The election was held at a youth gathering focused on career development April 25-27 in Winnipeg.

The new council serves a two-year term, and young chiefs have voting rights at the Southern Chiefs’ Summits.

Additionally, they are allowed to attend conferences with other Indigenous leaders from around the world and benefit from a training budget to develop their skills.

In addition, they will be assigned to travel to different communities to network and introduce the Southern Manitoba Chiefs Organization as a positive role model for Aboriginal youth.

Tréchelle Bunn, 23, elected co-leader of the youth council, hopes the voices of Manitoba’s First Nations youth will be heard and that she works to improve their mental health.

According to her, intergenerational trauma has a negative impact on young people’s mental health and on communities.

No doubt the one who recently earned a license in criminology and indigenous studies from the University of Manitoba has given herself the weapons for this fight.

leadership needs

The new youth council must also work with the 34 Southern Chiefs First Nations to address community challenges and policy issues. And that requires the leadership of many young people, Ms. Bunn acknowledges.

I think young people haven’t really been involved in leadership discussions for a long time, but I’ve met a lot of inspiring young leaders‘ she emphasizes.

The Grand Chief of the Southern Manitoba Chiefs Organization, Jerry Daniels, believes there is a need for young people, future leaders of their community, to gain a better understanding of leadership while benefiting from youth council mentoring.

We are very honored to be able to count on the commitment of our young people to see them sit with us. We really appreciate their energy and leadershipsays Jerry Daniels.

The youth council was established in 2018 and according to Mr Daniels it is initially a learning experience but there is also a leadership aspect as young people are invited to lead on behalf of others,” he says.

We place a lot of hope in the next generation and want to give them as many opportunities and freedom as possible to take on this role.argues Jerry Daniels.

With information from Chelsea Kemp