2022 United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
The UNPFII is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The Forum focuses on indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
This year’s UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will take place from April 25- May 6, at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States.
The theme this year is “Indigenous peoples, business, autonomy and the human rights principles of due diligence including free, prior and informed consent”
MEET THE DELEGATES
Taylor Behn-Tsakoza, Communications Coordinator (she/her)
Cassandra Carlson, Engagement Coordinator (she/her)
Nipâwi Kakinoosit, Public Relations Coordinator (he/they)
Paloma Griffin, Research Coordinator (she/her)
Sarah Hanson, Partnership Coordinator (she/her/kwe)
Taylor Behn-Tsakoza (she/her)
Taylor is Dene from Fort Nelson First Nation, BC Treaty 8 Territory. She holds a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education from Mount Royal University and a certificate in Land and Community Based Research from Dechinta Bush University. Throughout her education Taylor has had the opportunity to study in Australia and Hawai'i, and hopes to pursue a masters degree in the near future. Taylor is passionate about uplifting Indigenous youth voices and has dedicated her professional life to supporting youth and Indigenous communities. Currently, she works for her Nations-owned Geothermal project, Tu Deh-Kah, focusing on community engagement and co-chairs the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council. Her other interests are life promotion, climate change and policy.
Cassandra Carlson (she/her)
Cassandra is Anishinaabe from Wauzhushk Onigum. She is currently a bachelor's student at Brock University for Biology and Psychology. Her hopes are to continue a career that promotes Indigenous worldview and knowledge in environmental sustainability and psychology. Since 2013, Cassandra has been an active volunteer with youth, where she would teach kids how to swim, play different sports and practice martial arts. Throughout the past year, Cassandra has worked as a research assistant within social psychology as well as environmental sustainability. She has represented Brock University at the Ontario University Student Alliance, where she was recognized as an author on the Indigenous Student's policy paper. Cassandra has continued to assist the student union with Indigenous advocacy along with being a member of their Gender and Sexual Violence Steering Committee. In addition, Cassandra worked as an Indigenous Outreach and EDI Coordinator with Fringe Festivals where she worked to increase the representation and engagement with Indigenous art while developing meaningful relationships with local communities. At 20 years old, Cassandra is thrilled to be joining the UNPFII delegation and is grateful for the opportunity to learn from the experiences of Indigenous peoples across the world and advocate on an international scale.
Nipawi Kakinoosit (he/they)
Nipâwi is a proud member of Sucker Creek Cree First Nation in Central Alberta and was born and raised in Prince George, BC. He is a Hereditary Chief from Treaty 8 and has worked tirelessly as a Treaty and Indigenous Rights Advocate since his start with Idle No More BC in 2012 as a Co-Founder and Media Relations Officer. Since then, he has gone on to represent both his Nation and the Urban Communities of BC at numerous events and meetings with all levels of Government. He has also worked with several Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Organizations across North America towards building better relations between the communities through direct engagement and interaction. As Head Delegate for the YDC-UNPFII 2021 Delegation, he was able to use his decade of experience to help guide and shape the delegation and is looking forward to attending the 2022 session of the Forum.
Paloma Griffin (she/her)
Paloma is currently a PhD student at the New School for Social Research and a research assistant at the Zolberg Institute for Migration and Mobility. Her research focuses on transnational solidarity and the movement of vulnerable groups across borders. Paloma completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Toronto in the Political Science department and was an editor of the University of Toronto Journal of Political Science during her tenure as a graduate student there. Out of her position at the Zolberg Institute, she has led courses on the detection of racial bias in voting districts in North America, acted as a researcher for NGOs such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and written immigration policy recommendation reports with the Abolish ICE working group. She is delighted to be joining the UNPFII delegations and hopes to enrich her knowledge on transnational solidarity by listening to and learning from indigenous communities worldwide.
Sarah Hanson (she/her/kwe)
Sarah is Anishinaabe from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. She is the Finance & Operations Director for Youth4Nature and a Youth Research Intern for Indigenous Climate Action’s Decolonizing Climate Policy project.
She holds a Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University in Biology, while actively engaging in experiential learning opportunities through her workplaces and volunteer opportunities. In 2018, she was chosen to participate in the inaugural International Internship for Indigenous Youth Program for the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation and Northern Council for Global Cooperation, with her experience in Georgetown, Guyana shifting her work path towards places looking specifically for engagement with Indigenous People.
For the past year and a half, Sarah has worked with Leading Change Canada as part of the Steering Committee, first as Director of Participants and now as Director of Indigenous Relations. Through her work she has increased the number of Indigenous youths involved in the main events and assisted in creating relationships with Indigenous communities in Toronto and Vancouver.
For the past 6 months Sarah has worked with Youth4Nature as their North American Regional Director, facilitating discussions on Indigenous Rights, Social Justice and Nature Based Solutions. The majority of her time though is spent working with Experiences Canada coordinating their Online Conversation Series and upcoming Virtual Youth Leadership Forum on Reconciliation. For all her work for Indigenous youth, sustainability and climate action, Sarah was named alongside friends for Corporate Knight’s 30 Under 30 in Sustainability and The Starfishes 25 under 25 Environmentalist. During her down time, she spends time reconnecting to her ancestry and identity through beading, ribbon skirt making and learning Anishinaabemowin.