Rose Fontaine: Manitoba’s Youth Voice at the AWID International Forum

In the Fall of 2024, the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation, as part of the Inter-Council Network, invited Manitoban youth to apply for an incredible opportunity to contribute to international development dialogue and key global issues by participating in an international forum. This fully funded opportunity welcomed one representative from each provincial or regional council to join the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) International Forum in Bangkok, Thailand in early December 2024.

Many excellent candidates applied, demonstrating their commitment to the principles of women’s rights, gender equality, and social justice, and their involvement in the international solidarity network. Rose Fontaine, originally of Sagkeeng First Nation, was selected as the Manitoba youth delegate and joined seven others on the trip.

Recently, Rose sat down with the MCIC team and shared about her experience as a youth delegate.

One session that really stood out included intergenerational Kenyan speakers, sharing about the challenges of living without land rights as women, and losing their home. They shared about intergenerational trauma and the effects of not having a home, and it was powerful to realize that many women do not have what a lot of Canadians take for granted here.

Rose brought home some fabric purchased in support of the Kenyan women and their struggle for a home to remind her of this powerful conversation.

At another session, Rose met Indigenous women from Canada who shared about making ceremonies accessible to people with disabilities or remotely for those in hospitals or unable to attend rallies and round dances in person.

As Rose learned, “Reframing ceremony is actually the first step. A lot of it is very strict, you know, and it’s hard to get rules changed. They have their own land that they were able to create accessibility features like ramps, making the lodge and doorway taller so that a wheelchair could fit. It was very inspiring, and I felt so happy about that initiative because when people are sick or can’t access ceremonies is when they need it the most.” 

Learning how the rules can be adapted so everyone can be included, by having a taller lodge, adding wheelchair access, or online options for those far from home was a powerful moment at the event. During a round dance song at this session, Rose reflected how great it was to have all the women jump in to sing their part when requested, since at home new participants are less likely to join in.

Rose also had an opportunity to share with women from around the world about the experience of Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) and how to take action. In a different session, Rose joined in sending letters of support to women who were wrongfully incarcerated around the world, for speaking up about human rights issues and defending their rights.

Among these powerful moments of connection with delegates and stories from around the world, Rose and the other delegates found some time to visit temples and other local sites in Bangkok. Their time was filled with engaging AWID sessions, rides to dinner on tuk tuk taxis, trying local food, and getting to know the other delegates from across Canada.

Rose said this experience really brought home how big the world is and how much opportunity exists. She plans to share her experiences with youth here in Manitoba, encouraging them to be open to new experiences and opportunities.

Rose has this advice for any future youth delegates: “Go out of your comfort zone! When I went, I embraced being outgoing and social, and I made some strong connections with the other delegates. The world is big… I just realized how much more there is out there. I want to go back there [to Thailand], I want to go to Tokyo, China and all those places! Be open to new experiences.”