
Youth Indigenize the Senate of Canada

The Senate committee on Aboriginal Peoples has a history of hearing from the Indigenous youth of Canada. In November 2011, the committee heard the testimony of witnesses from the National Inuit Youth Council, the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council and the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council on a discussion about issues facing indigenous youth.
Since 2016, the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples has brought young Indigenous leaders from across Canada to the Senate of Canada in June — which is Aboriginal History Month in Canada — to share their thoughts and experiences.
The committee seeks youth feedback on issues plaguing Indigenous communities across Canada, including broken treaties, housing shortages and economic marginalization. From identifying challenges to sharing success stories, the committee seeks to give Indigenous youth a platform where their voices can be heard. Indigenous youth are nominated by people in their community to be part of the program.
Youth Indigenize the Senate is one way in which senators provide a voice for minorities on Parliament Hill.
History.
2018.
For the third year in a row, the Senate of Canada invited Indigenous youth from across the country to participate in Youth Indigenize the Senate Day on June 6, 2018, on Parliament Hill. 
Nine Indigenous youth testified about their experiences as leaders and shared their visions for a new relationship between Canada and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, which is the focus of an ongoing study by the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples. 
The group was also given a tour of Parliament Hill and met one-on-one with several senators to discuss issues like education in their communities and protecting Indigenous culture. 
The 2018 participants were:
2017.
In its second installment, on June 7, 2017, Youth Indigenize the Senate had two components: the Indigenous Youth Leaders Program and the Youth Forum. Over the course of their day on Parliament Hill, youth leaders (link to section below) met with Senate leaders and testified before the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, this time lending their voices to the committee's study on a new relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples.
The day also featured a youth forum that hosted workshops on reconciliation for more than 50 Indigenous and non-Indigenous youths from the Ottawa area.
2016.
The first Youth Indigenize the Senate event took place in June 2016. The event brought 12 Indigenous youth leaders to the Senate to testify before the committee. As the inaugural event was focused on celebrating National Aboriginal Day in Canada, the Indigenous youth leaders shared their success stories with the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.
Past youth leaders.
2017.
Andrea Andersen
"Inuk from Makkovik, Nunatsiavut"
Jacquelyn Cardinal
"Nehiyaw from the Sucker Creek Cree First Nation on Treaty 8 Territory, Alberta"
Perry Kootenhayoo
"Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation, now lives in Edmonton"
Modeste McKenzie
"Dene Métis from La Ronge, Saskatchewan"
Tiffany Monkman
"Métis from Winnipeg, Manitoba"
Jennifer O'Bomsawin
"Wendat and Abenaki from Odanak, Quebec"
Stephen Puskas 
"Inuk from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories"
Holly Jane Sock
"Mi'kmaq from Elsipogtog First Nation"
Chris Tait
"Gitxsan Nation, British Columbia"
2016.
Caitlin Tolley
"Algonquin Anishinabe from Kitigan-Zibi, Quebec"
Tenille McDougall
"Tsuu T'ina Nation (Treaty Seven) from Fort Macleod, Alberta"
Willie Sellars
"Williams Lake Indian Band, British Columbia"
Maatalii Okalik
"Inuk from Panniqtuuq (Pangnirtung), Nunavut (now lives in Iqaluit)"
Kluane Adamek 
"Kluane Adamek, Kluane First Nation and of Tlingit, Southern Tutchone, German and Irish ancestry from Whitehorse, Yukon"
" Kluane Adamek, First Nation Leader, currently serving as AFN Yukon Regional Chief" 
Justin "Jah'kota" Holness
"Winnipeg, Manitoba, now lives in Ottawa"
Kelly Duquette
"Atikokan, Ontario"
Katelyn LaCroix
"Penetanguishene, Ontario"
Jenna Burke
"Mi'kmaw Nation from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island"
Mitch Case
"First Degree Midewiwin (Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge), from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario"
Alethea Arnaquq-Baril
"Inuk from Iqaluit, Nunavut"
Shelby Angalik
"Inuk from Arviat, Nunavut"