One Young World believes all voices should be heard. That’s one of the reasons why, in 2023, the youth empowerment organization assembled its inaugural Indigenous Council. This group is tasked with directly engaging rising Indigenous leaders to ensure they’re accurately represented and advocated for within One Young World’s ambassador community. The council is crucial in shaping Indigenous-focused content for 2024 and beyond, helping select Indigenous youth for scholarships, advising on the Indigenous plenary sessions, and co-creating programs for Indigenous community members.
“We recognize the importance of engaging and promoting Indigenous and First Nations young leaders,” co-founder Kate Robertson said in One Young World’s report last year. “In 2023 we announced our Indigenous Young Leaders strategy. After consultation with One Young World ambassadors from Indigenous backgrounds, we launched our Indigenous Council. This council will ensure that the voices, perspectives, and needs of Indigenous communities are at the forefront of our decision-making.”
Robertson is so passionate about providing a platform that she’s encouraging business leaders to address this pressing matter.
“So many corporates are coming to the table on this vital and often ignored group — the Indigenous peoples of the world are under constant threat and yet, we will not survive if they don’t. Hope to hear from any companies that are engaged on this!” Robertson posted on LinkedIn.
Why One Young World Is Elevating Indigenous Perspectives
One Young World’s Indigenous strategy aims to foster deeper connections with Indigenous and First Nations peoples across various nations. This involves not only recognizing but actively promoting their unique contributions to global conversations on social, economic, and environmental issues. The establishment of the Indigenous Council is a cornerstone of this approach, ensuring that these voices are heard and are instrumental in shaping the organization’s future initiatives.
The Indigenous Council consists of 12 rising changemakers from diverse Indigenous backgrounds, each bringing their own experiences and insights to the table. Their role is multifaceted, focusing on direct engagement with communities, advocating for fair representation, and facilitating the participation of Indigenous youth in One Young World’s programs.
The selection process involved applicants being reviewed by a four-member panel within the One Young World community. On the application, participants are asked crucial questions such as: “How do you work to support Indigenous communities? What impact have you created for Indigenous communities? Why do you want to be part of the Indigenous Council and what Indigenous issue or issues are you most passionate about and how would you like One Young World to address this?”
One of the Indigenous Council members is Prince Ahumuza Ignatius, a member of Uganda’s Banyoro tribe. He co-founded the Art Planet Academy, now known as Agri Planet Africa. Through that initiative, he assists more than 200 schools and over 10,000 farmers in Bunyoro, fusing Indigenous farming knowledge with contemporary practices.
Amelia Kami of Tonga is another One Young World Indigenous Council member. The educator at Tupou College Toloa uses storytelling to bring awareness to climate activism.
“Our ancestors were always storytellers,” Kami said in a video during One Young World’s 2022 summit in Manchester, England. “Storytelling isn’t a new thing for us. We’ve been hearing our stories from our parents, grandparents. And the way that they did that was through art. That was through song, through dance.
“So I find that now the work that I do and what I try to do is I try to accomplish through for of storytelling through art. I try to tell our stories through song. Art has such a beautiful way of connecting with people. We are all trying to tell our own stories with our own authentic voices because we’re past the point where we’re going to let other people tell our stories for us. We’re reclaiming our narratives. That’s why we’re here.”
Kami also picked up her guitar at the 2022 summit to perform an original song called “Mana,” which she said in the Pacific Islands refers to the spirit within them.
Some of the lyrics of that song include:
“Why do we accept definitions of how our people should be based off written accounts of a man that looks nothing like me? He could speak our language but not from his heart. When he wrote our history, he set us apart; abandoned and bruised, left alone in the dark. But I won’t let that past define who I am.”
Mathew Siliga Amituanai of Samoa is also on the council. In 2018, he launched the Thrive Initiative, primarily aimed at offering comprehensive sexual health education and testing services for the LGBTQI+ community through venues other than hospitals or clinics. Over a five-year period, Amituanai engaged with nearly 4,500 young men through Thrive.
A recent collaboration with the grassroots organization Brown Girl Woke has intensified efforts to decriminalize homosexuality in Samoa and establish a welcoming environment for youth of diverse sexual orientations. This space aims to provide sexual health education free from stigma and discrimination.
Everyone selected for the council will be required to sit on the council for a year and volunteer at least once a month for One Young World — and be a bright light for Indigenous leaders around the world.
How Indigenous People Will Shine at One Young World’s 2024 Summit
One Young World’s Montreal summit will take place Sept. 18-21 and will celebrate its inaugural Indigenous Day the day before the summit begins. This event marks the first dedicated session to explore the contributions of Indigenous communities to global leadership.
There will also be a special land acknowledgment at this year’s summit, which is set within the traditional and unceded territories of the Kanien’kehá
(Mohawk) peoples, belonging to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The greater Montreal area also has a significant historical presence for the Anishinaabe people. Known as Tio’tia, Montreal remains an important meeting place for various First Peoples. “We honor and thank the traditional custodians of this land and strive to work for the success of future generations,” it states on oneyoungworld.com.
