REPRESENTING AKWESASNE AT THE 2026 WISPC
Our Akwesasró:non have arrived in New Zealand! After a long journey across the world, youth and staff arrived in Aotearoa ready to share their Kanien’kehá culture, traditions and teachings with Indigenous peoples from across the world at the three-day World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference (WISPC), held in Waikato, Aotearoa.
Throughout this journey, members of Akwesasne Child & Family Services, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, and the MCA Department of Health have gone above and beyond to ensure our youth feel safe, supported and cared for while preparing them to share their knowledge, traditions and experiences with other Indigenous nations.
During WISPC, our Akwesasró:non had the opportunity to share their culture in meaningful ways, both through conversations and on larger stages. Youth and staff proudly performed traditional songs and dances before Indigenous peoples from around the world, who also shared their own cultural practices, traditions and teachings. These moments created opportunities to celebrate one another and strengthen connections across nations.
Throughout the conference, youth and staff participated in panel sessions, presentations and discussions exploring how Indigenous traditions, cultural strengths and community connections can support suicide prevention. Meaningful conversations took place between our Akwesasró:non and Indigenous relatives, with traditional gifts exchanged as gestures of friendship, respect and appreciation. Our youth and staff returned from these experiences with new knowledge, perspectives and connections that they are excited to bring home and share with their families and community.
This gathering was a powerful reminder of the importance of coming together as Indigenous peoples, sharing our stories, celebrating our cultures and learning from one another. By creating space for our youth to share their experiences and carry the knowledge of our ancestors forward, we continue to strengthen the bonds that connect us across generations, communities and nations.
And this is only the beginning of their incredible journey in New Zealand! More stories, experiences and photos will be shared as our Akwesasró:non continue to make memories and build connections abroad.
Nia:wen to everyone who contributed their time, care and support to make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible for our youth. Your efforts helped create an experience that will continue to inspire, teach and strengthen our community for years to come.
