FXC Community Activators
Dylan Cohen
Dylan is a community organizer and change maker from the Red River Métis, based on unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territories, commonly known as Vancouver, BC. Dylan's background in social justice work started at the University of Winnipeg in grassroots campaigning about his frustrating experiences in child welfare. With the help of mentors and training, Dylan launched a youth-driven campaign and used creative actions, lobbying, and community organizing to impact public policy. He now leads Fostering Change with the support of dozens of young people from the system. Dylan works with youth initiatives across the country, challenging systems of oppression and building capacity with youth leaders every day.
Dylan’s Project involved hosting a climate storytelling workshop that brought together youth and elders in the community of Haida Gwaii and helped youth incorporate story-based strategy in thinking about their role in climate action.
Julia Weder
Julia loves listening to people’s stories and organizing against injustice. She helped lead the fossil fuel divestment campaign at Queen’s University, where she studied environmental biology. She co-founded Climate Strike Canada, a nationwide network of youth that coordinates climate justice demonstrations. Today, Julia is back in Daajing Giids (Queen Charlotte), Haida Gwaii, a community in which she is deeply grateful to have grown up. She is a strong advocate for youth empowerment and climate justice, and an avid supporter of Indigenous rights.
Julia’s Project involved hosting a climate storytelling workshop that brought together youth and elders in the community of Haida Gwaii and helped youth incorporate story-based strategy in thinking about their role in climate action.
Chris Zhou
Raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Chris is a 4th year Health Sciences student at McMaster University. As a member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, he brought the ideas and concerns of young Canadians directly to the Prime Minister and senior government officials. With a keen interest in promoting Canada abroad, Chris has represented Junior Team Canada and Young Diplomats of Canada, contributing to successful results in international trade missions, summits, and negotiations. He hopes to further investigate Canada’s Arctic policies and the effects of climate change on local populations, the environment, and Canadian sovereignty.
Chris’ Project involved co-authoring an article with elder Sarah Jerome on how Traditional Knowledge can be incorporated in climate action. The blog will potentially be hosted on the websites of various businesses, universities, and other organizations.
Christie McLeod
Christie is in her final year of a Juris Doctor/Masters in Environmental Studies program at Osgoode Hall Law School & amp; York University. Christie has worked with Human Rights Watch to research the impacts of climate change on food security in Indigenous communities in Canada. She is currently a legal researcher with West Coast Environmental Law and is the Research Director for the Non-Proliferation of Fossil Fuels Treaty Steering Committee.
Prior to law school, Christie served as the Executive Director of a non-profit organization devoted to children’s education and healthcare in East Africa. She concurrently founded Human Rights Hub Winnipeg, an initiative which she continues to manage today.
Christie’s Project involved writing an open letter to the Federal Government calling for stricter emission reduction targets. This letter was then signed by over 450 law students and law professors in Canada. To read the letter and see the full list of signatures, check out this blog post on Christie’s website.
Niklas Agarwal
Niklas was born and raised in the city where the trees stand in the water. He’s called Tkaronto (Toronto) home for 24 years. He holds a BA in Geography from the University of British Columbia where he studied how we can make our cities and communities more sustainable without leaving anyone behind. After graduating he moved back to Toronto and helped start Climate Justice Toronto in May 2019. He has worked for various non-profits helping develop youth leadership through innovate projects that tackle urban and climate related issues. He is excited to go to the North for the first time and work with other youth people and frontline communities to amplify climate solutions.
Niklas’ Project involved partnering with Chris to create an event focused on intergenerational dialogue between elders and youth in Toronto. They discussed the relationship between Traditional Knowledge, climate change, and different generations.
Larissa Crawford
Larissa is an Indigenous and Anti-Racism Researcher, and recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability. As a government contract researcher and business owner, Larissa works internationally as a policy consultant, trainer, and public speaker. She primarily works under the United Nations SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy for All by applying anti-racism and Indigenous research to renewable energy policy and program development in Canada. Through her work she brings the topics of Indigenous sovereignty, environmental racism, and inter-generational collaboration to the forefront of climate action discourse. Larissa is an award-winning ribbon skirt artist and researcher, passionate land-based learner, and proudly passes on Métis and Jamaican ancestry to her daughter, Zyra.
LAURA O’GRADY
Laura grew up in Barrie, Ontario and is a recent graduate of Queen’s University where she studied Global Development and Political Studies. Laura is passionate about creative communications and is an experienced graphic designer, photographer and illustrator. She uses these skills to support programs she cares about, including currently in her role as Media & Communications Assistant at the Students on Ice Foundation. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and is currently launching a series of affordable wellness weekends for young women centered around cultivating healthy relationships.
Laura’s Project involved hosting an event in Ottawa called “Christmas Cheer and Climate Fear.” It was a celebration focused on the theme of holidays and climate change. It featured art installations combined with informative pieces which sparked discussion around consumption and waste reduction.
