During the week of July 15 to 19 2016, over 100 young people from 55 First Nations communities came together in Thunder Bay to discuss how their culture is tied to their identity and their sense of belonging. Culture, Identity and Belonging was one of the central themes raised by young people in the Feathers of Hope: A First Nations Youth Action Plan. Through the forum, young people, elders and knowledge carriers came together to share their experiences, traditional teachings and cultural practices in order to have a conversation of hope that is tied to healing the relationship between themselves and their culture, identity and their desire for belonging.

By engaging in a conversation that previous generations of young people may not have been able to have, this was a chance to engage in that healing process and for young people to revitalize their culture. Young people told us that having a strong bond with their culture will help them to strengthen their ability to walk in multiple worlds and to find a pathway forward that allows them to live healthy, productive lives