One Young World is committed to empowering young people from diverse backgrounds and cultures to become agents of positive change in their communities, and empowering First Nations and Indigenous youth is a strategic priority.
As part of this commitment, One Young World recognises the importance of partnering, engaging, and supporting Indigenous and First Nations young people worldwide. It has established a global and growing community of Indigenous Ambassadors and is committed to representing their and young Indigenous people's interests worldwide.
Every One Young World Summit has included Indigenous young leaders sharing their work and, since 2016, agenda content focused on the specific challenges faced by Indigenous communities, with the aim of sharing the expertise and solutions driven by Indigenous communities.
Indigenous Strategy
One Young World recognises the importance of partnering, engaging, and supporting Indigenous and First Nations young people worldwide. This document outlines actions that One Young World will undertake to increase its engagement with Indigenous and First Nations young leaders.
Indigenous Council
In January 2023, One Young World formed its inaugural Indigenous Council to engage directly with Indigenous young leaders to ensure a fair representation of their interests and the interests of young Indigenous people around the world.
The central responsibility of the Council is to provide an outline of strategic objectives for One Young World's engagement with Indigenous young leaders. The Council's function is critical in ensuring that One Young World's work is culturally sensitive, respectful, and impactful but also that any activities are sustainable and effective.
A selection panel of expert One Young World Ambassadors reviewed applications and selected the Council members in collaboration with One Young World.
Council Members:
Prince Ahumuza Ignatius
Banyoro Tribe
Uganda
hi/him, they/them
Bio
Ahumuza Ignatius, a proud member of Uganda's Banyoro tribe, co-founded Art Planet Academy, now Agri Planet Africa. His vision centres on preserving and promoting the traditional farming wisdom of the Banyoro people. Through Agri Planet Africa, Ignatius supports over 200 schools and 10,000+ farmers in Bunyoro, bridging Indigenous farming knowledge with modern practices.
Beyond preservation, the organisation fosters sustainable agriculture, securing the future of the Bunyoro community. They adapt traditional wisdom to contemporary needs through radio programs, school training, and permaculture sessions. Ignatius, part of the One Young World Indigenous Council, safeguards Uganda's cultural heritage, ensuring a sustainable future for the Bunyoro kingdom.
Diwigdi Rodrigo Valiente Abrego
Guna
Panama
They/them
Bio
Post One Young World Summit 2014, Diwigdi has led a dedicated effort to confront the urgent climate change and waste management issues within Indigenous Populations. They founded the Burwigan Project, an art collective that inspires actions against climate change and plastic pollution within the Panamanian population and Indigenous Communities.
As the Director of Tourism Planning for Panama, Diwigdi developed the Guna Yala Tourism Strategy with the Inter-American Bank and the Guna Congress. They have worked on various projects and programmes ranging from governmental involvement to small grass-roots initiatives. Diwidgi has worked with six out of the seven indigenous groups of Panama, collaborating with initiatives, exemplifying how their work is strengthening indigenous voices, honouring traditions, and championing their rights.
Mathew Siliga Amituanai
Pacific islander
Samoa
He/him They/them
Bio
In 2018, Mathew founded the Thrive Initiative, primarily focusing on providing comprehensive sexual health education and testing for LGBTQI+ out of multiple sites that are not hospitals or clinics. Within five years of working independently with Thrive, Mathew connected with just under 4,500 young men.
A recent partnership with a local grassroots organisation called Brown Girl Woke has led to the push for the action of decriminalising homosexuality in Samoa as well as the creation of a safe space for non-heteronormative young people, where education could be given on sexual health services without stigma and discrimination. Through Thrive and Brown Girl Woke, Mathew advocates for both a multi-disciplinary and a multilateral approach to the work that is done.
Winter Dawn Kent Lipscombe
Anishinaabe of Wauzhuzhk Onigum - First Nations
Canada
Bio
Winter is a member of several official boards and councils in Canada, including the Treaty #3 Youth Executive Council (T3YEC), the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council and the Ontario First Nations Young People’s Council. Winter is currently a Junior Economic Policy Analyst for the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Winter actively participated in the development of the traditional child welfare law, Anishinaabe Inakonigewin, which created a self-determined standard of care for children and youth in child welfare systems.
Last year, Winter started a podcast called “When the Frogs Sleep '' which aimed to revitalise Indigenous storytelling practices and create a safe space for 2SLGBTQQIAP+ youth to share their own stories. They have spoken at several events, including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, about the role of two-spirit people, storytelling, and advocacy.
Alexis Rubiel Alfaro Jiménez
Tojolabal
Mexico
Bio
Alexis Alfaro collaborates with Ch'ieltik's, a civil society organisation that seeks through its intervention model “Fortaleciendo Jóvenes” cultivate the skills of the Mayan youth of Chiapas, Mexico, so that young people develop the necessary tools to play an active role in the transformation of their lives and communities, preserving their cultural richness. Through the operative team “Equipo Semillero”, Ch’ieltik educators are inserted in the micro-regions where the organisation works, ensuring content is linguistically and culturally appropriate and understandable.
Cultural relevance is guaranteed not only by being native language speakers but also, by knowing and understanding local dynamics and being able to forge agreements with key actors. The core aims of the organisation are to Strengthen Educational Processes, Enhance Youth Community Participation and Expand Alliances and Local Public Advocacy.
Lisa Rapley
Gumbaynggirr
Australia
She/her
Bio
Lisa empowers young Indigenous people through system disruption, capacity building, and ecosystem development. She is passionate about using systems thinking, Indigenous knowledge and co-design principles to address complex problems. As co-founder of Yuludarla Karulbo, a social enterprise, Lisa collaborates with Indigenous communities to provide interactive cultural workshops for schools and businesses. These workshops help embed cultural capability in workplaces and offer opportunities for young Indigenous facilitators to reconnect with their heritage, earn income, and improve their confidence.
