This report was published by Assembly of Seven Generations (A7G) with support from Youth Research and Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX).

HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT:

From Thursday, June 22, 2017, to Friday, June 23, 2017, Aboriginal Experiences and Assembly of Seven Generations (A7G) presented a special two-day Elders and Youth gathering as part of the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival.

The event was held in Ottawa, ON, on traditional Algonquin territory in Vincent Massey Park. Participants were able to learn from different speakers on diverse topics such as language revitalization, Metis governance, sweat lodge teachings, the importance of traditional openings, and more. In addition to being a learning space, the two days also gave youth, Elders, and all attendees the opportunity to connect deeply and hear each other’s perspectives.

The event ended with a World Café session inviting participants to brainstorm and reflect on five themes, keeping in mind all they had learned and experienced at the gathering.

World Café Session Themes:

1. Safer Spaces & Inclusion
2. Wellbeing
3. Identity and Culture
4. Ceremony
5. Professional Development

This document outlines some of the key themes and ideas that came out of this fruitful discussion, offering ideas for next steps and opportunities to better support Indigenous youth and communities.