2021 Launch of the Global Indigenous Youth Forum: North American Indigenous Youth, Elders and political leaders play influential roles in the global and regional sessions

16-18 June 2021 - Ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit 2021, the FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit and the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC) launched the Global Indigenous Youth Forum 2021, a space for dialogue between member states and Indigenous youth representatives to discuss their challenges, priorities, and prospects. 

This Forum results from a 2017 recommendation from UNDESA to FAO through the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which built upon FAO´s work with the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC) in 2017 and the Rome Declaration on Indigenous Youth. Indigenous Youth leaders of the GIYC, including Tecumseh Ceaser and Alexis Monzano from North America, have worked with FAO over the past four years to actualize the Forum.  

The main objective of the biannual Forum is to create a space for dialogue between Indigenous youth, member states, and other stakeholders, to acknowledge the leadership and contributions of Indigenous youth in international decision-making processes affecting their lives and development.  

This year, the Forum took place in a virtual format, with hundreds of participants bringing together Indigenous youth representatives, elders, UN agencies, member states, universities, and NGOs from all seven socio-cultural regions. The Forum offered an opportunity to focus on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems and related priorities affecting Indigenous youth. Deliberations from this Forum are contributing to the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS); The UN Decade of Ecosystem restoration; and the 2030 Agenda with a special focus on SDG 1, SDG 2 and SDG 13.  

Indigenous representatives and political leaders from North America played a critical role in the Forum. Tara Maudrie, a young Indigenous leader and public health researcher of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, opened the forum with a land acknowledgment and welcomed participants to honor the place and history where they live.  

H.E. Ambassador Alexandra Bugailiskis of Canada remarked on the importance of the Forum stating, “it is critical for Indigenous peoples and particularly Indigenous youth to be at the table” as we look towards the UNFSS. It is about your future. The way we build our food systems today will have an impact on the food systems of tomorrow and future generations.” 

“Indigenous peoples have a vast knowledge of their territories and a strong connection to land and natural resources, and this is what makes you [Indigenous youth], key allies to all of us in devising strategies to eradicate hunger and feed the world more sustainably, while conserving biodiversity” emphasized FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol. 

“As Indigenous Peoples, as Indigenous youth, as Indigenous elders, we come together in this space to recognize that we may come from a legacy of injustices, but our future is certain with us coming together today,” stated Denisa Livingston (Diné), a food justice organizer of Diné Community Advocacy Alliance and Indigenous UNFSS Champion, who served as a moderator for the opening global session of the forum.  

Mariah Gladstone (Blackfeet and Cherokee), young Indigenous chef and founder of IndigiKitchen, on a panel of Indigenous youth from the seven socio-cultural regions, explained how the “intentional vilification of our [Indigenous] food systems” through ration and subsidized food systems, has led to increased heart disease and diabetes for Indigenous Peoples of North America. She praised the innovative work of Indigenous Peoples’ communities across the region to revitalize many of their Indigenous food systems and foodways.   

“It's the [Indigenous] youth and intergenerational knowledge transfer that will create this revitalization” to “push back against colonialism and against the disruption of food systems and shift things back towards more sustainable traditional land management,” stated Gladstone. 

Sandra Bandura of the Qayqayt First Nation and Associate Director of All My Relations Research Centre, an Indigenous Research Center at Thompson Rivers University (Canada), and Secwepemc Elder Mike expanded on the importance of intergenerational transfer of Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge. Together they are supporting the essential process of young Indigenous students conducting research consistent with Indigenous methodologies, values, and priorities to protect and carry-on the knowledge of their communities, elders, and cultures.   

“Nature knows what to do, but do we?” Secwepemc Elder Mike delivered the powerful reminder that we will only be as healthy as mother earth is healthy.  

Clayton Brascoupe (Mohawk/ Anishnabeg), Program Director for the Traditional Native American Farmers Association, spoke on the historical fracturing of community systems, especially food systems, and the importance of re-engaging young people in traditional agriculture. Over the past several decades, he has been inspired by the interest of young people to reengage and emphasized the importance of creating opportunities, inspiration, and areas of innovation for Indigenous Youth. 

Indigenous Youth are well-positioned to lead the way in innovation for food system transformation and climate change adaptation. “In an ever-increasingly digital world, it is you, our youth, who are best placed to merge this technology with our traditional practices” stated Geoffrey Roth, North American expert member of the UNPII and descendant of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. 

In a closing video message, Chef Justin Pioche (Navajo), Indigenous chef and owner of the Pioche Food Group, voiced a call to action for Indigenous youth, “[you] can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system, by actually doing that, contributing your time. Don’t just shout Indigenous this and that, try and be Indigenous. Learn about your history.”  

Indigenous youth-led regional sessions in the seven socio-cultural regions as part of the Forum. In North America, Indigenous youth leaders from the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus, and UNFSS Indigenous Champion Denisa Livingston, facilitated a regional dialogue focused on developing calls to action for the 5 Action Tracks of the UNFSS. They guided their discussion in response to 3 questions from the UNFSS Secretariat: What do you want to commit to doing; what do you want others to commit to do; what do you want the world to stop doing?   

In a collective North American statement generated from the dialogue, Indigenous youth committed to actions including: 

The 2021 Global Indigenous Youth Forum and the North American regional session served as a galvanizing platform for Indigenous youth from around the world to gather with elders, Member State representatives, and global leaders to strengthen the messages and calls to action from Indigenous Youth looking towards the World Food Forum, Pre-Summit and UNFSS. The full article and global declaration, North American statement, and recordings can be found on the FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit website.  

Additional Resources:  

FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit: Indigenous Youth  

Global Indigenous Youth Caucus 

Rome Statement on the Contribution of Indigenous Youth Towards a World Without Hunger (2017) 

North American Regional Dialogue Statement (Link to added soon)