13 Moons Youth Council
Carrying Responsibility, Guided by Community
The 13 Moons Youth Council is a community-based leadership body that creates space for youth to step into responsibility through relationship, learning, and active participation. Grounded in Indigenous values, kinship, and community connection, the Council recognizes that youth have always been essential participants in governance systems, not observers waiting their turn.
Rather than positioning youth solely as future leaders, the 13 Moons Youth Council affirms youth as leaders in the present. Through mentorship, cultural teachings, and hands-on engagement, youth are supported to build confidence, understand who they are, and contribute meaningfully to community life. Leadership within the Council is relational and responsibility-based, encouraging youth to learn by doing and to remain accountable to one another, their families, and the community.
The Council also strengthens intergenerational connections by creating opportunities for youth to learn alongside Elders, knowledge holders, and community members. These relationships support the transmission of teachings, values, and responsibilities that are often best learned through shared experience rather than instruction alone.
By centering youth voice and lived experience, the 13 Moons Youth Council nurtures leadership rooted in care, identity, and belonging. In doing so, it supports long-term community wellbeing by helping to sustain cultural continuity and build strong, relational pathways for future generations.
Current Members
Olivia Thom
Shakoyataloloks Whiteye
Oceana Antone
Olivia is Oneida on her maternal side. Her family comes from Oneida Nation of the Thames, with ancestral relations from Oneida New York, Oneida Wisconsin and Six Nations of the Grand River. She also holds relations with ancestors of mixed settler descent. She has a MA in Geography from the University of Guelph. Her Master’s thesis is titl
Olivia is Oneida on her maternal side. Her family comes from Oneida Nation of the Thames, with ancestral relations from Oneida New York, Oneida Wisconsin and Six Nations of the Grand River. She also holds relations with ancestors of mixed settler descent. She has a MA in Geography from the University of Guelph. Her Master’s thesis is titled: “It Is More Than a Methodology: An Indigenous Autoethnographic Exploration of Twanatahle:nas (We all visit) as a Method of Doing Research with Yukwanulha Yukwanikuhliyo as an On^yota’a:ka Woman”. Olivia is currently working for Dr. Diana Lewis in the IndigenERA Lab, as a Research Coordinator. Her work focuses on Indigenous environment health risk assessment and Indigenous-led community-based health research. Olivia is very passionate about data sovereignty, environmental health equity, land-based learning and playing bingo with her Granny.
Oceana Antone
Shakoyataloloks Whiteye
Oceana Antone
Oceana Antone is currently completing a program at Fanshawe with aspirations to continue in youth care. Her experience includes land-based learning with 13 Moons. She has also earned certificates in trauma, grief, and wellness programs, as well as past involvements with youth groups and events through Yotani Youth Enterprise. In her free
Oceana Antone is currently completing a program at Fanshawe with aspirations to continue in youth care. Her experience includes land-based learning with 13 Moons. She has also earned certificates in trauma, grief, and wellness programs, as well as past involvements with youth groups and events through Yotani Youth Enterprise. In her free time, she enjoys making crafts such as ribbon outfits, jewelry, and medicine pouches. Oceana is passionate about contributing to the community and expanding her knowledge.
Abbey Thom
Shakoyataloloks Whiteye
Shakoyataloloks Whiteye
Abbey has been working and studying as an electrical apprentice the last 5 years. She feels it’s very empowering to work as an Indigenous woman in a skilled trade. She loves giving other women the confidence to do the same. Her experience working with her hands in a male dominated trade has given her the confidence to try anything and put
Abbey has been working and studying as an electrical apprentice the last 5 years. She feels it’s very empowering to work as an Indigenous woman in a skilled trade. She loves giving other women the confidence to do the same. Her experience working with her hands in a male dominated trade has given her the confidence to try anything and put herself out there. Abbey is very passionate about reconnecting with her culture. She feels that regardless of how you grow up your ancestors are in your blood. When she attends events she can feel a piece of her ancestors with her and the music slowly healing ancestral wounds. She believes it is very important that we work towards environmental health sovereignty, as it should be a basic human right. As she finds her place in community she is more and more impressed with how the little things like growing your own food and medicines can heal more than just your body. Our ancestors knew these things were more than just food and medicine.
