One of the candidates vying for the position of President of the Provincial Metis Youth Council is hoping to create a safe place on council specifically for women and LGBTQ2S youth.
Autumn LaRose-Smith is from Saskatoon and is in the final year of SUNTEP (Saskatchewan Urban Teachers Education Program). In 2020, LaRose-Smith was the first Indigenous woman to be elected president of the University of Saskatchewan Students Union. Now the former USSU president has her sights set on a different presidential position. She is one of three people who have put forward their names for the Provincial Metis Youth Council president position, which is up for election in early November.
The following is the vision statement LaRose-Smith posted to the MN-S election page:
“I am a proud queer Métis woman dedicated to creating a safe place for all Métis youth to be involved. Youth aren’t just leaders of tomorrow, we’re leaders of today. If elected, I will amplify, and connect Métis youth and transform the youth council.”
LaRose-Smith recently spoke with MBC News and she says, like others, was unaware Saskatchewan had a Provincial Metis Youth Council. LaRose-Smith says if elected can help raise awareness and bring attention to the council itself.
“I think I can do some amazing work just raising awareness of what the council is,” LaRose-Smith told MBC News. “I want to transform the council to be a big driving force for change for Metis Youth, seeing we already had one and a lot of people are only finding out about it because of the election.”
In addition to school, LaRose-Smith currently works as the Programs and Outreach Administrator for We Matter; a non-profit supporting Indigenous youth mental health. She also sits on the boards for OutSaskatoon and the Ness Creek Cultural and Recreational Society.
The Metis youth president hopeful believes her advocacy experience on the provincial and federal level will help in this role if elected.
“I believe I would be a great person to put into this position and make something happen for Metis youth,” she said.
As a queer person, she believes she could also bring a unique voice to the leadership position.
“There’s a general stereotype within Metis governance that it is not a safe place for women, queer Metis, and for youth,” said LaRose-Smith. “I think by being proud of my identity it will not only open up and inspire other Metis youth, but will also show people my lived experienced and where I am coming from. Part of my campaign is to transform the youth council into becoming a safe place for Metis youth and Metis women.”
LaRose-Smith will be running against Cody Demerais and Jade Rooney in the upcoming PMYC election. MBC News will be profiling all candidates this week. More information on each candidate can be found here.
The election will take place online at mnselection.ca over a two-day period on November 5 and 6 and is open to any Metis citizen ages 16-29.
Whoever is elected will be involved in helping all Provincial Metis Council decisions especially those affecting Metis youth.
(Photo courtesy of Autumn LaRose-Smith)