Newly elected youth leader and Memmuthu First Nation council meet for first meeting

In the meeting room of the Membertou First Nation Band Hall, the newly elected youth leader and community council gathered for the first meeting of the 2024-2025 session on Monday.

The group engaged in lively discussions on topics such as volunteering opportunities, upcoming events and their desire to host and participate in cultural and language activities such as steam rooms and youth cultural camps.

Maddox Paul, a Year 11 student and new youth leader, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to amplify the voices of youth in the Mi’kmaw community near Sydney, NT.

“I am glad that the youth can trust me with the greater responsibility of being a leader,” Paul said.

He said he appreciates the accomplishments of the previous youth director and councils, highlighting initiatives such as creating a school lunch program for Mi’kmaw students at Sydney Academy and organizing special low-sensitivity activities for youth with sensory issues.

The council will be responsible for addressing the issues and challenges faced by the youth in the society.

Members are also expected to attend and volunteer at community events such as salitas and ceremonies, as well as organize their own events and initiatives.

Mia McDonald, a Year 10 student and new vice-principal, said she was inspired by the work of past youth councils in holding salitas, making wreaths and helping elders.

“I’m looking forward to helping the older kids and (being) more involved in the community than I was before and also being a really good role model for the younger kids, that’s really important,” MacDonald said.

Jordyn Deveau, a 10th grade student on the youth council, said the new council seemed to naturally know how to work together.

She has a big goal to achieve this year at council.

“Honestly, I just want to create a better learning environment for future generations,” Devoe said.

Board members will learn to propose and vote on youth activity initiatives throughout the year. They are encouraged and given the opportunity to share their ideas or concerns with the head and Membertou’s council.

This experience is expected to impart leadership skills and enable them to effectively navigate community politics.

Trennan Paul, a 10th grade student and council member, said his passion is participating in cultural events and that the new youth director and council will be holding workshops to teach Mi’kmaw skills – “cultural things here and there, like spoken language.” fishing in general.”

The youth director and council operate under the Membertou management committee. In his role as Councilor Holding the Management Portfolio, Paul Bradley Gould will support the weekly Youth Council meetings.

He said he’s looking forward to seeing what the youth council accomplishes in a year.

“From the very beginning, I saw that they were willing to get involved and volunteer, they were eager to get involved in the community, organize events, and that’s great to see,” Gould said.

“I would like to see every community throughout Mi’kma’ki have a youth leader and council.”