Shakoyataloloks Whiteye
Shakoyataloloks Whiteye
Shakoyataloloks Whiteye
Shekoli! My name is Shakoyataloloks Whiteye from Oneida nation of the themes in am 21 years old. I am a youth facilitator for standing bear and ISWO. I was an autobody apprentice for fanshawe collage but found myself more passionate for learning the oneida language, working with youth and being a role model for Indigenous youth. I love wo
Shekoli! My name is Shakoyataloloks Whiteye from Oneida nation of the themes in am 21 years old. I am a youth facilitator for standing bear and ISWO. I was an autobody apprentice for fanshawe collage but found myself more passionate for learning the oneida language, working with youth and being a role model for Indigenous youth. I love working towards knowing more about my culture everyday so I can have the ability to pass down my knowledge and ways of knowing. I am very interested in having a role to have our nation be more environmentally clean for our future generations and do whatever it takes to get there. Some of my hobbies I enjoy are canoeing, running, archery, cooking and reading.
13 Moons Peer Mentors
Josephine Mcdougall
Orianna Elijah-Brown
Orianna Elijah-Brown
Shekoli swakweku! My name is tw^tahawíhte, which means “she brings the light,” and I am Turtle Clan from the Oneida Nation of the Thames. I am 19 years old and a youth mentor at 13 Moons Land-Based Learning, where I support youth through land-based activities, cultural teachings, and community connection. I carry a deep love for our langu
Shekoli swakweku! My name is tw^tahawíhte, which means “she brings the light,” and I am Turtle Clan from the Oneida Nation of the Thames. I am 19 years old and a youth mentor at 13 Moons Land-Based Learning, where I support youth through land-based activities, cultural teachings, and community connection. I carry a deep love for our language and believe it holds our stories, our healing, and our future. I am also a young mother to my son, which guides the care and patience I bring into my work. Our youth are our future, and my heart is deeply committed to nurturing them, our culture, and our language for the generations to come.
Orianna Elijah-Brown
Orianna Elijah-Brown
Orianna Elijah-Brown
Orianna Elijah-Brown is a wellness practitioner, land steward, and volunteer firefighter serving her community. A young leader from Oneida Nation of the Thames, Orianna is deeply committed to the protection and health of both the people and the land. Her work at 13 Moons focuses on the vital intersection of Indigenous wellness and environ
Orianna Elijah-Brown is a wellness practitioner, land steward, and volunteer firefighter serving her community. A young leader from Oneida Nation of the Thames, Orianna is deeply committed to the protection and health of both the people and the land. Her work at 13 Moons focuses on the vital intersection of Indigenous wellness and environmental care, which includes her current dedication to reclaiming and learning the Oneida language. When she isn't responding to calls or tending to the land, she is often found practicing traditional food ways through gardening, hunting, and canning. Orianna’s life is a grounded balance of physical strength and creative craft, split between the discipline of weightlifting and the artistry of sewing.
Tia Kennedy
Orianna Elijah-Brown
Tia Kennedy
Tia Kennedy is a young woman from Oneida Nation of the Thames and Walpole Island First Nation. She holds a BA in Public Administration and Governance. Currently studying at McMaster University pursuing her Masters of Indigenous Studies. She has spoken at the United Nations advocating for access to clean water for First Nations communities
Tia Kennedy is a young woman from Oneida Nation of the Thames and Walpole Island First Nation. She holds a BA in Public Administration and Governance. Currently studying at McMaster University pursuing her Masters of Indigenous Studies. She has spoken at the United Nations advocating for access to clean water for First Nations communities and serves on Environment and Climate Change Canada's Youth Council. She is dedicated to supporting Indigenous youth, advancing First Nations governance and being a land steward. Through her work at 13 moons she has a new found passion for corn, and earned a nickname "YÓKLATE" which translates to corn silk in Oneida.