b"it would have if I had grown up elsewhere. I think often in aand child welfare systems and just colonialism as a whole. So place like Thunder Bay, where its associated with some seriousmany youth are struggling with mental health issues today, and issues like racism against Indigenous people, youre going to seethese mental health issues can even lead into addictions. But a lot of Indigenous advocacy as well. With my parents workingwith First Nations youth, I think we have unique circumstances in Indigenous child welfare and at an Indigenous high school, Ithat really contribute to this, and these need to be addressed think that also really influenced my upbringing and experience.andconsidered.But overall, stepping into leadership, I think its just because I sawLooking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the areas that needed change and I wanted to help create that change.future of First Nations youth in Ontario and Canada?And I think leadership is that first step for some people.As a young leader, what do you see as the most pressingTQ: I would love for our youth to see their potential and value issues facing First Nations youth today? they hold in our communities. I think we often talk about our TQ: I hear a lot about the mental health crisis and I think, whenstruggles, but I also see so many successes. Im really seeing a rise we talk about the mental health crisis for our young people,of First Nations youth who are graduating from post-secondary theres so many things that tie into this. How are we expected toand bringing that knowledge back to their communities. I see be mentally well when we dont have access to secure housing orour sober youth and youth who are practicing our ceremonies food, or when our schools are underfunded? I think there areand preserving our culture. I see youth who are passionate about basic necessities for most people, but these are serious issues inlanguage revitalization and learning their languages, and Im many of our communities. And then on the other side, whenproud of our youth that continue to go out into the land, the we leave our communities, it still isnt easy. Some of our off- providers and the ones that are carrying on our traditional food reserve youth have trouble accessing resources and experiencesystems. And these are just examples, but it points to the fact discrimination from their teachers or peers that can followthat our youth all have the potential to do really diverse and them into adulthood. Its difficult because we have young peoplebeautiful things, but these youth need to be acknowledged and dealing with all of these different things and then still facing thesupported because all these things can help tackle the difficulties cycles of abuse that stem from residential schools, day schoolswere experiencing in our communities.Together, Bruce Power and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation are working to nd solutions to provide the global health-care community with access to isotopes that are critical to a modern health-care system and in the ght against cancer.FIGHTINGCANCERTOGETHER.CAGamzook'aamin aakoziwinFIGHTING CANCER TOGETHERI ssue1 2024/25C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne l 25"