Mackenzie (Kamâmak) Brown

When I look at the goals, I believe the one that resonates the most with me and my work is SDG 10: Reduced inequalities. My entire life has been focused on rights, access to support, reducing the gaps of poverty, and so on. My volunteering was heavily based around working to raise money for children in need so that every child could have the same access to health care. My work history has always centred around caring for at-risk youth and families. My drumming has always been about educating others about my culture so that we can all learn that we are not that different from one another. The idea of reducing inequalities means having everyone on the same playing field where we are all cared for, and that’s what I strive for.

There’s a lot of change I would like to see happen by 2030. I would love to see the gap of inequalities in access to education, food, resources, and housing close. I would love to see more sustainable housing options and renewable energy resources being used. I would love to see less of a gap between those who are prospering financially and those who are not. I would love to see clean water and see Mother Earth in a better state. I would love to see care, understanding, tolerance, cooperation, collaboration, and love. These ideals are hard to accomplish and take the work of thousands. Change can happen when we are all working toward a common goal.

There are so many ways youth can get involved. It can be as small as doing research on sustainable tourism before travelling or supporting local when buying gifts. It could be as big as starting a climate change group at school or being part of a graduate students’ association. I challenge youth to get to know the new kid in their school who just immigrated to Canada, and to attend marches for climate change and education. I challenge youth to volunteer at the food bank or donate a toy to their local youth shelter. There are honestly so many big or small ways you can be involved. All change matters.