Now recruiting for the 2025 Moccasin Trailblazers

The Moccasin Trailblazers is an Indigenous youth-directed, culturally-grounded movement to connect, empower and activate community-driven action and social change.

Join our weekly online MT Sessions: Thursdays from 7:00-8:30 pm starting Dec 26 for youth aged 16-19. Guests include Elders, Indigenous hip-hop musicians and artists, gamers and more. Gift card draws. Future paid opportunities.

Meet at: https://meet.google.com/orv-jxvy-eqn

A land-based MT Gathering is planned for February/March 2025. MTs design and plan the event. YFNED provides support and facilities

For more information or to sign up, please contact:
Dana.Tizya-Tramm@yfned.ca

History of the Moccasin Trailblazers

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The first Moccasin Trailblazers program was formed in 2021 and ended in 2023. Over several yearly gatherings, they came together to advocate for long-overdue changes needed in the education system and promote social change. This first group worked to amplify the voices and concerns of youth. The Trailblazers are vocal about demanding respectful and accurate representation of Indigenous history and culture in the public school system and within curriculum development.

 

The Trailblazers advocated for the following Indigenous methodologies to be implemented:

  • Land based, experiential learning.

  • The transmission of knowledge from Elders.

  • Prioritization of emotional wellness through supporting language revitalization, cultural safety, and ceremonial practices.

  • Implementation of policy that supports special leave and/or accreditation for student’s ceremonial practices, potlatches, song and dance, traditional harvesting, or any other opportunities that supports cultural development.

  • Creation of a “Key Indicators of Student Success” balance wheel (see image to the right).

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“Our Elders have to pass on the will of fire onto us so, we can pass the torch onto the next generation.”

- Gū Shäw (Justin Johnson), Moccasin Trailblazer

The Trail Walked

The Moccasin Trailblazers began their journey out of a beautiful lodge at Fish Lake in 2021. During this two-day session they had the chance to take a break from the industrialized world and connect to the land. The series of workshops were facilitated by “Lateral Kindness - Social Innovative Consulting,” led by Marilyn Jensen and Thomas Shepherd. During those days out on the land a number of significant goals were achieved;

  • The youth established their own ground rules and guidelines to build a foundation for their code of conduct in all their future endeavors both as individuals and as a collective.

  • Identified key issues:

    • More Indigenous culture and teachings tied into language lessons.

    • The need for a First Nations School.

    • Indigenous content receiving equal accreditation.

    • Support for Indigenous teachers, especially in the communities.

  • The youth participated in numerous creative team building exercises to create trust in their group which included a “Self Portrait” exploration facilitated by Lingit visual artist Guna (Megan Guna Jensen) and creating the Trailblazer’s launch video with local film maker/YFNED advocate Douglas Joe.

What is Working - Being Out on the Land