Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance
The Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance (formerly Dene Youth Alliance) is a group of young Dene, Inuvialuit and other youth who are asking tough questions about the sustainability of proposed industrial resource developments in the NWT.
The Youth Alliance advocates for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Denendeh and the Beaufort Delta by encouraging dialogue between youth and elders, and through raising awareness of the environmental, political, economic, cultural, social, spiritual and health related impacts of development.
Currently, much of their efforts are focused on the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project, and they have made submissions to the Joint Review Panel responsible for the environmental assessment, to the Dene National Assembly and to earlier hearings and meetings. The Youth Alliance has standing at the upcoming National Energy Board hearings.
In July 2004, a group of over 80 youth and Elders from across the NWT came together for a three-day camp in Liidlii Kue (Ft. Simpson) to learn about and discuss sustainable development challenges and options for the NWT.
Participants discussed:
- globalization and how it impacts the North
- indigenous rights
- modern treaties and how they are connected to industrial development
- traditional knowledge
- renewable resource technologies
- building sustainable communities
The Gordon Foundation provided support to the inaugural Summit and a 2nd smaller Summit in Fort Good Hope in August of 2005.
The Foundation is funding community tours and the establishment of regional chapters with community-based youth organizers.
For more information, visit the Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance website.
