PROVINCIAL INDIGENOUS YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

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Honouring and celebrating our members for Children and Youth in Care Day on May 14th, 2023! Click here for the full newsletter.

Wachay, Aanii, Boozhoo, Sago and Hello

The Association of Native Child and Family Services Agencies of Ontario (ANCFSAO) is proud to announce the first of its kind, provincial Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (IYAC) was formally established in January 2023! We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to each and every individual who has offered their support, guidance, and encouragement throughout each phase of development and implementation.

Many hours of engagement with our colleagues, Board of Directors, member agencies and valued Networking Circles, Elders and Knowledge Keepers/Carriers and community members went into the process of ensuring the IYAC was created in a collaborative, inclusive and good way. We continue building new partnerships and collaborations as we embark on this new journey, with special thanks to the Tim Hortons Foundation for hosting our Youth Cultural Retreats and the upcoming events for the IYAC and the Bell Let’s Talk initiative for their donations to our welcome packages for the youth.

We would like to give a big shoutout to our funders at the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. Thank you for believing in our vision and helping us make the IYAC possible through your continued support and generosity. ANCFSAO would like to acknowledge the many incredible leaders who have been working with our council including Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s Deputy Grand Chief Victor Linklater and legal counsel Kayla Viau, and our Elders, Ernest Beck and Danette Restoule, for always ensuring the IYAC is emotionally, spiritually and culturally supported in a good way. Your guidance, wisdom and love are deeply appreciated. Most importantly, to all the incredible applicants and youth who have been selected to represent their agencies and communities, we thank you for your trust and engaging wholeheartedly throughout this experience. Thank you for your honesty, bravery and courage in sharing your stories. Each and everyone of you have brought love to our hearts and lit fires in our Spirits. Your voices are strong. Your voices matter. Your voices inspire us all to do better. Click here for the full newsletter.

Kaitlin Lickers and Meagan Lindley IYAC Co-Leads, ANCFSAO