Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council (OFNYPC)

The OFNYPC’s mission is to engage, empower, support and advocate for First Nations Youth from the 133 First Nations communities across the province of Ontario.

In order to carry out our mission the OFNYPC is committed to enhancing communication and outreach, increasing knowledge and education, providing additional training and/or professional development opportunities, enhancing First Nations youth networks, developing tools/resources that will assist our young people and by creating new and exciting opportunities for grassroots youth engagement.

In addition, the OFNYPC will continue to focus on the development of policies, presentations, resolutions and strategies aimed at addressing collective regional First Nations youth priorities. We will continue to explore new opportunities for partnership development and will continue to meet with key stakeholders that share a mutual interest in creating positive change for Ontario First Nations Youth. The OFNYPC will remain actively engaged in a variety of technical tables, committees and in various leadership forums to ensure youth voice is considered and incorporated into the development of regional-based approaches. And, perhaps most importantly, we will also continue to reiterate and reaffirm the critical importance of including grassroots youth in community discussions and decision-making processes. Our Youth are leaders in each of our respective communities and Nations, relying upon the guidance and mentorship of those who came before us.

The OFNYPC received its mandate through Chiefs in Assembly resolution 03/04 dated
November 19, 2003. The OFNYPC will work alongside the Chiefs in Assembly and the
Leadership Council in their decisions relating to, but not limited to: Governance, Social Development, Economic Development, Education and Health. The OFNYPC will identify issues that affect First Nations youth in Ontario and develop projects to address them.

The OFNYPC is mandated to:

– Provide youth insight, perspective and voice to the Chiefs of Ontario (COO), technical tables/committees, the Ontario Chiefs-in-Assembly and the Political Confederacy (PC) on a variety of policy issues including but certainly not limited to: Justice, Education, Health, Social, Environment, etc.
– Work on identifying the paramount issues affecting young First Nations people in this region and to propose different methods, tools/resources, strategies, solutions to address said issues.
– Act as an ambassador(s) and spokesperson(s) that provide First Nations Youth voice, positions and presence at regional, national and international forums and events;
– Deliver annual forums/conferences/workshops in an effort to engage, network, dialogue and strategize with Ontario First Nations youth;
– To meet and engage with sanctioned external agencies/organizations/ministries/stakeholders in an effort to gain/garner support for approved regional-based youth strategies and initiatives;
– To build Ontario First Nations youth network to ensure regular communication

Stay up to date with current and upcoming events at: chiefsmeeting.com

https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/virtual-youth-engagement-sessions-with-indigenous-services-canada

https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/2025speciesatriskconservationconference

https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/ofnypcgolf

https://ofnypc.ca/special-chiefs-assembly-2020/

Hanna Sewell – Co-Chair, Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians
Dakota Tyakoh Cornelius – Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians
Carter Carpenter – Co-Chair, Independent First Nations
Kyra Willoughby – Independent First Nations
Ramon Kataquapit – Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Kieran Davis – Grand Council Treaty #3
Jessica Lee – Grand Council Treaty #3

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