And here we are!
The first meeting of the Arctic Youth Network promised to be an exciting interaction of technology, culture, and youthful exuberance. Below are the faces of the AYN at its conception. Read all about the youth who flew, drove, walked, or typed their way into the inaugural workshop of the Arctic Youth Network.
Jessica Thiessen
Jessica Thiessen lives in Whitehorse, Yukon and works as the Coordinator of the Arctic Youth Network. She also acts as the Youth Representative on the Yukon Environmental Network's Board of Governors and as the ex officio for the Yukon College Student Union. Jessica has an extensive history of student representation, student governance and community involvement. She has diverse work experience in education, mentorship, recreational leadership and logistical support positions with less-abled, at-risk, terminally ill, rural, and professional youth.
Jessica is devoted to lifelong learning and after finishing an honors diploma in Northern Environmental Studies was heard to exclaim "what's next?" Following a four month student exchange in Akureyri, Iceland with the University of the Arctic's north2north program, Jessica pledged to combine Environmental Innovation and Sustainability in her further studies. An enthusiastic optimist, Jessica is committed to engaging young people in their communities and pushing them to see their potential. She feels that the Arctic Youth Network is a necessary and timely avenue to engage a new generation of conscious citizens. Jessica's great passions are linking environmental and social studies, connecting science and poetry, and climbing the beautiful expanses of rock that hide themselves in the corners of the Yukon.
Amber Church
Amber Church is a resident of Whitehorse, Yukon. She did her undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria in a double honours program in Earth and Ocean Science and Environmental Science. This has lead her to have strong interests in climate change on which she will focus her masters research which will be based jointly at Simon Fraser University and the Yukon Geological Survey. She has strong interests in polar research and strives to encourage other northern youth to get involved in this area. Through her work in this area she has been named co-chair of the International Polar Year (IPY), 2007-2009, Youth Steering Committee whose main goals are to ensure the participation of the next generation of polar researchers in IPY. She is currently employed as a field assistant in Quaternary geology at the Yukon Geological Survey. She is an avid rock climber, mountain biker and backpacker and loves photography, art and dance. Her other passion is travel and she has recently returned from a trip in Iceland and is next planning to visit South America.
Elizabeth Saagulik Hensley
"Uvanga atiga Elizabeth Saagulik Hensley. My father, William, comes from Qikiktagruk, Alaska and my mother, Abigale, comes from Anchorage. I came into being twenty-two years ago and with luck was born into a thoughtful, caring family."
"Energetic women constitute ancestry on both sides of my lineage. From Greenland to Aotearoa, Switzerland to Hawaii, I have inherited an itch to move. I fulfill this disposition by running, hiking, rock climbing, dancing, singing, playing the guitar, snowboarding and skiing."
"I graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies and Anthropology in June 2005. I aspire to enjoy the bounty of the earth and to help others find a way through the many difficulties involved in living -- be this a personal, communal, political or legal struggle -- so we can enjoy life together."
"The seeds of an exciting mutually beneficial relationship between the Arctic Youth Network and the Inuit Circumpolar Youth Council are sprouting before our eyes, and I am honored to participate in bridging these organizations with the Arctic Council. Now, let's get this thang rolling!"
Ekaterina Evseyeva
Born January 31, 1981 in Yakutsk, Ekaterina Evseyeva graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor's degree (Hons.) in English Philology and Literature and now works as a teaching assistant at Sakha State University.
In May 2004 Katya was elected as a student representative to the UArctic's Board of Governors. Having taken a few online UArctic courses and been on an exchange program, Katya felt strongly about the idea of the university and decided that her future would have something to do with Circumpolar issues. "That's why I felt drawn to the idea of the AYN, and decided to jump on the team when I was kindly asked to. Future is youth, let it be sustainable..."
Katya also works as a consultant for NGOs at "Eyge" Environmental Education Center. There she works with many kinds of NGOs, including youth initiatives. Katya feels that her work in this capacity gives her excellent access to address youth organizations in Eastern Russia and let them know about the AYN. "Plus it's Russian Federation's term in the Arctic Council now and active participation from the Russian youth is a needed resource."
Bobbie Jo Greenland
Bobbie Jo Greenland is from the Vuntut and Ehdiitat Gwich'in First Nations. She comes from a large family of 10 girls and says, "my upbringing in the Gwich'in culture and the teachings from my family and elders have installed this passion in me that I have for environment and wildlife protection." Bobbie Jo chooses to participate in groups such as the Arctic Youth Network because she believes that we all have a responsibility to get involved and work together to promote wise management of our natural resources and protection of the environment. She feels it is extremely important for such organizations to have Indigenous representation because most of the issues being addressed have impacts on the Indigenous people and all aspects to their health.
Bobbie Jo has worked with the Gwich'in in their ongoing efforts to prevent oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She has been involved with Environment Canada's youth round table on environment as the NWT representative, acted as an alternate board member for the Gwich'in Tribal Council on the Porcupine Caribou Management Board, and currently acts as the youth rep for Gwich'in Council International (a permanent participant in the Arctic Council). This September Bobbie Jo will follow a long list of Circumpolar Leaders as she takes up a 6 month internship position at the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat in Denmark. Bobbie Jo has a diploma in First Nations Management Studies from Yukon College and is 3 years into a degree in environmental health and science at the First Nations University of Canada. She has spent time working with the Nihtat Gwich'in Elders committee and believes that the best gift we can leave for the next generation is a healthy environment to live in. "I encourage youth to step up and get involved in organizations such as Arctic Youth Network. It is up to each of us to make a difference for a brighter, healthier future."