Madison Van Dyck
Madison is a student at Lakehead University studying Geography and Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism; and can often be found outside. Madison grew up sailing on the shores of Lake Superior, which instilled a passion for water and oceans. She is a member of the 2019 Ocean Bridge Cohort, and this opportunity has allowed for her to grow her water advocacy to a national level. Madison is a storyteller, photographer and loves to share the wisdom of the land. She is also works with EcoJustice, and on many personal projects, all focused around empowering youth.
Madison’s Project involved discussing climate change in classrooms and at local organizations in the Thunder Bay area. She also wrote several reflections on her FutureXChange experience.
Caleb Charlie
Caleb is a member of the Vuntut Gwichin First Nation. In the afternoons and evenings he puts on events with the youth centre in Old Crow. Over the past couple years he has been involved with a lot of environmental science projects such as geography, geology, biology, paleontology, and archaeology as a field assistant in the Northern Yukon. He feels that he can share his experiences on what hes learned working on climate change affected landscapes. His hobbies are photography, video making, running, hockey and mountain biking.
Caleb’s Project involved taking photos of the effects of climate change in his community, Old Crow. He then hosted an art gallery style event where community members could see the photographs, along with informative captions and other works which will help the community understand climate change and how they may address it.
Alexis McLeod
Alexis is a sixteen-year-old First Nations Gwich’in and Cree youth from Inuvik, NWT. Currently attending Ecole St Patrick High School in Yellowknife, NWT. She is Co-President for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). This is her fifth and final year being a member of this student-led organization and throughout her time being involved with SADD, she is no stranger to school and community leadership. She intends to attend the University of Alberta in Fall 2020 for Native Studies and Political Science, and her long-term goals consist of working in Indigenous law and government. Alexis has participated in the Northern Youth Leadership program and has been raised in a household that works to incorporate their traditional ways into their everyday lives.
For Alexis’ Project, she held a writing contest in her community, Yellowknife. The contest focused on how climate change has affected people's personal lives in Yellowknife.
Joelle Charlie
Joelle is a Gwich’in and Liard First Nations Youth who was born and raised in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Joelle recently graduated high school and is planning on going into business school next fall. Growing up in the north, Joelle can offer an insight into how the climate of the north has changed through her own firsthand observations. From an early on age, Joelle was taught to respect the land and to value the teachings of her elders. Joelle is very passionate about reclaiming her culture, through speaking her language, going out on the land, and engaging in cultural activities such as berry picking, tanning hides, and ice fishing.
Joelle’s Project involved the use of photos and videos to showcase climate change effects in her community of Inuvik. She then shared what she created locally so that people can see the effects, along with information that will help them understand what they can do about it.
Jacey Firth-Hagen
Jacey is Gwich'in, born and raised in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She is a recent graduate of Yukon College, and is currently a third year Bachelor of Arts student attending MacEwan University. She is the creator of the social media language revitalization initiative Gwich'in Language Revival Campaign #SpeakGwichinToMe
For Jacey’s Project, she partnered with local organizations in Edmonton to host presentations and discussions on the role of Traditional Knowledge and climate policy in climate action.
Jessi Pascal
Jessi has both Gwich’in and Inuvialuit heritage and has lived in Aklavik, Northwest Territories for 22 years. She has completed the Environment and Natural Resource Technology Diploma Program (ENRTP) in Fort Smith, NT and Inuvik, NT. She now plans to get a certificate or diploma in the political and media industry. She has always been intrigued by the beautiful Richardson Mountains alongside the Peel River, which influenced her completion of the ENRTP. She believes in the scarcity of the Peel River and Traditional Lands. She has built a cabin with her father, canoed the Peel River with friends, fished to feed her dog during winter and summer months, walked up Black Mountain, and boated in the Mackenzie Delta region.
Jessi’s Project involved the use of photos and videos to showcase climate change effects in her community, Aklavik. She then shared what she created locally so that people can see the effects, along with information that will help them understand what they can do about it.
Amie Charlie
Amie was born and raised in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She is the oldest of three girls and is a member of the Gwich’in and Kaska Nations. This past spring she graduated from Trinity Western University with a BA in International Development. She loves to travel and is planning on going back to Rwanda this summer. She is planning to learn more of the Gwich’in language, and go back to school for her masters. Amie is passionate about building community, sustainable business, and advocating for indigenous rights. Over the years Amie has worked with various non-profits, and has counselled and mentored youth. She plans to start a non-profit that will have a long-term holistic approach when it comes to supporting and empowering youth in the arctic.
Amie’s Project used photos and videos to showcase climate change effects in her community, Aklavik. She then shared what she created locally so that people can see the effects, along with information that will help them understand what they can do about it.
Leslie Kisoun
Leslie is a northern resident with both Inuvaluit and Vuntut Gwitchin ancestry, she lives in Inuvik, NWT and has previously lived across the north in communities such as Old Crow, YK and Fort Good Hope, NWT. Leslie has been interested in climate change for a long time as a result of spending time on the land and hearing stories from her elders. She became especially concerned when she noticed changes to the whale population in an area north of Old Crow, Yukon, which had previously been very stable. Leslie is interested in sharing such stories to promote awareness, education, and involvement in climate change issues. Leslie is pursuing additional development and opportunities, such as by attending a recent reconciliation training session in BC.