Last updated: 17/01/2024
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.
A s part of this commitment, 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.
I. Preface
One Young World 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 peoples. Speakers in One Young World events have included Senator Murray Sinclair and Xiye Bastida. Sessions have explored topics ranging from “The Power of Indigenous Storytelling” to “Indigenous Knowledge and the Climate Crisis: Reshaping Climate Narratives”.
Since 2019, One Young World has explicitly prioritised indigenous young leaders for a number of scholarship opportunities. One Young World has also run funding mechanisms that prioritise the work of young leaders who lead solutions driven by Indigenous people and address issues faced by Indigenous communities. For example, following outreach to the United Nations Global Caucus for Indigenous Youth, the One Young World Covid Young Leaders Fund funded five initiatives which directly supported Indigenous communities disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Events have been run for the regions in the Community that elevate the profile of young Indigenous leaders in the One Young World Community and further explore Indigenous issues. This includes One Young World Latin America and the Caribbean running a series of six online webinars for “Semana de los pueblos indígenas”.
II. Approach
One Young World will implement this Strategy in compliance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and will centre a rights-based approach to all work.
Partnership and consultation with Indigenous people is an essential step in beginning to address historical injustices. One Young World’s intention is to demonstrate respect for Indigenous and First Nations autonomy and self-determination.
Partnership with Indigenous people is essential in all work One Young World undertakes with Indigenous communities. By consulting with Indigenous people before beginning any work on an Indigenous initiative, One Young World aims to reiterate its commitment to meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities and contribute to creating a more equitable and just society for all.
Where possible, any actions or initiatives related to this Strategy will be managed by Indigenous people.
III. Structure
To establish action points to execute this strategy, One Young World has conducted interviews and meetings with Indigenous members of our Community to agree on an appropriate structure to coordinate these initiatives. Findings from these initial consultations can be found in Section IV.
These Indigenous Ambassadors were selected due to their wealth of experience and knowledge in Indigenous affairs and are committed to promoting the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples worldwide.
- Carson Kiburo, Endorois, Kenya
- Zac McCue, Curve Lake First Nations, Canada
- Lavau Kwalam Nalu, Poirupu, Gaoauna, Kamurupu, Agatuč and Aimodo, Papua New Guinea
- Elias Rees, Goneroi and Warramunga, Chile-Australia
- Tabotabo Auatabu, Kiribati
- Tania Rosas, Wayuu, Colombia
- Adrian Leitoro, works extensively with Rendille and Samburu, Kenya
- Savina Dawood, Assyrian, Syria
- Lisa Rapley, Aboriginal Gumbaynggirr - Mirlgalgi/Garby Country, Australia
- Regina Lepping, Solomon Islands
One Young World would like to thank these Ambassadors for their insight and advice. Their feedback has been incorporated into this strategy document.
Building on this initial consultation, One Young World will:
i. Establish a One Young World Indigenous Council
The Indigenous Council will serve as an advisory body to provide strategic guidance and insights on One Young World’s future work with Indigenous communities. 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.
The Council will comprise of ten Indigenous One Young World Ambassadors from different communities around the world. It will work to ensure that the voices, perspectives, and needs of Indigenous communities are at the forefront of all decision-making at One Young World. The Council will also be responsible for selecting recipients of funding mechanisms focused on young Indigenous and First Nations leaders' initiatives (discussed in Section V.vi).
One Young World will work closely and partner with a selection panel comprising Indigenous and First Nations One Young World Ambassadors, who will establish criteria, review applications and select members of the Council.
The Council will be invited to establish links with their respective community Elders, to acknowledge the guidance and leadership of Elders in Indigenous communities. This is to facilitate the Council working in a manner that upholds the traditions and practices of their respective Indigenous Communities. Council Members will be encouraged to receive their respective Elders’ endorsement for their work on the Council, if possible, though this will not be a prerequisite to their participation in the Council’s activities. One Young World will explore the possibility of the Indigenous Council creating a support network of Elders who could provide guidance and support to both the Council and other young Indigenous people.
Members of the Council will be compensated for their participation with fully-funded access to the Summit in Montréal (Tiohtià:ke) in 2024, including transport and accommodation. One Young World will also reimburse essential costs incurred from their participation e.g. data plans.
One Young World opened its applications for the Indigenous Council on 09/08/2023. The final ten Council Members were selected in early December through our Indigenous Selection Committee, Lavau Nalu, Zachary McCue, Tania Rosas, and Mary Moeono-Kolio.
Our Council Members' photos and bios are on our website page here.