Lisa has experience in the Indigenous Affairs space across government and community settings spanning the fields of economic development, community development, employment, and education. Her recent focus involves cross-government design, implementation, and monitoring of comprehensive strategic Indigenous policies, including the Australian Government’s “Closing the Gap” initiative.
Noor Azizah
Rohingya, Arakan State, Myanmar
Australia
She/her
Bio
Noor Azizah is the co-founder and director of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, which is a women-led, Rohingya-led and refugee-led organisation working on Rohingya human rights issues, SGBV, education and trans-local solidarity with a focus on women, peace and security. Several organisations have recognised her dedication and passion.
As a refugee delegate at the United Nations in Geneva, Noor has actively advocated for Rohingya women, speaking at The Global Refugee Forum in 2019. She has also been appointed as a refugee expert for the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, focusing on pledges related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Education, and Statelessness. She also contributes to various organisations and initiatives, including the Gender Audit Team (UNSW & UNHCR) and others.
Kananish McKenzie
Spokesperson for the Youth Network of First Nations of Quebec
Canada
Bio
Kananish is a young Indigenous woman from the Innu Nation of Matimekush Lac-John, located in northern Quebec. She was elected as a spokesperson for the Youth Network of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador in 2023 and is actively involved in various councils and organisations.
Protecting the territory is crucial for her as it relates to the identity of young Innu people. She advocates for amplifying the voices of Indigenous youth on issues such as land, language, and mental health. Kananish is also a member of the Youth Council at Four Direction Youth Mental Wellness Circles and the Youth Council of the Assembly of First Nations.
Amelia Kami
Pacific Islander
Tonga
Bio
With over a decade’s worth of experience in climate activism, Amelia has incorporated storytelling into her activism, most notably through song. Currently a teacher at Tupou College Toloa in Tonga, Amelia incorporates art and storytelling in her lessons to encourage her pupils to understand the power of both music and activism.
Amelia has attended a variety of Climate and Ocean Conferences as a Tongan Youth Advocate, where she has shared her stories through song. Amelia's song ‘Rooted’ was presented at Our Oceans Palau 2023 and the UN Foundation We the Peoples Choice Awards, where she received the SDG Vanguard Award for her efforts as a Climate Activist. The music video itself has been played at numerous international conferences, including COP.
Martha Lidia Oxi Chuy
Maya Kaqchikel
Guatemala
Bio
Lidia is passionate about education, sustainable development, and indigenous leadership. She is a fellow of the Vital Voices Engage Program, Gratitude Network, Global Governance Forum, and the Global Council of Community Centric Fundraising (CCF) and BOD member. Lidia is the Co-Executive Director of MAIA, the only organization of its size led by indigenous women serving Maya communities. MAIA works towards redefining education in Guatemala through a holistic model that combines academics, culture and identity, wellness, emotional intelligence, and personal development. MAIA demonstrates the “Girl Effect” by providing young women access to quality education, tools and resources to become transformational leaders.
MAIA is an award-winning organization, including the ZAYED Sustainability Prize in 2019, MIT-SOLVE 2020 Global Challenges in the Learning for Girls and Women category with the project Amplify her Voice: Empowering Mayan Girls to break through Guatemala’s indigenous talent gap using education and technology, National 2020 winner of the Energy Globe Award for Guatemala and in 2023 one of the Top 10 World Best Schools in the category of Overcoming Adversity.
Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts
Bundjalung Widubul Wiabul - First Nations
Australia
She/her
Bio
Vanessa is a proud Bundjalung Widubul-Wiabul woman, advocate for Human Rights, lawyer, Fulbright Scholar, writer and a researcher in Law at the University of Technology. Through transnational solidarity movements, Vanessa has taken specific actions to support the Indigenous community in various ways. This includes collaborating with international Indigenous rights organisations, sharing her own knowledge and experiences in panel and workshop settings, building alliances and networks with Indigenous activists, supporting campaigns and initiatives, and engaging in policy advocacy.
Vanessa has worked directly with families who have been impacted by child removal, incarceration and other forms of state-sanctioned violence and land rights. By providing legal assistance, emotional support, and resources, they aim to empower these families and help them navigate the complex legal systems that are in place.
17 September 2024
One Young World Indigenous Youth Day
One Young World is committed to ensuring the voices, perspectives and needs of Indigenous communities are at the heart of our Summit. Today, there are more than 476 million Indigenous people around the world, belonging to more than 5,000 different Indigenous peoples. At the One Young World Summit Montréal, 2024, Indigenous issues and approaches to tackling global challenges will be central.
In recognition of this, One Young World will host its first ever dedicated Indigenous Youth Day Event on the first day of One Young World Summit Montréal, 2024. It will bring together delegates from a wide range of Indigenous communities to discuss the role of Indigenous peoples in global leadership.
Through the Global Consultation Process, Indigenous Voices was also identified as plenary theme for the One Young World Summit Montréal, 2024. Tackling existential threats such as climate change requires Indigenous leadership and representation in decision-making. The Plenary will ask how can we elevate the voices of young indigenous leaders and allow for greater representation of indigenous communities in both national, and the global decision making process?
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that One Young World 2024 will take place within the traditional unceded lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) peoples, part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. There is also a strong historic presence of Anishinaabe peoples in what is now known as the Greater Montréal area. Tio’tia:ke, or Montréal, has also long been, and continues to be, a gathering place for many First Peoples from all directions. We honour and thank the traditional custodians of this land and strive to work for the success of future generations.