The Youth Councils of Eeyou Istchee Summit returned bigger and bolder for its second edition held in Quebec City from April 4 to 6. Drawing over 250 young leaders from across the region and beyond, the action-packed Easter long weekend was scheduled so busy participants wouldn’t miss too much work or school.
“We definitely turned a page this weekend,” said Youth Grand Chief Jade Mukash. “This was the event we were hoping to do. It showed the youth we’re dedicated and can make amazing things happen for them.”
Organizers from the Cree Nation Youth Council (CNYC) looked to the first summit two years ago to guide the event’s planning. While the previous CNYC leadership of Adrian Gunner and Jordan Masty had the vision to bring youth councils from all Cree communities together, this summit included more youth, those who work with youth and several secondary school student councils.
Networking opportunities began on the long bus ride to the summit and were explicitly encouraged throughout the weekend. With a focus on leadership and governance, the program featured several keynote speakers, presentations from various Cree departments, diverse workshops and engaging discussion panels.
Oji-Cree host Brent Edwards, aka “Moose Legs”, kept the proceedings lively. Joni Boudrias performed a fancy shawl dance for the opening prayer while traditional healers were available in a quiet space for those a little overwhelmed by the crowds.
Along with Cree Nation Government leaders, speakers included Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, former Grand Chief Matthew Mukash, Anishinaabe water activist Autumn Peltier, and influential First Nations leader Chief Clarence Louie.
“[Louie] put forward a challenge to everybody in the room to take hold of their own future, realizing that’s building the future for all of us,” said Cree School Board chairperson Sarah Pash. “We’re creating that future we seek in every single thing we do every single day.”
Three years ago, former Youth Grand Chief Adrian Gunner approached Pash about partnering to bringing local youth councils together with student councils, reviving post-pandemic morale in Cree secondary schools and demonstrating leadership opportunities after graduation. The initiative has already shown substantial results.
“In Ouje-Bougoumou, the youth council mentored student council candidates in their elections to develop their platforms and campaign materials,” said Pash. “They even had a joint inauguration in Wemindji – what a wonderful way to show the power and potential of youth.”
Witnessing the student and youth councils creating relations with peers from other communities, Pash was reminded of the young Cree leaders of the 1970s who came together to “speak with one voice and rise together as one Nation” in the battle that led to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
Guests included young leaders from the Innu and Mushkegowuk First Nations. The CNYC held meetings with the Mushkegowuk Youth Council, Nunavik’s Qarjuit Youth Council and Jay Launière-Mathias, executive director of the First Nations Quebec Labrador Youth Network.
“All of them are in different stages of implementing youth leadership in their communities or Nations,” Mukash explained. “We’re going to be connecting with each of them to ensure the knowledge we have from the CNYC is being transferred to them and also to learn from other Nations.”
Touched by the turnout for her education workshop with Wemindji school commissioner Gillian Blackned, Pash told youth to pursue whichever path they feel called towards with the unprecedented post-secondary opportunities both in Eeyou Istchee and down south.
“I’m hoping the youth found clarity in what they want to do for their future,” said Mukash. “The whole point was to get people in leadership roles from so many different walks of life so the youth could understand there are many paths they can take.”
Asserting that representation is strategic, not symbolic, Gull-Masty’s keynote speech challenged youth to step into spaces where First Nations voices have historically been ignored to represent those who need it most. Participant Shem Mattinas felt empowered by Gull-Masty’s leadership journey, which she said sometimes feels lonely but ultimately strengthens.
Meanwhile, Gull-Masty’s daughter Esquay Masty joined Carol-Ann Tanoush for the “justice-driven trailblazers” panel to remind attendees not to take a path where it leads but to go where there’s no path and lead. Before heading to law school next fall, Masty is participating in this summer’s Miss Indigenous Canada pageant.
With dozens of Cree organizations present, participants could choose from workshops in everything from entrepreneurship to climate change, conflict resolution and money smarts. Besides his keynote speech, Grand Chief Paul John Murdoch organized four workshops over the three days.
“The conversations were so stimulating, I kept running out of time,” said Murdoch. “I was struck by how generous and engaged our youth are. Even though it was a lot of work, man, was it stimulating to talk with them.”
In his first workshop about protecting Eeyou Istchee, Murdoch led a deep dive into the JBNQA’s Section 22 to emphasize the power of Cree treaty rights and the importance of defending them. Another workshop began by listing racist Indigenous stereotypes to explore Cree history and the sacrifices that no other people in Canada are asked to make.
Throughout the weekend, participants were encouraged to show their community spirit by competing for points in numerous activities. Waskaganish members won the $10,000 grand prize, which is intended to launch a local event involving their student councils.
The highly anticipated Y2K-themed gala on Sunday night was a big hit with the mocktail bar flowing, games popping and the dance floor packed. Mukash remarked that she’d “never seen so many youth dancing in one spot.”
While many volunteers, organizations and sponsors brought the summit to life, Mukash worked primarily with co-chair Darius Neacappo-Pelchat, Kevin Rabbitskin, Steve Einish and Tania Richmond to develop one of the CNYC’s largest ever events. As the event wound down, “tipi talks” gathered feedback to bring back the summit in two years even bigger.
“We have some really bright youth so I’m coming out of Easter weekend pretty high,” concluded Murdoch. “They got that there’s opportunities for them to help at every level. I’m extremely optimistic about the future of the Cree Nation.”