Jennifer Duncan
Jennifer Duncan is the National Youth Organizer and co-founder of the Dene Youth Alliance. She is a Sahtu youth from Colville Lake, Denendeh and is committed to advocating for the human rights of Indigenous Peoples on a local, regional and international level. Jennifer graduated with her degree in Native Studies (Honours), first class standing, from the University of Alberta in 2000 and has recently completed law school at the University of British Columbia. Jennifer will be articling with NWT Legal Aid in September 2005.
Fred Kataoyak
Fred Kataoyak lives in Holman, Northwest Territories and has been an active member of his community. He tries to teach Inuvialuit traditions and values to the youth through his involvement with Drum Dancing. In positions such as Youth Council President and Special Events Coordinator, Fred has developed a taste for leadership. He hopes that his involvement with the Arctic Youth Network will help build the skills he will need to encourage youth in Holman to speak up and have their voices heard. Fred is concerned about mining and exploration activities that do not involve community members. "I want to be able to voice my concerns now, so that the future generation does not need to deal with the problem. We can deal with them now instead of later, in the long run, when the problem is so big it costs us more then we bargained for."
Vita Hoyles
Vita Hoyles was born and raised in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental and Conservation Sciences from the University of Alberta. She will soon be starting a Masters Degree program in Geographic Information Science at the University of Calgary.
Vita has previously worked for the Aurora Research Institute in Fort Smith and has recently returned from Alta, Norway where she worked as an intern, for six months, through the Circumpolar Young Leaders Program (CYLP). During her internship in Norway, she worked for the University of the Arctic and the north2north Student Mobility Exchange Program.
Since returning to Canada, Vita feels she has gained tremendous experience that has significantly amplified her interest in northern issues at the international level. Vita is involved in various community projects, one being the Fort Smith Recycling and Waste Management Educational Program that she recently initiated and has just been approved funding to start.
Vita has a passion for the outdoors and the environment and plans to continue to build awareness about issues that affect future generations in the north. "I am excited by this chance to work with the Arctic Youth Network and I am looking forward to making a difference and promoting the participation of youth in the Arctic Council."
Daria Egereva
Daria Egereva (formerly Kudryashova) was born in Tomsk, Russia and now lives in Moscow. She graduated from Tomsk State Teacher-Training as a teacher of German, English and Selkup. Daria's post-graduate studies continue in the area of Selkup Linguistics. Another AYN participant remarked that Daria is a "PGTD" (person who gets things done) and this is evident in the long list of accomplishments that mark Daria's past few years. She has been a member of the RAIPON delegation to the Arctic Council, worked with the "Future of Children and Youth of the Arctic Initiative", coordinated the Indigenous Youth Information Centre in St. Petersburg, and attended a number of international conferences including the "Child and Youth Health Congress" held in Vancouver, Canada. As an employee of RAIPON, Daria works as the Vice President of Youth Issues. She is keen to see an international Arctic organization develop "where our young leaders would play one of the key roles."
Katy Dillon
Katy Dillon is from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She has a Bachelor of Science from UBC focusing on animal physiology and entomology and is taking part-time courses towards a Masters in Northern Studies from University of Alaska Fairbanks. Katy just returned from Rovaniemi, Finland, where she was interning with the University of the Arctic's International Secretariat. In the past she has worked for the Government of the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife as a policy researcher and a communications officer. Katy is happiest when singing, makes a mean coconut curry, and is throughoughly obsessed with taking photographs.
Aura Nordberg
Ohcejohka, my home place in Finland is located at Deatnu, the richest salmon river in Europe. I've lived my whole life in the multicultural Arctic environment, Sámiland.
After high school I graduated as a Sámi traditional crafts artisan. Now I'm studying third year pedagogic at the Sámi University College in Norway. Between my studies I've travelled to Peru and Nepal to do small youth and handicraft projects. I also worked as a primary school teacher for a year. I've done voluntary work and been employed arranging different kinds of clubs, events and festivals in local and international levels. I was also a coordinator for the input of local youth in the Multi-annual Regional Plan for Deatnu Watershed.
This spring I took part at the north2north student exchange program. I studied one month in Iqaluit. Through those connections at the Arctic University I was suggested to join the AYN.
My main interests include indigenous peoples and their connection to the nature. In my experience the Arctic peoples have a lot in common and I'm truly interested finding new ways to do cooperation and activate youth.
Megan Pizzo-Lyall
"I am from Taloyoak, Nunavut, Canada. I am currently finishing up my grade 12 and plan on going to University to study social/political sciences. I am the Vice President of the National Inuit Youth Council, and the president of our regional youth council. My basic interests are hockey and youth involvement."
"I have recently been on the Students On Ice expedition which took us to Iceland, Greenland and to my home territory of Nunavut. The main theme of this expedtion was climate change and how we as youth can help make people aware of the issue. The expedition is what helped me to be a part of the Arctic Youth Network. My drive is hard and making sure people hear me is essential in what I do. It's great to be a part of the Arctic Council Youth. I believe what we have to say is important and to be a part of this group is an honour."