Candidate for MNO Youth Council Region 9 Youth Representative
Hello!
My name is Paige Coture. I am running for the Region 9 Youth Representative on the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council. I am hoping for your support for my re-election. I am a descendant of the Coture-Jones and Jones-Blette dit Sorrelle family line. I am a mud town Métis born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario.
I am currently working as an Educational Assistant in a Special Education classroom for over 3 years. My passion is to support my community’s vulnerable youths by being an advocate for them as well as our metis youth. I understand that youth may not have the ability to speak up. I believe everyone deserves to have someone in their corner. The same goes for our Métis youth. For the past four years, I have served as the MNOYC Region 9 youth representative. Before the MNOYC I sat as a youth rep on Grand River for about two years. I have helped create and run the last four Youth Leadership Conferences with two of them presented through Zoom during COVID. I have attended several self-governance workshops to gain a better understanding of what it means to have self-governance for the MNO. I have the skills and knowledge to inform future youth to navigate their MNO programs and services. I had the honour of presenting the first youth leadership award to a Métis youth in my region.
I have had the pleasure of growing up with the Métis culture and way of life. My grandfather; Peter Coture has served his community as the president of the GLMC for almost 30 years. I hope one day I’ll be able to contribute to our community as much as my Grandfather has. My mother Angie-Lee Coture has always spoken up for our community as a strong voice for Métis women. Being able to witness her voice inspires me to do the same for the youth community. For myself, growing up I didn’t have the opportunities to share my culture with my fellow youth. Being on the MNOYC has allowed me this opportunity and continues to shape me today.
If I am re-elected I promise to continue my role on the MNOYC. To be the voice for our Youth in Region 9 building relationships and creating connections across the homeland. I plan to help create a way for Youth to be supported physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I would love to continue to strengthen my relationships and make new ones in the coming years. I feel that my educational background and the skills I have gained in my career, having 6 years’ worth of council experience makes me a great candidate to continue my role at the MNOYC.
If you want to get in touch with me and ask me any questions, my email is coturepaige@gmail.com
Thank you again for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Paige Coture
MNOYC
Region 9 Youth Representative