What Did Youth Have To Say?
"Indigenous students are more than just students.
We have responsibilities to our communities and families that are important to us"
Indigenous people are diverse, with unique experiences and understandings. Although there are many differences between
us, there are also many commonalities. The following is a summary of the main themes identified throughout our youth
gatherings.
Importance of Understanding
"They don't recognize that community comes before any institution"
Many young people spoke about their desire to work with educators and organizations who had some understanding of
their experiences as Indigenous people, as well as students and staff members. Some spoke of individuals they had worked
with who were compassionate and desired to learn, while others felt that some professionals had little desire to
accommodate or understand Indigenous realities.
For many, these students are the first in their families to pursue higher education and as a result faced challenges in
navigating the systems of the college, university, or the job market. Some students are leaving their communities, sometimes
for the first time, in order to pursue education and employment, which is challenging aside from the demands of education.
As one youth stated, "Culture shock was a big thing for me as well. Seeing a tree for the first time in my life. It was a big
change for me. My mental health wasn't in a good space so I didn't have as much motivation to go to school so that's why I
Future Pathways Summit Report 10
