Welcome to the Anishinabek Education System (AES) Youth Council home page!
In April 2023, the AES elected its first youth council, made up of 7 youth representatives from the 23 Participating First Nations. This page is the home base for sharing information about the elected AES Youth Council and their activities throughout the year.
So far a total of nine meetings have been held from May 2023 until April 2024. The Council has had two in-person gatherings; during the month of August 2023 and January 2024 to learn leadership and confidence skills.
The youth have finalized their Terms of Reference! Recently they presented at the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body’s Annual Niigaan Gdizhaami Forum! They are now currently supporting in planning a Summer Youth Gathering which will be open to all AES Youth! To get in touch with the AES Youth Council, please email comms@a-e-s.ca
Meet the AES Youth Council!
Cailen Hanzlik
Ogimaa Kwe, REC 3
Aaniin, Waabgwaniins ndizhnikaaz, nbisiing ndoonjibaa, Waabzheshiinh ndoodem, Anishinaabe Kwe ndaaw, Laurentian University ndoo-kinomaagos.
Aaniin, hello, my name is Cailen, my Anishinaabe name is Little Flower, I am 21 years old, I am from Nipissing First Nation and I am from the Marten Clan. This fall I will be entering my 4th year of post-secondary studies at Laurentian University in the Indigenous Social Work program with a minor in Indigenous Studies. In April of 2023, I was elected as the Anishinabek Education System and the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body Youth Council Gimaa Kwe (Chief).
It is with great honour that I am able to sit on the Youth Council with 10 other brilliant Anishinaabe students from across the province to collaborate and include youth voices in decision-making related to our education. We look forward to gathering and making positive changes to decrease the barriers and challenges that Anishinaabe youth face in the mainstream education system.
Harold Starr
REC 1
Hi I’m Harold Starr, I’m from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, and I hope I can help the AES youth council.
Jim Forneri
REC 1
Hi, my name is Jim, I’m in grade 10 and I am currently 16. I hope I can make a change for other youth, and future generations to come and learn the Anishinabek ways of life, our traditions, and culture, within school systems. Miigwech
Daynara Cyr
REC 2
My name is Daynara Cyr. I live in Greater Sudbury and I am from Sheshegwaning, Zhiibaahaasing, and Beausoleil First Nation. I’m a very active community member in the Sudbury Friendship Centre. I take as many classes as possible to learn about the culture and language. I love to paint in the Ojibwe pop art and floral styles. I am passionate about beading and learning our beautiful language. I joined the council in hopes of being apart of positive change.
Alivia Restoule
REC 3
My name is Alivia Restoule and I’m from Dokis First Nation. I am fifteen and attend Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School. I enjoy dancing at pow-wows and playing hockey. I’ve have been elected to represent Region 3 of the AES Youth Council, I look forward to the upcoming experiences!
Jade Goulais
REC 3
Boozhoo, Wabanoo Kwe ndizhnikaz, Nishnaabe n’daaw, Nippising First Nation ndoonjibaa, Sturgeon Falls Ontario ndoondaa. St. Joseph Scollard-Hall ndoo-kinomaagos.
Hello, my name is Jade Goulais (Wabanoo Kwe), I am a two-spirit nishnaabe, I come from Nippising First Nation, I reside in Sturgeon Falls Ontario, and I just graduated from St. Joesph Scollard Hall with a special high skills major in, indigenous culture and arts. Next year I will be attending Canadore College in the Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention program. I feel extremely honored and grateful to have this opportunity to be a part of this year’s AES Youth Council. As I am a Mental Health Advocate, my biggest aspiration is to improve Indigenous Youth Mental Health by healing through culture. Miigwech.
Carson Norton-Sutherland
REC 4
Carson Norton-Sutherland is a youth in Grade 12 from Chimnissing who is involved in Theatre at his high school in Midland Ontario. He hopes to serve and make a change with his place on the AES Youth Council.
Youth Engagement
The Kinoomaadziwin Education Body has been working with youth since 2019 to develop a Youth Council for the AES. Each year, youth gathering at the Niigaan Gdizhaami Forum to talk about their vision for the youth council, it’s potential structure, and the role that it could have in the Anishinabek Education System. Over three years, youth shared new ideas and built upon the ideas from the previous years. The diagram below shows the potential structure of the AES Youth Council, as it was envisioned by many youth over three years. In 2022-2023, the KEB engaged with youth from across the AES to work towards the first Youth Council election, which will be held at the 2023 Niigaan Gdizhaami Forum in Bawaating, on April 4th and 5th.
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