Youth Engagement

LFMO’s advocacy for social justice and equality of Métis youth and young 2SLGBTQQIA+ Métis includes grassroots youth engagement.

LFMO’s 2019 Annual General Meeting in Calgary, Alberta, engaged youth participants on their top concerns for Métis youth, including their definition of youth; the best ways to engage with Métis youth; and ways to involve and support the leadership of young Métis women.

The 2019 AGM’s Youth Panel, called “The Way Forward”, focused on the impacts of MMIWG on youth, school concerns, employment concerns, and the need for more youth representation at the national level, which LFMO has committed to ensuring.

The Youth Engagement project includes a communications and outreach strategy (including proactive outreach to Métis youth through social media), as well as increased opportunities for youth to engage in LFMO’s ongoing projects under the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. These include, but are not limited to:

• Ensuring the inclusion of Metis youth in the implementation of the Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families, and ensuring equal access by Métis youth and children to resources, supports and services available through Jordan’s Principle;
• Advancing the needs and issues of Métis children in care, with a focus on the needs of Métis youth who are “aging out” of foster care;
• Creating safe spaces, encouraging the participation of all Métis youth and young 2SLGBTQQIA+ Métis, and developing support mechanisms that bring Métis youth and young Métis women into leadership roles to foster youth empowerment;
• Analysing and employing best and wise practice models to assist in the development of a Métis Youth Mentorship Program;
• Supporting programming that helps Métis children and youth succeed in school;
• Supporting employment and educational opportunities for Métis youth, including increasing the number of Métis youth who are studying in post-secondary education, are securely employed, and are taking leadership roles in their community and beyond;
• Supporting the integration of our Métis ancestors’ traditional knowledge and wisdom with western science, and training our Métis youth to become knowledgeable protectors of the lands and waters; and
• Assessing the unique factors that contribute to Métis youth conflict with the law and develop effective, culturally relevant prevention strategies.

Integral to the success of the Youth Engagement project is the provision of dedicated youth components at Annual General Meetings and Annual Women’s Fora, in addition to youth input on and participation in all policy conversations.