Hello from Shay lynn, Our New Youth Engagement Lead

Hello to new and old friends, 

As Indigenous Climate Action’s new Youth Engagement Lead, I wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about my journey and how I got to ICA.

My name is Shay lynn Sampson (she/they), I come from Wilp Spookxw of the Lax Gibuu (Wolf Clan) of the Gitxsan Nation. I grew up in the village of Hagwilget in a home with my mom, older brother, and grandma. My father’s side of the family comes from Gitanmaax, another closely neighboring Gitxsan village and my step-mom comes from the Stellat’en First Nation and is mother to my baby brother. In terms of my interests, I am a big fan of painting, drawing, knitting, beading, netflix in bed, writing poetry, reading poetry, acquiring more clothing than will ever be necessary, and drinking coffee.

After high school I attended the University of Victoria. During my time at school I was introduced to BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, People of Colour] organizing for the first time and found a sense of community with people from a wide array of backgrounds. Last winter I was involved with Indigenous Youth for Wet’suwet’en and the re-occupation of the front steps of the BC Legislature; I learned a lot on-the-ground about how to strategically organize, talk to the media, and what it means to stand in solidarity. Our time on the steps was also one of the first times I was involved in Ceremony; growing up I hadn’t participated in a lot of cultural activities so finding community care and love within Ceremony amongst all the chaos of organizing kept me grounded. 

During my time at the legislature, myself and three other Gitxsan youth were invited home to speak alongside Chiefs from our Nation - a huge honour for each of us. At the time my step-mom told me, “You will see the land and the people in a whole new way,” and she was right - it fills my cup to walk on lands that remember me and my ancestors; it feels like home to be surrounded by trees that have brushed against the skin of my relatives many years ago. 

In the spring I felt my territories calling me home and left school early to move back north. Since then I have been living on Wet’suwet’en Yintah - the territories of my Nation's ancient ally. Being here has given me perspective on what I am here to protect and what I hope to protect for future generations, just as my ancestors have done for me. I have a baby brother and a niece who are the sunshine and the moon of my days and nights. I want them to have a chance to drink water from the river, to eat wild salmon, and to know the taste of moose meat and huckleberries with ice cream. That is why I am here. 

I am honoured and very excited to take on the Youth Engagement Lead position with Indigenous Climate Action. I can’t wait to connect with amazing youth who are already doing climate justice work in their communities, as well as creating opportunities to engage youth that haven’t yet been involved with organizing. As a young Indigenous person who has been doing this work, I know what it is like to face the systemic barriers that come up while trying to protect our lands, waters, and cultures - I also know how draining it can be on our mental health and spirits. 

I look forward to working on programs based on the needs of Indigenous youth and finding ways to nurture our relationships within our communities to inspire radical climate justice.

If you are an Indigenous youth that would like to stay in the loop, sign up here!

Hamiya’a,

Shay lynn Sampson 
Youth Engagement Lead
Indigenous Climate Action