Meditating on the escarpment during the scavenger hunt © Anna ET
Youth Summit for Mother Earth
From August 22 to September 19, 2020, environmental leaders from across the province gathered virtually over a series of livestreams highlighting cross-cultural learning and knowledge sharing.
In partnership with the Youth Council, our Youth Circle for Mother Earth partners and Coordinating Circle, this re-imagined gathering brought 92 young leaders and 12 youth mentors representing 55 communities across Ontario as far as Windsor, Cornwall Island and Kenora, with youth identifying from Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and cultures around the world.
Appreciating nature, 2020 Summit scavenger hunt © Mikayla W
Workshops
- Treaties and Indigenous politics
- Environmental policy
- Navigating activism and eco-anxiety
- Grant writing
- Learning from industry professionals
- Biocultural diversity
- Power to affect change
- Manoomin (wild rice) and Indigenous food sovereignty
- Biodiversity and the intersection of Indigenous and western sciences
- Traditional medicine
- Importance of water and interconnectedness
The 2019 Youth Summit brought together over 100 youth from communities across Ontario © Noah Cole
Other Highlights
Youth participated in virtual discussions and youth-led sessions on baaga’adowewin (the sport of lacrosse and its importance to Indigenous peoples), learning Inuktitut, youth advocacy, nature dance class, and story sharing. They also participated in challenges that gave them the chance to get out into nature and connect with one another meaningfully, while also developing their leadership and event planning skills.
This year’s keynote, Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm from Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation inspired participants to seek the truth and see the world from different perspectives.
Medicine pouch, 2020 Summit challenge © Leah B
2021 Youth Summit
Please check back for updates about the 2021 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.
Waterlily, 2020 Youth Summit for Mother Earth © Mikayla W
Thank you to our Nature Network member groups and others whose financial support has made the 2020 Youth Summit possible:
- Bancroft Field Naturalists
- Beaverton Horticultural Society
- Bert Miller Nature Club of Fort Erie
- Birds Canada
- Brodie Club
- Carden Field Naturalists
- Credit Valley Conservation
- Durham Region Field Naturalists
- Friends of Frontenac Park
- Friends of Mashkinonje
- Friends of Ojibway Prairie
- Friends of the Salmon River
- Hamilton Naturalists’ Club
- Headwaters Nature
- Ingersoll District Nature Club
- Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club
- Kawartha Field Naturalists
- Leeds Grenville Stewardship Council
- Lennox & Addington Stewardship Council
- Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists
- Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists
- Nature League of Collingwood
- Nature London
- North Durham Nature Club
- Ontario Eastern Bluebird Society
- Ontario Field Ornithologists
- Orillia Naturalists’ Club
- Owen Sound Field Naturalists
- Patagonia Toronto
- Prince Edward County Field Naturalists
- Quinte Field Naturalists
- The Regional Municipality of York
- South Peel Naturalists Club
- Sudbury Naturalists
- Sydenham Field Naturalists
- Thunder Bay Field Naturalists
- Toronto Field Naturalists
- Vankleek Hill and District Nature Society
- Waterloo Region Nature
- Willow Beach Field Naturalists
This project has been made possible by:
and Ontario Nature members.
Miigwech – niá:wen – hiy hiy – merci – thank you!
Over the past 11 Youth Summits, we have engaged 214 communities across Ontario.