The Clean Boating Project will explore the potential to utilize solar energy to power a boat with either panels on the boat or a charging station to power the boat. Models for the boat will also be explore, either being a pontoon boat or an aluminum fishing boat. The end goal is to utilize the prototype to teach Indigenous youth and community members of Wikwemikong about clean energy, electrical, and mechanical systems by integrating the knowledge learned in school curriculum and/or presentations.
Mitchell Souliere-Lamb is a First Nation student in his second year of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Toronto. He is originally from Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island. Mitchell noticed a lack of indigenous students in STEM and hopes that he can be a model for Indigenous youth. He would like to design and build things in his career to benefit society and bring justice to all Indigenous people in Canada.
imakGen seeks to research and develop a non-mechanical water-powered electric generator, which contrasts contemporary water turbine designs. imakGen will explore a new way to deliver electricity to remote and coastal communities, a NOVEL electric generator for use in salinated ocean water, simulation software to streamline the design process, and develop proof of concept for a potentially sustainable, low cost, and low maintenance source of energy.
Brian Pottle is an Inuk from the communities of Postville & Rigolet in Nunatsiavut, Labrador. While Brian’s background is in electrical engineering, he is directing a non-profit based out of Nunavut which is endeavouring to create makerspaces across the territory in hopes of empowering youth in Nunavut, especially Inuit youth, to pursue their dreams.
The purpose of this project is to design and build an off-grid sustainable tiny house that incorporates recycled materials, energy efficiency, and clean energy systems in Wahpeton Dakota First Nation. The learnings gathered throughout the design and build process will be shared through a website and intends to set an example of sustainable living to homebuilders and housing organizations in Saskatchewan. Once built, the prototype can be used as a showcase for those who wish to learn more about environmentally-friendly living.
Gabrielle Dawn Fourstar (They/She) is a Dakota-Cree, Scottish, French person with heritage from Mistawasis Cree Nation and a member of Wahpeton Dakota Nation. They reside on Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Gabrielle is currently working on a degree in Psychology and Indigenous Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. They hope to start a counselling practice one day, targeting those dealing with trauma and addictions. Gabrielle is passionate about the environment and strives to live a zero-waste lifestyle. With the fruition of their tiny house, they also hope to live a zero-carbon lifestyle.
The Sagkeeng Youth team is advancing the build of a sustainable greenhouse in Sagkeeng First Nation. The project is launched with the support of Sagkeeng Anicinabe Highschool, where the greenhouse will offer sustainability curriculum, work experience, and quality nutrition to Indigenous high school students. Sara and Tikkan have taken a leadership role to drive this project forward according to their community values, keeping kinship as the center of the project. The project plan is informed by community engagement sessions, incorporating youth voices and feedback, building relations with high school staff, visiting local food producers to share knowledge, and engaging with elders to reclaim Indigenous teachings and nutrition.
Sara Fontaine is an Anishinabe Ikwe from Sagkeeng First Nation, Treaty 1 Territory in Manidooba, Kanata. She has participated in Canada World Youth, a youth exchange program, where she facilitated a drop-in where she supported disadvantaged youth in a village in Kenya for three months. She graduated locally in 2015 and did an education upgrade at Native Education College in Vancouver, BC, where her passion for environmental protection began. Sara is currently a representative for Sagkeeng Youth Group, a grassroots initiative within her community focused on youth empowerment and community betterment. Her goal within this group is to introduce food security along with recycling, composting, and clean energy projects that ensure sustainability. She wishes to create a life-skills based land program that is introduced to the school curriculum to ensure longevity of knowledge and land-based skills. Sara has participated in Motivate Canada’s VIAYouth Summit, CANDO’s Youth Summit, as well as economic development related programming. She has taken part in the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Youth Forum and Training and the “Building your Bundle” training from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women. Sara is on the path to making her vision a reality for a sustainable future for Sagkeeng.
Tikkan is an Ojibwe woman who was born and raised in Sagkeeng Mb. Treaty 1 Territory, where she currently resides and works with elementary children as an Education Assistant. She, along with fellow Indigenous youth from her community, had initiated a garden project in 2017 and donated the year’s harvest to the community schools. It was from this project she was inspired and since then, she hopes to create a sustainable environment for future relations and beings, and to empower and encourage those she meets along the way. She is excited and thankful to be a part of ImaGENation’s first cohort and for the opportunity to learn and work with fellow Indigenous youth and knowledge keepers.
The Nimkii Youth Collective is bringing solar and wind power to an off-grid, year-round cultural land camp on the territory of Serpent River First Nation. The clean energy will provide electricity to a structure that provides space for cultural activities and teachings, water pumps for a garden, and possibly replace a diesel generator that will be used for back-up only. The goal of the Nimkii Youth Collective is to revitalize language and culture in a sustainable path. The land camp is a youth-led initiative to reclaim ancestral knowledge, offering traditional teachings through gardening, hide tanning, medicines, Elders circles, and Ceremonies.
Quinn Meawasige is 28 years old and is Ojibwe from Serpent River First Nation. His community is located along the North Shore of Lake Huron and is a signatory of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. Quinn graduated from Algoma University with a Bachelor of Arts in Community Economic and Social Development (Honours) and a Certificate in Anishinaabemowin from Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig. Upon graduation, Quinn was a founding member of the Nimkii Youth Collective, an Anishinaabe youth, language, culture and arts collective whose goal is Anishinaabe land-based language and cultural revitalization. He lives at Nimkii Aazhibikoong, an off-grid, year-round, lands-based language and culture camp in his territory. Quinn works towards the realization of food sovereignty for his community as a pathway to land restitution and reclamation. He is an active land user through subsistence harvesting and by navigating the ancient waterways of his peoples who came before him.
Taryn Bobiwash is an Odawa and Ojibwe member of the turtle clan from Serpent River First Nation. She is an amateur hide tanner, full spectrum doula, Indigenous breastfeeding councilor, multi disciplinary visual artist, and graduate of Algoma University with a BA in Anishinaabemowin and Psychology. She is dedicated to reclaiming Anishinaabemowin and the traditional artforms and birthing practices of her nation. She is passionate about reproductive education, soil health, and learning with and from the land.
Changemakers Forum 2025
Register now to hear from Indigenous leaders who are showcasing their community projects and more!
Forum is taking place in Vancouver, BC on November 14th, 2025
