b'YOUTH PROFILEYouth ProfileMeet Carter Carpenter, the new co-chair of the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples CouncilBY OSCAR BAKER IIII n the midst of the COVID-19March and is serving as a representativeto help people heal from the effects of global pandemic, Carterof the 12 Independent First Nations. Theintergenerational trauma and help them Carpenter was feeling isolated inOFNYPC is an advocacy council forfeel connected again.his home community of Whiteyoung First Nations people representingI believe things are getting better and Dogone of three communities thatthe 133 First Nations located throughoutback to a sense of normalcy, especially makes up Wabaseemoong Independentthe province. since we had to stay away from each other Nationslocated about 120 km north- During his time as co-chair, Carpenterfor so long, he says. I really do feel like west of Kenora. Carpenter was depressedhopes to encourage people like himit helpswere social creatures, and its and craving connection, so when heto take up space and hold positions ofwonderful to see people come out of saw a chance to attend a conference as apower. Growing up, I didnt really seetheir shells. delegate for Independent First Nations,people like me at all in positions of power he jumped at the chance.or leadership, he says. Its so beautifulAnother moment of pride for him You know, it felt like a breath ofto see the change happening in real time,was organizing a youth gathering for the fresh air, like a really cool wind. And Iand if I can inspire at least one person,Kenora Chiefs Advisory, which brought remember flying back from Ottawa andthen Im doing my job. people together from eight different thinking to myself I want to keep doingCarpenter is Two-Spirit and says hecommunities. He was happy to see young this, this is a lot of fun, says Carpenter,can often feel like a minority even amongpeople just having fun, making friends now 23 years old. other Indigenous youth. But by beingand connecting again.He describes this experience asopen, he hopes others like him embraceCarpenter also helped organize a golf transformative because his hometheir identity.tournament for the 20th anniversary for community was dealing with a lot ofCarpenter says one of his greatestthe OFNYPC last year. It was really death and natural disasters, and at thefun to see all the people come out and youth conference, he met and connectedachievements is graduating assupport us, he says. with like-minded First Nations youthvaledictorian of his high school, leaders dealing with similar challenges.Mizhakiiwetung Memorial School, inNext, he says the OFNYPC will help That ability to feel seen and heard by his2020. Im really proud of myself forin the 50th anniversary celebrations of contemporaries remains a driving forcedoing that, he says, noting that the featthe Chiefs of Ontario this summer, where for him today. was even more taxing because he did it inhe and his co-chair will make remarks Carter was first elected as a delegatethe midst of the pandemic.and give updates on the work of the for the Independent First Nations inCarpenter says many OntarioYouth Sector. Carter says theyll also get 2023 and served for about 15 months.youth are still dealing with effects ofready for a national assembly. He was recently elected as co-chair ofthe pandemic, isolation, depressionIt means a lot [to be] able to the Ontario First Nations Young Peoplesand the country-wide opioid crisis. Asrepresent my nation at all these different Council (OFNYPC) near the end ofOFNYPC co-chair, he hopes to advocatelevels, Carpenter concludes.34l I ssue1 2025C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'