A Vessel for the Voice of Youth

An Interview with National Inuit Youth Council President Susie-Ann Kudluk

SUMMER 2024 | Author: Briana Kilabuk

Susie-Ann Kudluk at the Inuit exhibit at 100 Wellington in Ottawa. © Lisa Gregoire

SUSIE-ANN KUDLUK became president of the National Inuit Youth Council in June 2023. The 26-year-old from Kangirsuk, Nunavik, wants to make sure that Inuit youth throughout Inuit Nunangat and Canada feel heard. As a youth myself, I found talking with Susie-Ann inspirational. I interviewed Susie-Ann about her goals for her term and the work the youth council is doing. You can immediately tell she is passionate about her work and is working towards change for Inuit youth.

Can you share a bit about yourself and what you bring to this position?

I’ve been working with youth for about three and a half years now. I started off with Nunavik’s Regional Youth Council as a board director, and then I was the vice-president for the Qarjuit Youth Council. I’m from Kangirsuk, a community with about 700 people. I’m very passionate about the work that I do for Inuit youth. It’s something that chose me rather than me choosing it. I love to make sure that youth voices are heard, and I feel I can be that sort of vessel for youth to share their issues.

Susie-Ann Kudluk at the Inuit exhibit at 100 Wellington in Ottawa. © Lisa Gregoire

What is the value of having youth involved in leadership?

Having a youth perspective is absolutely necessary. Youth know first-hand what is needed to create safe spaces for themselves, so it is necessary to have a youth perspective in those things because we have a right to say what we want our future to be, and we deserve to be heard.

Could you tell us what the priorities of the National Youth Council are right now?

Based on face-to-face meetings, we got to touch base on what priorities the Council would like to have. Mental health was the most important for them, as well as cultural and language preservation, education, Inuit governance and climate change. My leadership style is very inclusive. I want to make sure that everyone is comfortable with what we will be working on so this is based off what they wanted as a whole.

Are there any specific goals that you would like to accomplish?

I was a part of the NIYC for about a year before I became president, and based on my experience, I would like to create a better structured Council. My goal is to advocate for youth based on our priorities and to create more opportunities for youth to be heard and to feel heard in their issues. I am just a vessel for youth to talk through me. That’s one of my goals for my term, to make sure that every Inuk youth feels heard.

Do you have any closing messages for Inuit youth?

Together we can work towards healing. You are not just the future; you are the present, you are the leaders of today. Now is the time for the leaders to listen to youth because we have a right to say how we want our future to be. When youth come together, especially in gatherings, they can do anything. I’m confident in our Inuit youth that we’re going to be the movers and the shakers of the world. That’s what I believe.