The 2021 Qarjuit Youth Council (QYC) Annual General Meeting was held on September 28th to 30th, in the community of Chisasibi. A milestone for our mission to bring youth from across the 14 communities of Nunavik to this Cree and Inuit community with all uncertainties related to the global pandemic. The QYC team, Executives along with the Board of Directors were all really proud of this achievement.
QYC is mandated to organize a general assembly every year to present and discuss the Annual Report and financial statements. In other words, it is a time to sit all together with youth and to be totally transparent about what is going on in the organization and looking forward to what we collectively want to accomplish in the future, while connecting, listening and learning from each other’s experiences. That year, exceptionally, the last day of our meeting, on September 30th was also the first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
You can imagine how proud we were to celebrate this important day with youth, their Inuit identity and creating, at the same time, new bridges for collaboration with Cree people.
A total of 30 youth from the 15 communities we are representing were invited to attend. QYC selected 2 young people per community. The selection was made after receiving a total of 55 application forms. All activities and discussions were the cumulative work of the QYC team along with the Executives and the great participation and involvement of our QYC Board members. Many moments will stay for long time in our memories, such as a first historical meeting and presentation from the Cree Nation Youth Council which opened discussion on further collaborations, key moments listening to the youth needs and issues in their respective communities, traditional highlights with throat singing and a Qullik opening ceremony and many other interesting presentations and workshops by our partners and special guests.
On behalf of all youth representatives, board members, executive and staff, an immense MIGWETCH to Chisasibi and all partners for writing with us this important page of our history and for making this event a reality with all your help and support. We couldn’t be more grateful. Inuit and Cree walking together on this special journey to acknowledge that every single life matters and that youth are the future of NOW.