Thursday, January 23
9:15 - 10:00 a.m.

Dr. Doucet has been working to improve the lives of youth in care for over 20 years, starting in her home province of New Brunswick and now based in Montreal, Quebec. She is a former youth in care, holds a PhD in Social Work, is an expert consultant, an Adjunct Professor at the McGill University School of Social Work and a member of the Centre for Research on Children and Families (CRCF). Prior to relocating to Montreal, Dr. Doucet was a Project Officer for the Government of N.B.’s award-winning Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) project for children and youth with emotional, behavioural and mental health issues and was pivotal to its province-wide implementation. Her doctoral research, Relationships Matter for Youth ‘Aging Out’ of Care, received national attention and provided a platform for youth from care in the Greater Vancouver Area to develop child welfare research, policy and practice recommendations based on their lived experience expertise.

Dr. Doucet is a renowned public speaker on the importance of equitably supporting youth in and from care from a rights-based and humane perspective. Her work has received high-level acclaim, including a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral scholarship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants, and most recently, the Erminie Cohen Compassion Award. Dr. Doucet’s research aims to provide a platform for the voice of youth from care by proposing specific recommendations relevant to child welfare policies, programs, and intervention strategies targeted to young people in care transitioning to adulthood. She is a passionate mentor to and advocate for youth involved in the child welfare system and is currently leading the Equitable Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care project alongside the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates.

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Equitable Transitions Project Linktree

“The Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care: A First Voice-Led Solution Roadmap”

Thursday, January 23
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

I am a former foster youth with a background in advocacy through the OCYA and the LRCY. I am a proud mama of a beautiful daughter and a fur baby. I also have the honour of being a NICU mom of a 25-week-old baby who is now 8 months old, as well as a proud mama to a mischievous Siamese kitty who loves to run wild. I'm really excited to be invited to speak on behalf of this organization and am honoured by the opportunity to provide insight into what youth can offer us all.

“The Legacy of Youth”

Friday, January 24
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Rae Madge (they/she) is a Deh’cho Dene, Cree-Métis, & mixed-settler Two-Spirit and Non-Binary femme living in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton). They work at the Fyrefly Institute for Gender & Sexual Diversity as the program coordinator for Where The Rivers Meet, an educational initiative that shares teachings on Two-Spirit & Indigiqueer histories and decolonial allyship practices, as well as general 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion, advocacy, and belonging. Rae is deeply passionate about helping folks cultivate expansive views of gender and sexuality, free from colonial, patriarchal, and otherwise restrictive perspectives. Rae completed their Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2021 and has been at Fyrefly since 2022.

Link to Where the Rivers Meet: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/fyrefly-institute/programs-and-services/where-the-rivers-meet.html

Two-Spirit / Indigiqueer Pasts & Presents

*The conversation will continue with Rae in Breakout Session C.4 with "Two-Spirit / Indigiqueer Futures"

Friday, January 24
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Theland Kicknosway is an Indigenous youth trailblazer who utilizes his voice to spread his message and showcase Indigenous culture. He is wolf clan from the Potawatomi and Cree Nations and is a member of Walpole Island, Bkejwanong Territory. 

He has been featured in CBC Arts and CBC News, Flare, Teen Vogue, Complex, and Huffington Post Canada. Theland has gained recognition in the Indigenous community and worldwide as a traditional singer, flute player, hoop dancer, activist & influencer. Theland ranked 7th in the world after returning from the 2023 World Hoop Dance Championship in Phoenix, Arizona. 

In 2018, Theland became the youngest Indspire Laureate named for Culture, Heritage and Spirituality. His path-breaking efforts have been highlighted by Nike, Disney, BBC and also been mentioned in Entertainment Tonight.

For more than ten years, Theland Kicknosway has been a mentor and leader at the KAIROS where he has taught over 1,500 Indigenous and non-Indigenous people about the realities of Indigenous youth in Canada.

Theland has made a name for himself as a staple in the Indigenous community on TikTok as @the_landk. With nearly 450,000 followers and over 10 million accumulated “likes,” Theland is an important contributor to #NativeTikTok. 

Interesting Facts: Theland was the youngest Indspire Laureate named for Culture, Heritage and Spirituality in 2018.

Instagram // TikTok // Facebook 

Hoop Dancing & Speaking Presentations