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- Shaun Nanan
Igniting the Fire Inside: Empowering Indigenous Youth in Saskatchewan
August 19–21, 2025 brought together Indigenous youth, leaders, and community members at the Saskahâ Anima Iskotew Pihcâyihk – “Ignite the Fire Inside” Cowessess First Nation Youth Conference at the Queensbury Convention Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Participants ages 12 to 26 gathered for three days of connection, culture, and inspiration.
The event opened with a ceremony, prayer, and grand entry grounding the gathering in cultural traditions. The conference was not only about knowledge-sharing but also about celebrating culture, building friendships, and sparking passion in every participant.
Workshops and Sessions to Ignite Growth
Each day was filled with engaging workshops and speakers that addressed the diverse needs of Indigenous youth. Sessions included fitness and nutrition, financial literacy, culture, and mental health, as well as keynote talks by Nicole Cook and Chantel Huel.
All throughout the conference, youth flowed through the exhibition hall, visiting a wide variety of booths:
- Paradise Radio Booth
- Booth with information on Custom Election Code and Financial Bylaw
- Ohh Snap! Photo Booth
- Cowessess Urban Office
- Chief Red Bear Children’s Lodge
- Newo Yotina Friendship Centre
- University of Alberta
- Beadwork Creations and Henna Tattoos
- Joyful Ribbons
- Family Tree
- Regina Police Service
- 2Nations Bird Construction
- Nanan STEM Academy
Nanan STEM Academy at the Conference
Among these engaging booths was Nanan STEM Academy. The STEM booth offered interactive activities in coding and robotics. The students dove into Scratch programming, editing characters, adding effects, and even creating walking animations. The workshop was facilitated by Nanan Academy instructors, Thayne Winder and Bri Colenutt.
A popular activity were the robotics exercises using the mBot educational robots. Two bots faced off in a lively sumo wrestling match, while another switched between line-following and wandering through the exhibition hall. Kids and parents alike gathered around, cheering and laughing as the robots competed.
There was also a computer station running a seven-segment display built in Minecraft, originally created by a Nanan Academy student. This fascinated kids of all ages, and even drew in curious parents.
A Lasting Spark
The Ignite the Fire Inside Cowessess First Nation Youth Conference was much more than an event—it was a celebration of Indigenous youth and the bright future ahead of them. With sessions, ceremonies, booths, and community connections, it created a space where young people could explore opportunities, strengthen cultural identity, and gain confidence in their own leadership journeys.
