How We Started
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We are young people that came together from the winter of Idle No More. We are Indigenous youth from various nations and our roots come from various territories. We saw the importance of a national Indigenous youth voice and platform. We believe that the assembly and unity of youth from across Turtle Island will not only contribute to our own success and healing of today but also that of our next seven generations.
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Our Team
Gabrielle Fayant-
Co-Founder & Co CEO
Gabrielle Fayant-Lewis originates from Fishing Lake Metis Settlement, AB. Gabrielle is an award winning woman for her work in the community, for youth empowerment and Indigenous rights awareness. She has worked with several Indigenous and non-profit organizations. |
Dani LanouetteCo CEO
Dani Lanouette is Anishinaabe from Neyaashiinigmiing Anishinaabekiing and Algonquins of Barriere Lake. She is currently in the Combined Honours in Indigenous and Canadian Studies program at Carleton University. Dani is a jingle dancer, a singer and a drummer, as well as a beader. Her main goal is to honour the legacy of her late nokomis, who was a residential school survivor, by empowering indigenous youth in any way possible. She has been doing work for and with Indigenous youth in multiple capacities from the age of 15 and will continue to do so for as long as possible. |
Josh Lewisco CEO
Josh Lewis is Anishinaabe from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory. He was born in Sudbury, Ontario. He is an educator, musician and community helper. He has worked with several Indigenous organizations & school boards in the past. He currently works with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board as an Indigenous Student Support Coordinator. |
Brittany MathewsBoard Member
Brittany Mathews is Métis/Michif with ancestry from White Horse Plains, or St. Francois Xavier, Manitoba and with her family more recently coming from St. Paul, Alberta. She grew up in the Bow Valley of Alberta, on Treaty 7 territory and moved to Ottawa to pursue an undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa. She had the honour co-leading Walking With Our Sisters in Ottawa and currently co-hosts the Michif Hour on Aboriginal CKCU 93.1 |
RJ JonesBoard Member
RJ Jones is Saulteaux–Cree, originally from Regina, Saskatchewan (Treaty no. 1 & 4) and is currently living on Algonquin Territory in Ottawa. They are a Two Spirit, Non-Binary and Queer multimedia artist, educator and full spectrum doula in decolonizing our approach to gender, sexuality and sexual health. They are an advocate for Two Spirit, transgender and queer Indigenous issues, and work from a decolonial, intersectional and accessible lens. RJ is an experienced in public speaker and has been invited to give workshops and keynotes across Canada. RJ has been working in sexual health with a variety of groups over the past 3 years. They work with The Native Youth Sexual Health Network as a Peer Mentor, formerly with Planned Parenthood Ottawa as an Indigenous Community Developer and recently switched roles at The Native Women’s Association of Canada from the STBBI Project Coordinator to the LGBTQ2S+ Educator. RJ’s passion for Two Spirit and Trans advocacy has lead them to opportunities such as serving as the President of Kind Space as well as being a board member at Assembly of Seven Generations (A7G). RJ enjoys sloths, building connections, migrant justice, decolonial education & reproductive justice. |
ReachUp! North Team & Alumni - 2015/16
Special Thanks to Past Board Members & Co Founders
Marissa Mills & Brock LewisCo-Founders
Caitlin TolleyFormer Co-Chair
Caitlin Tolley is Algonquin Anishinabe from the community of Kitigan-Zibi. She is currently in her final year of the Juris Doctor Program at the University of Ottawa. Caitlin was given the title of Runner Up to Miss Indian World at the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow in 2016. |
Dr. Thomas LouttitFounding Director/Former Board Member
Thomas Louttit is Anishinabe/Moose Cree from Moose Factory, ON. He is a recognized Elder in the local Ottawa community and recent recipient of an honorary doctorate from Carleton University. 
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