committee. 

Stay tuned for more details about the next edition of Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders!

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Learn more about the program 

Through Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders, Indigenous youth have shared their perspectives with senators on many key themes, including:

• Indigenous education in traditional and non-traditional settings;
• Leadership efforts in advancing Truth and Reconciliation; and
• Visions on building a new relationship between Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. 

The Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples considers all Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders submissions, known as “briefs.” Many of these briefs have been published in committee reports and on the Senate’s website.  

Learn more about the previous editions of Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders below. 

Indigenous education (2023)

For the 2023 edition of Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders, Indigenous youth shared their experiences in public, private, traditional and non-traditional Indigenous education settings. Senators heard that curriculum changes, teacher training and additional funding and resources for Indigenous students would help dismantle barriers and improve educational experiences.

• Read the report
• Read submitted briefs

Truth and Reconciliation (2022)

In 2021, the federal government officially designated September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour First Nations, Inuit and Métis residential school survivors, the children who never returned home, and their families and communities. To mark the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the committee invited Indigenous youth to share their perspectives on the meaning of Truth and Reconciliation and highlight their contributions to their communities and nations.

• Read the report
• Read submitted briefs

Read more about previous editions: 

• Indigenous youth share calls for action with senators (2021)
• Senators hear stories of resilience from Indigenous youth leaders (2019)
• Indigenous youth share their vision of a new relationship with Canada (2018)
• Showing the path forward — youth leaders indigenize the Senate (2017)
• Indigenous Youth Leaders on the Hill (2016)

Senators and participants of Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders 2023 pose in the Red Chamber. 

Katherine Merrell-Anderson, from Elizabeth Métis Settlement in Alberta, testifies before the Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples on June 7, 2023.

Senators and Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders’ participants turn their attention to Paula MacDonald during her testimony.

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