Working with Indigenous young Leaders

One Young World is committed to empowering young people from diverse backgrounds and cultures to become agents of positive change in their communities, and empowering First Nations and Indigenous youth is a strategic priority. 

 

As part of this commitment, One Young World recognises the importance of partnering, engaging, and supporting Indigenous and First Nations young people worldwide. It has established a global and growing community of Indigenous Ambassadors and is committed to representing their and young Indigenous people's interests worldwide. 

 

Every One Young World Summit has included Indigenous young leaders sharing their work and, since 2016, agenda content focused on the specific challenges faced by Indigenous communities, with the aim of sharing the expertise and solutions driven by Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Strategy

One Young World recognises the importance of partnering, engaging, and supporting Indigenous and First Nations young people worldwide. This document outlines actions that One Young World will undertake to increase its engagement with Indigenous and First Nations young leaders.

Read Full Strategy

Indigenous Council

In January 2023, One Young World formed its inaugural Indigenous Council to engage directly with Indigenous young leaders to ensure a fair representation of their interests and the interests of young Indigenous people around the world.

 

The central responsibility of the Council is to provide an outline of strategic objectives for One Young World's engagement with Indigenous young leaders. The Council's function is critical in ensuring that One Young World's work is culturally sensitive, respectful, and impactful but also that any activities are sustainable and effective.

 

A selection panel of expert One Young World Ambassadors reviewed applications and selected the  Council members in collaboration with One Young World.

Council Members:

17 September 2024

One Young World Indigenous Youth Day

One Young World is committed to ensuring the voices, perspectives and needs of Indigenous communities are at the heart of our Summit. Today, there are more than 476 million Indigenous people around the world, belonging to more than 5,000 different Indigenous peoples. At the One Young World Summit Montréal, 2024, Indigenous issues and approaches to tackling global challenges will be central. 

In recognition of this, One Young World will host its first ever dedicated Indigenous Youth Day Event on the first day of One Young World Summit Montréal, 2024. It will bring together delegates from a wide range of Indigenous communities to discuss the role of Indigenous peoples in global leadership.

 

Through the Global Consultation Process, Indigenous Voices was also identified as plenary theme for the One Young World Summit Montréal, 2024. Tackling existential threats such as climate change requires Indigenous leadership and representation in decision-making. The Plenary will ask how can we elevate the voices of young indigenous leaders and allow for greater representation of indigenous communities in both national, and the global decision making process?

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Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that One Young World 2024 will take place within the traditional unceded lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) peoples, part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. There is also a strong historic presence of Anishinaabe peoples in what is now known as the Greater Montréal area. Tio’tia:ke, or Montréal, has also long been, and continues to be, a gathering place for many First Peoples from all directions. We honour and thank the traditional custodians of this land and strive to work for the success of future generations.