2025 Haida Gwaii Youth Assembly
📅 Date: September 2025
📍 Location: Haida Gwaii
This year’s Haida Gwaii Youth Assembly will be our most ambitious gathering yet—bringing together youth from all communities to empower new leaders, create actionable solutions, and strengthen youth representation in governance.
What to Expect in 2025
🌱 Stronger Youth Advocacy – Youth-led discussions on governance, economy, and cultural resurgence.
🔥 Exciting New Team Challenges – Compete in problem-solving tasks to shape Haida Gwaii’s future.
🌊 Cultural and Economic Leadership – Workshops with experts in business, media, arts, and environmental stewardship.
🤝 Connecting Across Generations – Youth, mentors, and Elders coming together to share knowledge and build relationships.
Who Can Get Involved?
The Assembly is open to all ages, with each group playing an important role:
• Children (0-12 years) – Learning and engaging in early cultural and leadership activities.
• Youth (13-20 years) – The core of the movement, driving conversations and leading initiatives.
• Young Adults (21-25 years) – Emerging leaders mentoring youth and taking on key roles in governance.
• Adults & Elders (26+) – Supporting youth through mentorship, guidance, and shared knowledge.
Join the Movement
No matter your age, you can help elevate youth voices and support the next generation of Haida Gwaii leaders. Whether you’re attending for the first time or returning as a mentor, this is your opportunity to shape the future of our islands.
📩 Stay tuned for registration details, speaker announcements, and ways to get involved!
History
A Legacy of Youth Leadership
Since its inception in 1993, the Haida Gwaii Youth Assembly (HGYA) has been a vital gathering for young leaders across the islands. Originally founded under the guidance of Skilay Ernie Collison, the Assembly was created to ensure that Haida youth had a seat at the table in shaping their governance, economy, and cultural future.
For decades, this event has inspired generations of young leaders, fostering advocacy, leadership, and cultural resilience. In 2013, the Council of the Haida Nation (CHN) formally resolved to make HGYA an annual event, reaffirming its importance in elevating youth voices. Each year, the Assembly continues to grow, offering engaging challenges, discussions with elected leaders, cultural workshops, and opportunities to take direct action in shaping our future.
What is the Haida Gwaii Youth Assembly?
The HGYA is more than a gathering—it is a movement. It is a space where youth debate real issues, create action plans, and develop solutions for the future of Haida Gwaii. Through discussions, competitions, and skill-building activities, young people learn about governance, natural resources, cultural revitalization, media, business development, and more.
Each Assembly includes:
✅ Youth Council Elections – Youth elect a President, Vice-President, and Regional Representatives, mirroring the governance structure of the CHN.
✅ Workshops & Leadership Development – Hands-on learning in governance, arts, media, law, business, and environmental stewardship.
✅ Team Challenges – Youth compete in real-world problem-solving activities related to governance, economic development, and cultural knowledge.
✅ Cultural Engagement – Exploring X̱aayda Kil, Haida art, and traditional knowledge, ensuring that leadership is deeply rooted in culture.
✅ Direct Engagement with Elected Leaders – CHN representatives and other leaders actively participate, breaking down barriers between youth and governance.