Northland School Division

Northland School Division is pleased to congratulate Owen Gladue on being selected to serve on the Minister’s Youth Council for the 2024-2025 school year!

Owen, a Grade 12 student from Career Pathways School in Wabasca-Desmarais, is one of 40 students chosen to provide first-hand experiences and perspectives directly to the Minister of Education. Click on the link to learn more about the Minister’s Youth Council https://www.alberta.ca/student-engagement. 

Owen has lived in Wabasca-Desmarais his entire life. He loves spending time with family and friends and enjoys cooking, baking, and writing in his spare time. At school, he enjoys English and Science, with a special interest in Chemistry. In fact, he took Chemistry over the summer to ease his workload for Grade 12.

Owen is highly driven and unafraid to share his thoughts and ideas as a First Nations student. When he learned about the Minister’s Youth Council from his former principal, Tessa Dagenais, he eagerly applied.

“I was looking online and noticed the list of names on the council, and it struck me that there isn’t much representation from rural or Indigenous communities,” said Gladue. “I wanted to provide that perspective because it’s so important. We don’t have enough Indigenous voices in education, media, or many other places. I felt it was crucial to apply because I believe we can do more to support Indigenous students, especially in a system that wasn’t designed for us and still needs significant change. Even though we’re just starting to address these issues, there’s a lot of work ahead. I wanted to share my perspective as someone who lives in an Indigenous community in rural Alberta and is navigating the education system.”

As a member of the Minister’s Youth Council, Owen aims to emphasize the importance of promoting Indigenous education, whether through teaching Indigenous history, storytelling, or land-based learning. He also plans to advocate for equal opportunities for Indigenous students in rural communities, particularly in areas like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), fine arts, and career pathways.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I congratulate Owen on this important achievement,” said Robin Guild, Board Chair. “Having representation from Northland School Division on the Minister’s Youth Council is a big deal. Owen’s voice will greatly support the Board’s ongoing efforts to advocate for Northland communities. The entire Northland family is very proud of you Owen!”

“Our new Education Plan emphasizes the importance of student voice in shaping the learning experience,” said Cal Johnson, Superintendent of Schools/CEO. “Owen is a bright young man, and his insights will be important on the Minister’s Youth Council. His knowledge and perspectives will also help us ensure we deliver the best possible education for all Northland students.”

“I’m not at all surprised that he was selected,” said Tessa Dagenais, Former Career Pathways School Principal. “Owen is hardworking, kind, and deeply passionate about his home community, Indigenous education, and his culture, as well as education in general. I couldn’t think of a more perfect student to represent not only his community but also Indigenous youth in rural Alberta. I’m so proud of you, Owen! I actually screamed when I got the email that you were accepted.”

Reflecting on the support he received throughout his journey, Owen expressed gratitude to those who have helped him. 

"I'd like to thank Ms. Dagenais for being such a great principal, and my parents and siblings for their support during my application process,” said Gladue. “A special thanks to my English teacher from last year, Ms. Ell—she was a big inspiration for me. I really enjoyed her class and the work we did; she was an exceptional teacher. I also want to thank Emma, one of my best friends, for always being there for me."

Owen’s first meeting as a member of the Minister’s Youth Council will take place from October 4-6, 2024, in Edmonton.