A transformative conference focused on promoting leadership and resilience brought together 80 Indigenous students from the Cowichan Valley for a day of empowerment and cultural celebration.
Held at Vancouver Island University's Cowichan campus in February and supported by a $50,000 Resilience Grant from Island Health, the full-day event was organized by the Nations Rising Indigenous Student Leadership group. Nations Rising is comprised of 28 students from seven different secondary schools in the Cowichan Valley School District and several First Nations communities on Vancouver Island.
Pictured here: Former superintendent of the Cowichan Valley School District, Robyn Gray (left), Kalin Ironhawk-Tommy (middle), and District Elder, Dolly Sylvester (right).
The event highlighted stories of resilience from inspiring Indigenous role models such as author Nicola Campbell, and models Taigan Alfred and Jaymyn La Vallee from Supernatural Modeling, Canada's first Indigenous model agency. Students also participated in a variety of hands-on workshops including drumming, cedar weaving, language revitalization, artifact presentations and vision boards.
Pictured here: Nicola Campbell presenting to students
"This conference empowered our students to take ownership of their learning and explore projects based on their interests and passions," said Hannah Morales, Indigenous student success coordinator, Cowichan Valley School District.
The leadership students also collaborated with Coast Salish artist Stuart Pagaduan to design the Nations Rising logo. Fuselight Creative and graphic facilitator Tanya Gadsby worked with students to create a knowledge wall (titled Go with the Flow) and a thriving tree cardboard cutout. These interactive displays were used by students to write about their goals, dreams and sources of joy.
Additionally, the leadership students produced an empowering video series featuring interviews with four Indigenous leaders from various fields, including sports, education and entrepreneurship. The videos will be shown to younger grades to promote mental health resilience.
"This event showed me the strength and resilience within my community and myself," said Kalin Ironhawk-Tommy, a student participant of the event. "I gained knowledge about my culture and made many meaningful connections with Indigenous youth, our future leaders."
Joleen Mitton, creative director and co-founder of Supernatural Modeling, along with other models from the agency, concluded the event with an impromptu runway show.
Morales wants to collaborate with other school districts on Vancouver Island for future conferences and further empower Indigenous youth.
"It was the highlight of our year," she said. "We're deeply grateful for the funding that made this transformative experience possible."
Island Health Resilience grants provide one-time funding opportunities for various organizations, including not-for-profit groups, local governments, Indigenous Nations and communities, and for-profit businesses (in partnership with non-profits), to advance youth resilience.
Learn more about Youth Resilience Grants.