Our Roots For Growth
IPS Youth Circle Vision Statement
Our vision is to empower youth within Indigenous Perspectives Society and community with opportunities for leadership, mentorship, and connection amongst peers.
IPS Youth Circle Mission
Our mission is to promote Indigenous youth voices through the actioning of community projects and the sharing of cultural knowledge, expressions, and stories.
Youth Circle Projects
Current
- Collaborative programming and facilitation in partnership with UBC School of Nursing and the Canadian Mental Health Association for Agenda Gap, a youth engagement and capacity building intervention to promote skills-building and collective action for youth mental health
- IPS L.E.A.D.R.S. Mentorship Program for youth in community.
Past
- Coordinated fundraising of donations for a family in our circle
- 2022: Developed “Holding Space for Healing: Crisis Response in Community” curriculum 1-day training for CMHA PACT Workers
- 2023: Indigenous community partners with St Margaret’s School students and UVic INSPIRE students for consultation on the development of an educational mobile app for Indigenous allies
Youth Circle Members
Kai'a Hill
Youth Circle Member
Kai'a Hill
×Kai'a is a Kanaka Maoli (Indigenous Native Hawaiian) born and raised on the island of Maui, Hawai’i. She moved to Victoria to study Anthropology and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. Upon graduating, she knew that she wanted to begin to give back the Indigenous peoples and communities whose lands she became a settler on as she pursued her post-secondary education. She is honored to serve on the team at IPS, and deeply grateful to be able to continue to live and learn on these beautiful lands. Kaia’s hopes are to one day take all that she has learned from her time here and use it to facilitate healing and reconciliation for her Indigenous community back home.
Lizz Brooks
Youth Circle Member
Lizz Brooks
×Lizz is from the Tsesk’iye clan of the Tahltan Nation, as well as Chinese on her father’s side and mixed European from her mother’s side. She has lived within various locations and territories across British Columbia, but Vancouver Island is where she has called “home” for most of her life. An active member within the performing arts community, Lizz regularly shares space and facilitates conversations focused around decolonization within the arts and guidance for fostering space for individuals from marginalized communities. She is passionate about uplifting and empowering others while continuing to learn about Indigenous Sovereignty, equal rights, visibility, and history.
Tasman Fitzmaurice
Youth Circle Member
Tasman Fitzmaurice
×Taz is Algonquin, Irish and French on her mother’s side, and Algonquin and French on her father’s. Her family is from Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation. A proud mother, and stepmother, she is very grateful to be raising her family and working in Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Territories. Taz graduated from Camosun College in 2023, with a Diploma in Indigenous Studies and has found her happy place is being of service to her community. She has come to the Indigenous Perspectives Society passionate to find ways in which she can help create positive and inclusive spaces wherever she goes. Tasman lives her life always looking for the ways in which she can be the best ancestor to the future generations.
Aaron Nickol
Youth Circle Member
Aaron Nickol
×Aaron is from the Namgis First Nations of the Kwa’Kwa’Ka’Wake-speaking peoples, born and raised on the Namgis First Nations Reserve in Alert Bay, British Columbia. This is where he had spent the first 17 years of his life. Aaron has been located in the Lekwungen territory for the past ten years. Starting his journey in the territory by Learning Anthropology and fine art at Camosun College, and since then has been a vital resource in the workforce within the finance industry. Reminiscing his ancestral life on the water in a fishing community, Aaron wanted to be closer to his heritage; as such, Aaron now lives on his Sailboat in Victoria Harbor, offering him the opportunity to be close to the land and practice traditional fishing and curing methods. Aaron is also a part of the live performing arts community, where he works on community building and other performers’ sense of belonging.