Indigenous youth leaders urge Canada to prioritize health, education and cultural representation

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The Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Peoples heard testimony on Oct. 30 from young Indigenous leaders representing communities from British Columbia to Nova Scotia.

The testimony was split into two sittings, with the first occurring from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and the second from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m.

Participants were aged 18 to 35 and selected based on the leadership role they’ve taken “in driving meaningful change in their communities,” explained committee chair Sen. Brian Francis of Prince Edward Island, who is the former chief of Abegweit First Nation.

Breane Mahlitz, a health policy advisor to the Métis National Council, told the committee that Métis people need “distinction-based health legislation that reflects our right to health as section 35 rights holders,” referring to the section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that upholds the rights of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.

“The co-development of health legislation has to address our holistic and distinct cultural needs, acknowledging the experience of Métis people and closing health status gaps between Métis and other Canadians,” said Mahlitz.

She brought a copy of the Métis Vision for Health—co-written by representatives of Métis organizations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario—which she presented as a guide for culturally specific Métis health policy.

Bradley Bacon, an Innu translator from Unamen-Shipu, Que., brought his daughter with him to the hearing.

Bacon expressed concern about “rising individualism” in his community leading to a loss of Inuit values.

“Every time I talk about it, I get emotional. It hurts me. Respect doesn’t exist anymore,” Bacon told the committee.

Sen. Judy White of Newfoundland, who is Mi’kmaq, asked Bacon to elaborate on the perils of excessive individualism.

Bacon recalled how in February 2022, his uncle froze to death after spending three hours outside by himself. “That’s why I’m afraid that individualism is taking over,” he said.

Bacon added that he doesn’t think what happened to his uncle would have occurred in a previous age, because neighbours would have gotten in touch to let him know his relative was outside in the cold.

“I want these values to come back,” he said.

Faithe McGuire, a photographer and filmmaker from Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement in northern Alberta, told committee that growing up on a Métis settlement gave her a “place in the world.”

She said her father used to take her to “museums, junkyards and graveyards” and explain the history behind various objects, which instilled in her the “curiosity to begin my own journey of storytelling.”

In 2021, she enrolled in two Indigenous-oriented programs that were immensely helpful for her career path—the Empowered Filmmaker Masterclass and Reach for the Sky Métis Women’s Leadership course.

“The knowledge empowered me to understand the feelings of shame and insignificance I have felt was something that could be overcome,” said McGuire.

Through her art, she hopes to cultivate “an urgency for all Métis and Indigenous people to take part in the documentation of these historic times.”

“There are stories from our people that are still waiting to be heard,” McGuire added.

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