PHOTOS: Youth tackle upstream challenges at Vernon conference

Youth have collective wisdom that helps them navigate changes in society.

Like salmon swimming upstream year after year.

The Okanagan Indian Band’s (OKIB) Youth Leadership Council, with help and support from the band’s public safety department, have taken the salmon comparison and run with it with whopping success.

The youth council’s second annual What Happens Upstream – A Time For Action conference on Monday, Oct. 20, at Vernon’s Prestige Hotel and Resort, drew a capacity crowd of 300 attendees aged 14 to 25 who wanted – needed – their voices to be heard.

“The challenge the salmon face every year going upstream symbolizes our youth, and with our logo being a salmon egg, the youth need to know that the work that needs to be happening is not for them now, but for future generations,” said Odessa Clough from OKIB’s public safety department. “So the youth are swimming upstream to lay their eggs of wisdom for the next generation.”

The day-long conference highlights the importance of collaboration, emphasizing that while individual efforts matter, it’s the group’s strength that shapes a bright future.

Emmerie-Rae Louis is a recent high school graduate who sits on the OKIB youth council. She encourages all youth to recognize they have a voice, and use it.

“People want to hear you talk, and what you need or want in your life,” said Louis, 18. “If it’s at school, home, workplaces, or extra-curricular programs, we want to hear what you have to say, and we want to support them.”

OKIB’s public safety department is set up to provide support, education, awareness, and advocacy, to counselling to elders, and even to help navigate the justice system. It’s most important function, however, is the gathering of the youth leadership council.

“It’s really important to create safe spaces for our youth to gather, to share, and to support them in any capacity that we can,” said Jami Tonasket from public safety.

“It’s a safe space that’s very much needed in our community, the youth have a space (at the OKIB office) and make it their own,” said Tonasket. “The safe space reflects our OKIB youth council. The murals on the wall, the pictures, they’re all chosen by our youth. They made it their safe space, where they can learn, they can drum and sing, talk to elders, and really just share among themselves and with the adults and the community what their needs are.”

One of the first things keynote speaker Vanessa Mitchell noticed as she walked around the packed tables of the conference rooms was a murmur and rustling, indicating the use of items left on the centre of each table.

“Organizers ensured inclusivity, I love it,” said Mitchell, an elected school board trustee in the Vernon School District. “There are so many different ways of learning and listening that’s available. It was great to see and hear that.”

Mitchell would have loved to attend the conference had there been one when she was growing up.

“Mostly because it’s local,” she said. “Most of the times we would have had to go to Vancouver for such an event. These organizers have opened this conference to all youth, they can take away connections, they get a sense of belonging, and learn that it’s okay to ask for help and not know everything.

“They will find new resources and tools as they navigate life.”

Joining Mitchell as a keynote address speaker was Okanagan hip-hop artist K.A.S.P. (Keeping Stories Alive for the People). He spent his youth in East Vancouver and Penticton (where he resides today), growing up in 33 foster care homes and 13 groups homes.

He’s worked with the like of RunDMC, Fredro Starr (ONYX), and Shyheim (Wu-Tang Clan), but jumped at the chance to present at the conference.

“I love performing locally and helping inspire youth, empowering them and showing them they can do whatever they want, no matter where they are in life,” said K.A.S.P. “I’ve got tons of new music coming out, I’ve won lots of awards, all while living in Penticton. It doesn’t matter where you live, but how hard you work and put your mind to it.”

Akasha Eustache has certainly been empowered.

Eustache, 21, from the OKIB youth council, was one of the organizers of the day-long conference. Since she joined the council and began organizing events like What Happens Upstream, Eustache has felt her confidence soar.

“I feel more confident speaking out on my own needs and other people’s needs,” said Eustache. “We’re next. We want to create something good, not just for us but for the younger generation. It’s important for us to take care of our community and the younger ones. Our generation, we’re doing a lot of work, we’re not just sitting around.”

OKIB Chief Dan Wilson knows the youth leadership council is vital to the band.

“We need to keep consulting with youth and their views, they’re our future leaders,” said Wilson, who also shared how he overcame what he called “cultural embarrassment” as a high school student in Vernon.

He was at the Vernon Senior Secondary auditorium in 1977, listening to a talk from OKIB Councillor Ray Williams, who noticed Wilson sitting at the back of the auditorium with his head hanging down.

Williams caught up to Wilson in the school parking lot.

“‘Danny,’ he said, ‘I never want to see that again. You have to be proud of our culture. You’re one of our future leaders, people your age look up to you,’” recalled Wilson. “He said, ‘Keep your head up. Like a flag, you’re representing us.’ I took his advice when I went to university and wherever I went I would keep my chin up.

“Our youth today are like that.”

Reaction to the one-day conference – both years – has been “nothing short of awesome,” said Verlynn Mariano with the public safety department.

“We’ve worked with the youth and youth-oriented organizations like NOYFSS (North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society), School District 22, Vernon Native Housing, they’ve all really supported us this year and last year,” she said.

“The youth have been very proud and gained so much confidence that they’ve shared this with their networks. It’s a full house with youth participating eagerly. They tell us they need this, need a platform to share their voices, their ideas, their solutions to things.”

Plans have already begun for the third annual conference in 2026.

“We just might need a bigger venue,” smiled Eustache.