Council Members:
- Ahumuza Ignatius - Banyoro Tribe, Uganda
- Alexis Rubiel Alfaro Jiménez
- Amelia Kami - Pacific Islander, Tonga
- Diwigdi Rodrigo Valiente Abrego - Guna, Panama
- Lisa Rapley - Gumbaynggirr, Australia
- Martha Lidia Oxi Chuy - Maya Kaqchikel, Guatemala
- Mathew Siliga Amituanai - Pacific Islander, Samoa
- Noor Azizah - Rohingya, Arakhan State, Myanmar/Australia
- Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts - Bundjalung Widubul Wiabul - First Nations, Australia
- Winter Dawn Kent Lipscombe - Anishinaabe of Wauzhushk Onigum (First Nations), Canada
ii. Hire Indigenous Communities Fellow to lead initiatives at HQ
One Young World will hire an Indigenous young person as a Fellow to oversee Indigenous Initiatives. One Young World Fellowships are fixed-term roles, ideally suited for recent graduates or early-career professionals. Fellows graduate from their role as full members of the One Young World Ambassador Community, receiving life-time membership of the world’s most internationally diverse network of young leaders, with access to the exclusive opportunities available to all One Young World Ambassadors.
The successful candidate will play a key role in leading and developing our strategic initiatives aimed at supporting and empowering Indigenous and First Nations youth around the world. One Young World will provide a modest relocation package should the successful candidate need to move to the UK.
The Indigenous Initiatives Fellow will be responsible for developing and managing key projects and initiatives that emerge from this strategy; organise One Young World Indigenous Council meetings and ensure appropriate follow-up; help manage the Indigenous Youth Day that will precede One Young World 2024 Montréal (Tiohtià:ke).
The position of the Indigenous Fellow will start in May, 2024.
iii. Extend Global Consultation Process
Each year, One Young World consults with the One Young World Community, via the Global Consultation Process (GCP), to determine which topics, issues and key questions are addressed during the main Plenary Sessions of the next Summit.
In 2023/24, One Young World will extend its GCP to feature an additional consultation with Indigenous Youth, specifically on which issues they wish to see discussed at the One Young World Summit in Montréal (Tiohtià:ke) and what the Plenary themes of the Indigenous Youth Day (discussed in Section IV.i.).
IV. Priorities
Discussed in the initial consultancy, and led by the Indigenous Council and the Indigenous Programmes Fellow, One Young World will pursue the following initiatives:
i. Holding an Indigenous Day before the Summit in Montréal (Tiohtià:ke) in 2024
One Young World will organise an Indigenous Youth Day before the Summit in Montréal (Tiohtià:ke) in 2024. We acknowledge that One Young World 2024 will take place within the traditional unceded lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka 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. Tiohtià:ke, or Montréal, has also long been, and continues to be, a gathering place for many First Nations Peoples from all directions. We thank the traditional custodians of this land and seek to honour them in our work.
This event will bring together young Indigenous and First Nations leaders worldwide to share their experiences, learn from each other, and engage with other One Young World Delegates. The Indigenous Youth Day will reflect the cultural diversity and traditions of the host nation and provide a platform for Indigenous and First Nations youth to showcase their cultures and traditions. As discussed in Section III.iii, One Young World will extend its Global Consultation Process to feature an additional consultation with Indigenous Youth and the Indigenous Council on which issues they wish to see discussed at the One Young World Summit in Montréal (Tiohtià:ke), and what the Plenary themes.
Initial consultations recommend prioritising three major themes impacting Indigenous communities and around which Indigenous content should be based:
- Land Rights: as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, land and resource-related rights are of fundamental importance to Indigenous peoples for a range of reasons, including the religious significance of the land, self-determination, identity, and economic factors.
- Culture and Heritage: including language, arts, education and history, looking at the future of Indigenous and First Nations communities with a focus on the 7th Generation principle and aiming to promote the use of Indigenous languages where possible.
- Environment: Indigenous peoples’ relationship with nature and its impact on biodiversity, sustainability, adaptability and conservation.
One Young World has found that these themes follow the most pressing issues for Indigenous communities. Additional themes to explore include, but are not limited to:
- intergenerational trauma;
- empowerment of young leaders;
- economic participation.
One Young World is committed to listening and discussing with Indigenous communities on the subjects and themes that matter most to them, aiming to develop a sustainable partnership based on respect, equality and longevity.
One Young World will work with local First Nations young leaders in Montréal (Tiohtià:ke) to ensure that this event is hosted in accordance with their traditions and showcases their locality and community. One Young World aims to incorporate First Nations, Inuit, and Métis from across Canada in this event and the wider Montréal (Tiohtià:ke) Summit.
