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Autumn Peltier, a National Hero with a cause

Autumn Peltier, a 19-year-old Anishinaabe Indigenous Rights and Water activist from the Wiikwemkong First Nation, has gained global recognition for her unwavering dedication to environmental justice. Her advocacy for clean water and Indigenous rights has made a significant impact worldwide, inspiring many to take action. She first captivated audiences at the age of 12 when she reprimanded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during an Assembly of First Nations event back in 2016, criticizing his decisions impacting her community on issues such as pipeline work and water protection.

Peltier has many achievements to her credit throughout the years, including the Sovereign Medal of Exceptional Volunteerism from both the Governor-General of Canada and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. She was also named the Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation in 2019. In 2018 and 2019, she returned to speak at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit in New York, continuing to advocate for Indigenous rights, inclusion, representation, and collaboration on the international stage, inspiring future generations. She has also been a featured speaker at The World Economic Forum and is a regular participant at the United Nations. Peltier has been shortlisted for the International Children’s Peace Prize three times, and in 2022, she was a runner-up in the competition held by the Nobel Peace Prize committee.

In 2022, The Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa created a showcase to honour her ribbon skirts worn at the UN, highlighting her significant contributions to her people and Canadian history. She has graced the cover of Maclean’s and has been included in their Top 50 Canadian Power List. That same year, she received an Honorary Doctorate from Royal Roads University, the Daniel G. Hill Award from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and the Emerging Canadian Leader Award from the Public Policy Forum.

Recently, she released a documentary, “The Water Walker,” which premiered on HBO Canada and has been accessible in numerous Canadian schools. In 2023, she became the first Indigenous person featured in a Hershey chocolate bar campaign, celebrating influential women leaders across Canada. Additionally, just recently, she launched her first novel partnership, set to release in 28 countries through Penguin Random House. To cap off an impressive year, Autumn was also awarded the prestigious Community Hero Award from Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Autumn Peltier’s efforts to improve not only her community but the country as a whole are nothing short of amazing. At Polite Canada, we strive to honour and recognize individuals like Autumn who work tirelessly to make their community and country a better place to live. Together, we can make a difference by helping each other, supporting our communities, and standing up for what we think is right.

Source: Community Hero