ICA is very excited to tell you about ICA’s inaugural Youth Leadership Council (YLC) and the amazing youth that we have accepted from across our beautiful Indigenous territories to be a part of this team. We had many inspiring candidates that we hope to stay connected with; it is so exciting to see the dedication and work that Indigenous youth are putting back into our communities.

This council aims to direct ICA’s youth program and provide feedback and discourse around ICA’s programming as a whole. We look forward to seeing the ideas that come from youth that are involved with their communities from different regions of so-called canada. We hope that this will enable ICA to provide opportunities and create resources that are needed and made for and by youth. Read more about the members of our council below, and stay tuned to hear about the work that the YLC will take on!

Once Avery moved to Ottawa for university, the work expanded to include connecting with local Indigenous communities and Indigenous youth and Elders from across so-called canada,  including Mi’kma’ki. They learned about drumming and dancing and smudging, but they also  learned about kinship, community, and solidarity. Avery spent six years in Ottawa and as the  time went on, they moved from studying in a university and working on Indigenous & gender  policy for the colonial government to working with a grassroots Indigenous organization and  joining up with land protectors, climate activists, and allies to march the streets and (re)occupy the lands government buildings are squatting on. 

Today, Avery lives in Nujio’qonik Ktaqamkuk (Bay St. George, Newfoundland) and they have  been working on reconnecting directly with their family and community at home, absorbing  teachings, practicing the language (even if they only know a dozen words yet), picking  blueberries with their nan, and learning to make bear stew.  

These years have been a wild ride of discovery, anxiety, anger, grief, hope, love, and a profound sense of home. Grounded at home with their feet in the dirt, Avery is excited to broaden their work again to connect with Indigenous youth across so-called canada and work together to  understand and help protect the lands and waters we live with. 

North: Jacey Firth-Hagen

 Bio and photo coming soon!