Youth Summit

2021 Youth Summit for Mother Earth

From September 25 to 26, 2021 environmental leaders from across the province gathered virtually for cross-cultural learning and knowledge sharing. In partnership with the Youth Council, the Youth Circle for Mother Earth partners and Coordinating Circle, this re-imagined gathering brought 92 young leaders and 12 youth mentors together. These youth represented 54 communities across Ontario from as far as Windsor, Ottawa and Kenora, with youth identifying from Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and cultures around the world.

Art in Nature, 2021 Youth Summit © Arlo W

Sessions

Cultural humility
Ontario’s native plants and food security
Invasive species
Environmental policy
Traditional medicine
Bee-washing and action for pollinators
Power to affect change
Traditional beading
How the best of both Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science be applied to help meet the challenges of today (Two-Eyed Seeing)
learning Anishinaabemowin
Allyship with Indigenous Peoples

Art in Nature, 2021 Youth Summit © Evening M

2021 Highlights

Youth also participated in virtual discussions and youth-led sessions on nature-inspired art, dealing with eco-anxiety, story sharing, climate action, biodiversity and networking.

Team Tree won the team challenge trophy with activities including nature scavenger hunts, writing poems and creating artwork inspired by Mother Earth, while also learning about traditional languages and the importance of the medicine wheel. Congratulations to the winners of our leadership challenge, Derek N, Vamika S, Edie H and Kayla H for putting together their “Healthy Lakes, Healthy Living” mock event, to educate the public about shoreline development and algal blooms.

This year’s keynote, Dr. Dan Longboat – Roronhiakewen (He Clears the Sky), shared stories, inspired the summit community to come together from different knowledge systems to solve the world’s complex issues, and reflect on how we are all interconnected.

Cleanup challenge, 2021 Youth Summit © Summer W

“The biggest impact for me would be to focus on the land that is around me. Not only taking in to account the traditional land and care takers that lived before me but the many diverse Indigenous communities that share the space now. Additionally, I will appreciate the physical environment around me and take time to notice the plants and animals that I share my home with. I will continue to advocate for the earth and respect all the inhabitants from plants, people and animals. I will also see the earth through a more spiritual lens, noticing how everything has been created for a reason and a purpose.”
– 2021 Youth Summit participant residing on the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Treaty 13 Territory, in what is currently known as Toronto/Tkaronto

“I have always loved being outside, but I don’t think I understood until this summit how deeply interconnected human beings are to the environment. When we pollute the air, water and soil we are also polluting ourselves. This is where I feel two-eyed seeing and Indigenous teachings have the most impact and where I will, from now on, always try to employ. This Summit has shown me different ways of seeing things, will change how I approach tasks and even how I learn!” – 2021 Youth Summit participant residing on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation – in what is currently known as Almonte

Cedar, 2021 Youth Summit © Arlo W

Thank you to our Nature Network members and other organizations whose support has made the 2021 Youth Summit for Mother Earth possible:

4imprint Canada’s One by One Program
AWARE Simcoe
Bancroft Field Naturalists
Beaverton Horticultural Society
Bert Miller Nature Club
Blue Mountain Watershed Trust Foundation
Birds Canada
Brodie Club
Carden Field Naturalists
Credit Valley Conservation
Durham Region Field Naturalists
Eden Mills Eramosa River Conservation Association
Four Seasons Conservancy
Friends of Charleston Lake Park
Friends of Frontenac Park
Friends of Mashkinonje
Friends of Minesing Wetland
Friends of Ojibway Prairie
Friends of the Rouge Watershed
Halton-North Peel Naturalists
Hamilton Naturalists’ Club
Headwaters Nature
Huron Fringe Field Naturalists
Ingersoll District Nature Club
Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club
Kawartha Field Naturalists
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Leeds and Grenville Stewardship Council

Macnamara Field Naturalist Club
Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists
Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists
Nature Barrie
Nature Guelph
Nature League of Collingwood
Nature London
North American Native Plant Society
North Durham Nature Club
Ontario Environment Network
Ontario Horticultural Association
Orillia Naturalists’ Club
Owen Sound Field Naturalists
Patagonia Toronto
Pembroke Area Field Naturalists
Pickering Naturalists
Quinte Field Naturalists
Sarah Margolius Impact
South Peel Naturalists Club
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Sudbury Naturalists
Symbiotic Living/The Bornstein Family
Thunder Bay Field Naturalists
Toronto Field Naturalists
Urban Minds
Waterloo Region Nature
Willow Beach Field Naturalists

This project has been made possible by:

and Ontario Nature members.

Miigwetch – miigwech – nya:wen – hiy hiy – nakurmiik – merci – thank you!*

*The above translations may differ from other Ojibwe, Kanien’kéha, Cree and Inuktitut dialects, and reflect the languages shared with and spoken by members in the Youth Circle for Mother Earth’s Coordinating Circle and project partners.

2022 Youth Summit

Please check back for information about the 2022 Youth Summit.

If you have any questions about our annual Youth Summit or are interested in sponsoring our event, please contact Christine Ambre, Conservation Education Coordinator, at 1-800-440-2366 ext. 244 or christinea@ontarionature.org.