International Roundtable on Indigenous Children’s Voices & Rights
Monday 9 August 2021 at 11:00 am EST / 4:00 pm BST in celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
This International Roundtable on Indigenous Children’s Voices & Rights for Sustainability engages child and youth leaders from different nations, and also specialists and experts working to promote Indigenous Peoples’ rights and the rights of the child, in an interactive dialogue to strengthen and promote Indigenous Children’s Rights and the global Sustainable Development Goals.
This special online roundtable occasion highlights and celebrates the global launch of a beautifully illustrated new book, published by the Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative, called Finding the Language, by Adelyn Sophie Newman-Ting, the first Voices of Future Generations Indigenous Child Author. Finding the Language is a creative and captivating story about reclaiming language through the land and its creatures, highlighting the interconnected cycle of life and culture. The event also features Indigenous Child Ambassadors Bella Morrisseau and Sydnee Wynter. Honoured chairs and speakers also include Adv. Wayne Garnons-Williams (National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada Chair), Prof. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger (University of Cambridge Leverhulme Professor, CISDL Senior Director & VoFG CRI Executive Secretary), Ms Monique Gray-Smith (Writer & Children’s Literature Award Laureate), and Prof Carey Newman Hayalthkin’geme (University of Victoria Professor & Impact Chair, Master Carver), as well as Adv. Neshan Gunasekera (Lead Counsel for Peace, Justice and Governance, CISDL), Ms Portia Garnons-Williams (Indigenous Student Leader), Ms Elaina Cox (First Nations Treaties for SDGs Project, University of Waterloo), and Dr. Roda Muse, Secretary-General of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO has been invited to give a special address on their world-leading educational work and support for Indigenous cultures and peoples.
International Roundtable on Indigenous Children’s Voices & Rights
Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by encouraging Indigenous children’s voices
Monday 09 August 2021 | 11:00 – 12:50 EST | 16:00 – 17:50 BST
Venue: Zoom Online Platform (due to COVID-19 travel restrictions)
Final Programme:
11:00 – 11:10 Welcome and Opening
Moderators: Ms Hyfa Azeez & Dr Odeeth Lara-Morales (Legal & Senior Officer, Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative)
Chairs: Prof. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger (University of Cambridge / University of Waterloo / CISDL, UK & Canada) & Adv. Neshan Gunasekera (Lead Counsel for Peace, Justice and Governance, CISDL)
Opening prayer: Elder Sherry Copenace
11:10 – 11:20 Book Launch of Finding the Language, by Adelyn Sophie Newman-Ting, the first Voices of Future Generations Indigenous Child Author
* Including a special reading of a chapter from Finding the Language by the author, Adelyn Sophie Newman-Ting
* Finding the Language is a creative and captivating story about reclaiming language through the land and its creatures, highlighting the interconnected cycle of life and culture.
11:20 – 11:30 Speeches by the two Voices of Future Generations Indigenous Child Ambassadors and Student Leaders
Bella Morrisseau/Whiskeyjack (UNESCO VoFG Indigenous Child Ambassador), Sydnee Wynter (UNESCO VoFG Indigenous Child Ambassador)
11:30 – 11:40 Ceremonial Children’s Book Launch & Congratulatory Message
Ms Monique Gray-Smith (Writer & Children’s Literature Award Laureate, Little Drum Consulting)
Thanks to Speakers: Ms Portia Garnons-Williams (Indigenous Student Thought Leader – Ottawa Carleton Virtual Secondary School)
11:40 – 11:50 The Legacy of Indigenous Children in Residential Schools
Adv. Wayne Garnons-Williams (National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada Chair)
11:50 – 12:30 Indigenous Rights and Sustainability: Intergenerational Roundtable on Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Ms Elaina Cox (Senior Researcher, First Nations Treaties for SDGs Project, University of Waterloo), Ms Shaelyn Wabegijig (Program and Outreach Coordinator, Kawartha World Issues Centre, KWIC), Dr Edward van Daalen (Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, McGill University), Ms Portia Garnons-Williams (Indigenous Student Thought Leader – Ottawa Carleton Virtual Secondary School), Master Nico Roman (Chair, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council & Child Ambassador, VoFG Children’s Initiative).
12:40 – 12:50 Special Closing Remarks with Thanks to Distinguished Speakers & Partners
Closing Remarks: Prof Carey Newman Hayalthkin’geme (Audain Professor of Contemporary Art Practices of the Pacific Northwest, University of Victoria)
Closing prayer: Elder Sherry Copenace
Moderators: Ms Hyfa Azeez & Dr Odeeth Lara-Morales (Legal and Legal & Senior Officer, Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative)
Zoom Operations Director: Adv Freedom-Kai Phillips (Director of Operations, CISDL)
Zoom Editorial Director: Dr Antoinette Nestor (Associate Fellow, CISDL)
With warmest thanks to the partners and collaborators:
Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL)
First Nations Treaties & SDGs Project, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), University of Waterloo
National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada
Audain Professorship of Contemporary Art Practices of the Pacific Northwest, University of Victoria
Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism (CHRLP), McGill University
Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI)
Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC)
And a special thanks to our friends and mentors from:
Canadian Commission for UNESCO
Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative
As a consortium of international charities that promote education for sustainable development and children’s empowerment worldwide, in collaboration with United Nations agencies and others, the VoFG Children’s initiative promotes the implementation of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and advances the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through inter-generational learning circles, eco-seminars and other special events that provide opportunities for children’s voices to be heard on issues that are important to them, and for children to develop leadership, dialogue and networking skills which help them to defend the rights of future generations, worldwide. These events facilitate child mentorship and exchange with experts and world leaders working in the field of children’s rights and sustainable development. The partnership also publishes the Voices of Future Generations Children’s Book Series, selecting and publishing beautifully imaginative and adventurous books authored by children aged between 8 and 12, written for other children aged 6 and above, which feature creative solutions to the problems facing children in different regions of the world.
It is a special pleasure to highlight the selection of award-winning Indigenous Child Author and two Indigenous Child Ambassadors in 2020 and the upcoming launch, on 08 August 2021, World Indigenous Day, of the first children’s book promoting indigenous rights and the SDGs.
For further information on the VoFG Children’s Initiative go here:
