What is Miss Indigenous Canada?

Miss Indigenous Canada Leadership Development and Ambassador Program is a registered non-profit organization geared towards young First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women and Two-Spirit. Above all, we value community service, leadership development, cultural involvement, youth empowerment, and authentic representation.

The program was created in an effort to equip young Indigenous folks with the skills they need to succeed as community leaders, create a space to celebrate their abilities and achievements, and have the chance to make connections with like-minded peers.

Our Mission.

Our mission is to empower, equip, and encourage Indigenous youth to develop leadership skills, give back to their communities, and connect to their cultures. We aim to foster an environment where Indigenous youth have the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive.

Our Vision.

We see a generation of leaders deeply committed to their communities and cultures, serving as ambassadors who nurture that commitment both within their own communities and beyond.

A woman mint coloured satin dress, standing and speaking into a microphone at an indoor event. She is smiling and has long, dark hair.
Delegates wearing sashes and evening gowns, standing outdoors during sunset, as a woman in a cream dress with long dark hair stands in front of them.
A group of women standing on steps in front of a building, dressed in formal gowns with sashes.
A young woman in a black dress and gray shawl, wearing a sash that reads 'INUIT OF NUNAVUT' and earrings with white pom-poms, stands at a white podium holding a microphone, smiling.
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A woman with dark hair styled up, wearing a white off-shoulder dress with ruffles, speaking into a microphone behind a white podium, with a sash that reads KASKA DENE, standing in front of a fireplace with a mantel and gray stone wall.
Two-tiered white cake decorated with berries and flowers, with a gold topper that reads 'Miss Indigenous Canada,' on a table with a white tablecloth, with balloons in the background.
A woman standing in front of a black and white historical photo, wearing a yellow scarf with blue text and a multicolored fringe, speaking to an audience.
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Close-up of a woman's hands clasped together, wearing a white bracelet and a pink sweater, with colorful fabric in the background.
Woman wearing a 'Six Nations of the Grand River' sash and holding a jar, standing in the foreground of a busy indoor event with other women in the background.
A girl in a pink skirt and light pink jacket aims a bow and arrow outdoors on a grassy field with trees and a small wooden building in the background.
Group of women playing a game of lacrosse outdoors on a grassy field, with trees in the background.
Group of women in kayaks preparing for a kayaking trip outdoors, with colorful kayaks and paddles visible.
Hands holding decorative feathered flower crafts on a wooden table.
An older woman and a younger woman having a conversation at a table in an office setting. The women are sitting across from each other, with a window in the background.
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  • Empowering Indigenous youth across Turtle Island through leadership development, mentorship, and community connection.

  • Mobilizing Indigenous youth to give back by raising over $83,000 for charitable causes and community initiatives.

  • We are proud to offer over $6000 in scholarships and prizes to our delegates each year.

OUR IMPACT

About the Program

Participant Requirements

  • Open to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women & Two-Spirit with a verifiable community affiliation

  • Delegates must be at least 18 years old and no older than 30 by the first day of program week

  • Must be a Canadian resident

  • Must belong to an Indigenous nation/community that is primarily in Canada either by treaty or historically

  • Must be of good character and act in ways that are reflective of a community ambassador

  • Applicants should display a preexisting involvement and knowledge of their Indigenous community

  • We welcome parents, trans, 2S, and married individuals to apply & participate!

Ambassador Categories

  • Personal Essay

    • Delegates submit a short essay introducing themselves and discussing what the title of Miss Indigenous Canada means to them.

  • Community Scrapbook

    • Delegates submit a scrapbook that discusses their Indigenous community and their community involvement.

  • Personal Interview

    • Delegates have a three minute, one-on-one interview with each member of the selection committee.

  • Cultural Presentation

    • During the final showcase delegates perform a three minute presentation on a topic of their choice relating to their culture.

  • Community Leadership

    • Delegates design, develop, and implement an initiative that responds to a need in their community.

  • Overall Impression

    • Each delegate is assessed in various areas, including Pre-Program Impression, Behaviour, Participation, Adherence to Deadlines, and more.

Program Structure

The Miss Indigenous Canada program is designed to support participants in gaining tangible, real-life skills that will support them for the rest of their lives and aid them in being leaders and role models in their respective communities. We have created a program curriculum that offers both instructional training and experiential opportunities in the following areas: 

  • Community & Personal Leadership

  • Public Speaking

  • Media Engagement & Interview Skills

  • Community Engagement

  • Professional Conduct & Networking

  • Grant Writing

The Miss Indigenous Canada Program consists of three main components that all delegates participate in:

  • Training & Mentorship

    • Prior to program week, participants will participate in a training workshop and complete four online modules that discuss various aspects relating to the topics described above. There will also be opportunity to meet with members of the committee for individualized mentorship.

