Youth Climate Action Fellowship
Swiilawiid Sustainability Society is excited to launch the Youth Climate Action Fellowship.
The Fellowship is about building positive relationships - with ourselves, with each other, and with the land. The goal of this project is for youth to convene on the land a few times a year with a focus on connection and wellbeing. Discussions will center on both personal and collective responsibilities to the health of our communities. Youth voices, having the most at stake in the call for a livable future and a thriving Haida Gwaii community, deserve to be at the forefront of climate action and policy.
We are excited for the youth to share their voice and wisdom with us!
We have currently held our first Spring Gathering at T'áalan Stl'áng on June 7-10, 2024. There they have create their own goals and priorities for the next 2 years. The outcomes of this project are up to the youth involved!
Yaahl Kuuyas Kwiadda McEvoy
Yaahl Kuuyas Jaaadas Xaad kilhl hin.uu dii ky'aang. Ah da ga Kwakwala kilhl hin.uu dii ky'aang. Kwiadda McEvoy hin.uu dii ky'aang.
My Xaad kil name is Precious Raven Women. My kwakwala name is Strong Spirit. My given name is Kwiadda.
Tony York hin.uu dii tsin y'aang. Chic McEvoy hin.uu dii naan ky'aang. Patrika McEvoy hin.uu dii aw ky'aang.
Tsiits Giutanee sduu dii tsin isgagaan Kislii Gannyaa dii tsin ky'ang, Rodney Scheck Yaats aaday kiltl hin.uu dii tsin ky'aang. Merna Beans hin.uu dii naan. Rodney Scheck Beans hin.uu dii haad ky'aagan.
My grandfathers name is Tony York. My grandmothers name is Chic McEvoy. My mother’s name is Patrika McEvoy.
My grandfathers name is Rodney Scheck and is Gannyaa, Chief of Tsiits Gitannee. My grandmother is Merna Beans. My father is Rodney Scheck Beans.
I am a memeber of the Haida, Nis'gaa, and 'Namgis nations. My love for our land and hope for the future generations to come has inspired me to join the Youth Climate Action group. Recognizing the importance of all of our voices and those who will follow, so that it may echo and continue to guide how we shall continue to sustain our land and communities.
Gwaay K’iiyanda Aaliyah Arens
My Name is Gwaay K’iiyanda, I am from the Maamann Gitnee Eagle Clan, the reason I joined the Fellowship as i saw it as an opportunity to have conversations with other youth around my age about Haida Gwaii, As a youth here on Haida Gwaii I used to have deep anxiety of what our climate will look like in just a short few years, as well as water levels rising. Not only that, I was hopeful for conversations on how to make Haida Gwaii better in the sense of how much more we can thrive as a community.
Kil Hltaanuwaay Tayler Brown
Sii.gaay 'laa, Kil Hltaanuwaay han.uu dii kiiGa ga, Kayahl 'laanas xaaydagas ad xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Musqueam sda uu hll iijii. My name is Tayler Brown, on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Musqueam and scəw̓aθən məsteyəxʷ Tsawwassen First Nations territories. I moved to HlGaagilda Skidegate in 2019. The health of Haida Gwaii, the surrounding waters, and the rest of the planet is deeply connected to our well-being. As young people, we are moving into roles where we will be taking on more of this responsibility to take care of our islands and waters. This opportunity with the Youth Climate Action Fellowship is one way that we can learn and support this collective responsibility.
Tiffany Marks
Hi, I'm Tiffany, a part of the Youth Climate Action Fellowship. I was inspired to join after seeing firsthand how climate change affects my community. Witnessing its impact on people and our environment motivated me to take action. I'm passionate about tackling these challenges and advocating for sustainable practices and policies to create a better future for us and generations to come.
Gabrielle Brillon
My name is Gabrielle, and I signed up for the Youth Climate Action Fellowship because I value talking about our community and genuinely making a difference, and also because I want to connect with others who share my concerns about the future of Haida Gwaii.
Kuuyaa Jiihliis Avery Robson
Hello! I’m Avery Robson. My Haida name is Kuuya Jiihliis. My matrilineal line is from the K’ils XaaydaGa branch of the Hlkinul Laanas ravens, our ancestral village is in K’uuna Llnagaay. I have just completed my degree in Anthropology and Indigenous studies, with my main interest being in our historical and ongoing relationships with the environment around us on Haida Gwaii.
I was inspired to join Swiilawiid’s Youth Climate Action Fellowship because I want to be apart of rearing a more sustainable and equitable future for our islands and people. Haawa!
Zachary Mosse
Sangee ‘laa, my name is Zachary Mosse, I come from the Sgiida Kaw Raven Clan of Gaw Tlagée.
I was inspired to join the Youth Climate Action Fellowship from my conversations with Midori last winter along with some of the conferences and work I’ve been able to do with OMVC as the preious Climate Adaptation Assistant.
My inspiration was solidified over the weekend at our first Youth Climate Action Fellowship where we had incredible discussions about what our ideal Haida Gwaii looks like from the immediate future to our distant future, the conversations we had truly reignited the flame in me to do whatever I can in my lifetime to ensure that 7 generations from now, those kids will have the privilege to experience Haida Gwaii just as I did.
Iihlnta Xaay Ya Elijah Washington
Iihlnta Xaay Ya hinnu Dii Kyáang. Dang Dii Kuuyadang Haida Gwaii. I grew up in Gaw Tlagee on the back road down the end just over ther. I am grateful to be around Xaada Laas learning as we continue to move forward into tomorrows future.
Kuuwa Kaa Jaad Rebbecca Holte
My name is Rebbecca Holte, or Kuuwa Kaa Jaad, and I am a Resource Management Officer at the Gwaii Haanas National Park and Reserve. I am Haida and I am a part of the Skedans clan. I wanted to join the fellowship as I am passionate about sustainability and Indigenous stewardship. This is an opportunity to discuss and identify key actions we can take on Haida Gwaii to address climate change and its effect on our islands. I was so inspired after our first meeting. I am excited to see how addressing overall community health can help us move towards being important components of our world’s health.
