Certainly, we all harbor a fervent desire to make a difference in the world. The idea that this impact can stem from sharing a single hashtag from the comfort of our bedroom is intriguing. Disagree with a particular policy? Vent through a scathing post on Twitter or, better yet, share it on TikTok using a trending sound. However, beyond these actions, what else can we do? It often feels as though we are confined to expressing our opinions solely on social media, relegated to the banality of being warriors behind a keyboard and computer screen. Deep down, we sense futility to it all, yet often this is the only resource we have access to. Many young individuals grapple with this cynicism when reflecting on their own activism. In the Summer of 2022, I started my work with TakingItGlobal. As a host of the #RisingYouth podcast, I had the opportunity to interview an impressive list of Canadian youths, all of whom had received grants to fund community service projects. Having read a brief outline of her life passions and work, I felt fully prepared for my first guest. Once the conversation started, however, I was taken aback by her incredible story. Meghan Young, a student at the University of Manitoba, had little knowledge of her family's Red River Métis heritage. Throughout her life, she grappled with a sense of disconnection between herself, her community, and her culture. The revelation occurred during her first year at university when she enrolled in an indigenous studies class – it was akin to a lightbulb moment. "I learned what it meant to be Métis and things started clicking for me. I really wanted to work towards bringing those teachings and my culture back," she expressed. Meghan reached out to other Indigenous students in her community and discovered that many desired to learn traditional practices but lacked the sufficient resources. Through these conversations, she identified a common interest: hide tanning, a technique that had been crucial for the survival of Indigenous groups in Northern Canada for centuries. "That's when I realized there was a need in the community, and for me, I was like, I need to make this happen. I need to be able to bring these youth together and be able to do this," Meghan said. She decided to apply for a #RisingYouth grant to fund a hide tanning workshop on campus. The project helped facilitate a much-needed conversation between Métis youth and community elders, as living in an urban environment often poses barriers for cultural reconnection. Participants had the opportunity to connect with the land, ask questions, and share knowledge while acquiring a valuable skill. "Everybody was just so grateful and happy to be there. They were so eager to learn. It was just so empowering to be able to talk about it," Meghan said. We often think of activism on a global scale. It's easy to focus on the big-picture social issues, voicing our outrage online. We sign the odd petition and use hashtags like #climatechange, before proceeding to call it day. This makes us feel good about ourselves, we feel pride in the sense that we have 'done our part.' Yes - the more people you reach, the better, but rarely do we concentrate our efforts on our communities, neighbours, or friends. In the era of social media, scaling down our activism has become an afterthought. There's a tendency to overlook efforts directed at a smaller scale – within our communities. Meeting the needs of the people around us might not be as exciting as our grand declarations to change the world, but it's something we ought to think about more often.