  • Program Week 

    • Program week is a retreat-style event filled with workshops, cultural tours, formal dinners, guest speakers, and activities that support our goal of developing community leaders. 

  • Ambassador Competition

    • This is where participants put what they have learned to work, and compete to be an ambassador and representative of Indigenous youth across the country!

No experience necessary!

We provide training in areas such as community leadership, public speaking, interview skills, and more as part of our program!

Charitable Giving

As part of our program, participants are asked to fundraise for the chosen charity of Miss Indigenous Canada, which is selected by the previous year’s ambassador. Since our inception, our participants have raised over $83,000 for charity.

Community Leadership

The Community Leadership Project is designed to support participants in developing, planning, and launching a meaningful initiative that responds to a real need in their community. One participant will receive a $1000 grant to support the implementation of their project!

Scholarships & Prizes

Each participant will receive a gift bag full of goodies on arrival. Additional prizes will be awarded to the winner, runners-up, and recipients of special awards. In past years, with the support of our sponsors, we’ve been proud to provide over $6000 in scholarships and bursaries to our participants.

Group of women in colorful traditional Indigenous attire and sashes, standing and kneeling in front of a wall covered with artwork and posters celebrating Indigenous art.

Meet the Committee

  • A young woman with black wavy hair, adorned with red butterflies, smiling and wearing a white floral dress.

    Aleria McKay

    FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

    Aleria McKay is an Onondaga & Teme Augama Anishnabai mother, writer, and educator from Six Nations of the Grand River. Aleria holds a BA in Theatre and Indigenous Studies and a BEd. She is currently working toward her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. Her most recent projects include Sweetgrass & Cigarettes, and Homecoming. You can read more at www.aleriamck.com.

  • Female hockey player in purple jersey with 'Six Nations Stars' logo, holding goalie equipment.

    Mikenzie Sandy

    Mikenzie is Cayuga nation and Wolf clan from Ohswé:ken. She works full time as a TA at Onkwawenna Kentyohkwa, and part time as an RA with the Ratiwennokwas documentation project, consultant, and collaborator within several community grant-funded organizations. Mikenzie graduated from the University of Toronto in 2023 with a Master of Arts in linguistics.

  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a sleeveless black top and purple flower earrings, standing in front of lush green ferns.

    Jessica Frappier

    Jessica Frappier is Anishinabe and caribou clan from Teme Augama Anishinabek. She is currently an articling student with Legal Aid Ontario, where she works in family law. Jessica recently completed a Master of Laws (LLM) specializing in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy at the University of Arizona and holds JD and JID degrees in Canadian Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders from the University of Victoria.

  • A woman sitting on a white couch with long black hair, wearing a white dress, tan shoes, and a patterned purse on her lap, smiling at the camera.

    Jessica McKenzie

    Jessica McKenzie is a proud member of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, living in Toronto, ON. She is a sister, beadwork artist, and the inaugural Miss Indigenous Canada. With her love for community, she encourages cultural revitalization through traditional beading workshops. Jessica has been recognized on APTN, Women of Influence, and in the Globe and Mail, where she champions the importance of Indigenous art to community and culture.

  • Kymberly Farmer

    Kymberly Farmer is Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River. She is passionate about Indigenous sovereignty and women's empowerment. She volunteers her time with multiple ambassador programs as well as the Indian Defence League of America and Six Nations Agricultural Society while working as a beadwork artist and esthetician. When she is not working or volunteering she is passionate about connecting with the land and exercising Indigenous food sovereignty. Kymberly is also the artist behind the Miss Indigenous Canada sash and crown.

  • Kari Hill

    Kari Hill is Cayuga Turtle clan from Six Nations of the Grand River. She is a former Miss Six Nations and Miss IDLA. Kari currently works as a student recruitment and liaison officer at Six Nations Polytechnic. Kari is a proud auntie of six nieces and nephews and is the honorary auntie of the Miss Indigenous Canada delegates.

  • Emma Morrison

    Emma Morrison is a proud Mushkegowuk Cree woman from Chapleau Cree First Nation. She has held numerous titles, including Miss North Ontario Regional Canada 2017, Miss Teenage Canada 2017, and Miss World Canada 2022.

  • Hannah Farmer

    Hannah is Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River. She currently works as an Early Childhood Educator, and has volunteered for many organizations including the Indian Defence League of America, Grand River Artisan Market, and more.