One Young World will continue to consult as to the best methods of including Indigenous languages in this event, whilst ensuring that all delegates are able to participate fully and acknowledging practical communication constraints. Initial consultations recommend content is available in languages aside from English, such as Spanish, French, Portuguese and Swahili. Furthermore, recognising the importance of non-spoken forms of communication within Indigenous culture, consultations suggest the Summit should incorporate visual storytelling and other forms of communication.
While the Indigenous Day at One Young World 2024 Montréal (Tiohtià:ke) will be the first of such gatherings, the intention is to make this a regular part of the annual One Young World programming.
ii. Maximising access to One Young World for Indigenous young leaders
One Young World will review existing scholarship programmes and create new scholarships to ensure that as many Indigenous young leaders as possible can attend the annual Summit, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances.
One Young World is committed to actively pursuing government, corporate and philanthropic funding to increase the number of scholarship places available for young Indigenous leaders.
Initial consultations recommend One Young World should explore an appropriate quota of Indigenous and First Nations Delegates at future Summits, to guarantee meaningful representation of Indigenous communities.
iii. Improving the quantity and quality of Indigenous content at the Summit and beyond
One Young World will continue to increase the quantity of Indigenous content included in the Summit agenda, including a Plenary Session on Indigenous issues in Montréal (Tiohtià:ke). One Young World will prioritise prestigious, expert Indigenous speakers for the Summit. Indigenous content will also feature in the pre-Summit leadership programming, as well as the post-Summit Action Accelerator. One Young World will work with the Indigenous Council to explore appropriate First Nations representation in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and include Indigenous languages where possible and appropriate.
One Young World’s Digital Communications team will collaborate with the Indigenous Council to improve the quantity and quality of content on social media focused on Indigenous issues. This will include content on specific days throughout the year that recognise and celebrate Indigenous people, such as International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. The team will also increase the regularity of promotion of the achievements and impact of Indigenous members of the One Young World Community.
Initial consultation recommends that through One Young World channels, a social media campaign should be developed to educate our wider Community about Indigenous communities, rights, initiatives, and organisations.
iv. Partnering with Indigenous and First Nations organisations
One Young World recognises the importance of working in partnership with Indigenous and First Nations organisations to increase engagement with Indigenous and First Nations youth.
One Young World will seek to establish partnerships with Indigenous and First Nations organisations globally to create opportunities for Indigenous and First Nations youth to participate in One Young World's programmes and initiatives and benefit from the organisation's resources and network.
v. Developing Indigenous and First Nations Youth Networks
One Young World recognises the importance of developing networks for Indigenous and First Nations youth worldwide to connect, share information and resources, and collaborate on initiatives. Through the initial consultation process with Indigenous One Young World Ambassadors, One Young World has begun compiling a database of organisations around the world which are already engaged in this important work - recommendations are open to Indigenous people to nominate their own or another organisation to be part of this network, please submit their details here.
One Young World will create networks for Indigenous and First Nations youth that are designed to reflect the diversity of Indigenous and First Nations cultures and traditions. These networks will be supported by One Young World's global Community and will provide a supportive and inclusive environment for Indigenous and First Nations youth to connect with one another.
vi. Funding Young Leaders' Initiatives
One Young World recognises the importance of providing young Indigenous and First Nations leaders with the resources and support they need to initiate and implement projects that address their communities' unique needs.
One Young World will devise a fundraising strategy to allow One Young World to distribute funds to support young Indigenous and First Nations leaders' initiatives globally. In accordance with consultation feedback, the Indigenous Council will have responsibility for funding mechanisms, and, crucially, autonomy on the selection of funding recipients.
V. Conclusion
One Young World is committed to engaging and supporting Indigenous and First Nations youth worldwide. The prioritised actions will enable One Young World to engage with Indigenous and First Nations youth effectively and collaboratively, providing them with the resources, networks, and opportunities needed to achieve their goals.
One Young World recognises the importance of ensuring this work is led by First Nations leaders and will work in partnership with Indigenous and First Nations organisations and youth to achieve shared goals and create positive change globally
One Young World acknowledges that this will be a continuous learning experience and that, as an organisation, we won’t get everything right. We thank all the Indigenous people and organisations who have helped us learn and grow so far and remain humble in the amount we need to learn and do. One Young World remains committed to continuous improvement, particularly when it comes to Indigenous matters, and is open and receptive to feedback and will respond in a timely manner to suggestions sent to [email protected].