Youth Summit

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

“The knowledge shared in this summit was very empowering and a lot of it completely new to me and I’m so grateful for that. I personally found that the group challenge was my favourite part because it is so hard to know how to take initiative and where to begin. Having this opportunity and support to create ideas and put them into action was amazing! Having done that, I feel so much more comfortable and less overwhelmed by the idea of initiating an event/campaign!” – 2020 Youth Summit participant from Stayner

“I really enjoyed this summit. I did not participate in last years, so can’t compare, but I thought this was really well put together (and virtually at that!). The mail swag was definitely fun to receive. I can’t wait to share all that I learned.”– 2020 Youth Summit participant from Walpole Island

Canoeing, 2020 Virtual Youth Summit for Mother Earth © Sophia L

Thank you to our Nature Network member groups and others whose financial support has made the 2020 Youth Summit possible: