Wisdom, resilience, transformation
Andeg Miikana (aan-deg mii-kuh-nuh)
In 2021, Indigenous children accounted for 7.7% of all children under age 15 in the general population, but 53.8% of children in foster care (Statistics Canada, 2022). In response to this disparity, Aandeg Miikana (Crow’s Path) is a youth-led initiative that aims to make the transition out of foster care easier for the youth in care and for staff alike.
The initiative began through the RMYC Summer Program with support from the Indigenous Youth Futures Parternship (IFYP). It was created by Kayleigh Legarde (Sandy Lake First Nation), whose vision began at just 16 years old, and co-developed with Eternity Neekan (Mishkeegogamang First Nation) and Malakai Mawageesick (Sandy Lake First Nation), whose leadership and voices helped shape its direction and impact.
The name Aandeg Miikana, meaning Crow’s Path in Ojibwe, reflects themes of transformation, wisdom, and connection. The crow symbolizes meeting life head-on and building meaningful relationships—teachings that mirror the realities faced by youth aging out of care.
Aandeg Miikana (Crow’s Path) supports Indigenous youth aging out of foster care by providing culturally grounded, youth-led resources that help make the transition into independent living easier. Through shared knowledge, mentorship, and storytelling, this project centres youth voices and raises awareness about the realities of the child welfare system in Canada. We hope to support connection, preparation, and long-term support for youth in Thunder Bay.
This project consists of several deliverables aimed at Indigenous youth in Thunder Bay and the general public. Our documentary, Where the Crows Gather, was filmed in Thunder Bay to showcase youth resilience and fill gaps in mainstream media that often paint the city in a negative light. As a result, we hope that youth feel inspired to join hubs and centres and get involved in their community. Alongside the documentary, we created a care booklet containing advice, hands-on materials, and resources to support and prepare Indigenous youth transitioning out of foster care. This website serves as a central hub and includes an optional peer-mentor program that connects youth with adults who have aged out of the system.
The Aandeg Miikana project was featured at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery on March 29, 2026. It included an unveiling of the documentary Where the Crows Gather, an art display by local Indigenous youth, and the distribution of the care booklets to the public. It was a huge success, bringing in families, communities, city councilors, and more.
Aandeg Miikana was recently featured on CBC’s Superior Morning, highlighting the impact of youth voices and storytelling in the foster care system.
Listen here
The team behind Aandeg Miikana (Crow's Path)
Kayleigh is an Indigenous high school student from Sandy Lake First Nation. She started this project during the summer of 2025 at the RMYC. Her favourite part of this project was watching the progress made on the initiative throughout the process.
Eternity is a youth leader from Mishkeegogamang First Nation based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Her favourite part of this experience was giving youth a voice and a platform to share their stories in the foster care system, as it's very meaningful to her as a youth in care.
Malakai is an upcoming Indigenous advocate from Sandy Lake First Nation. His favourite part of the project was being able to advocate and represent people within urban settings.
Dani is a Carleton alumnus who helped to oversee the project. Her favourite part was creating the promotional posters and driving people around!
Kiri is a Carleton alumnus who helped to oversee the project. Her favourite part was working with everybody and watching the project come to life from start to finish!
Owen is a Media Production and Design student at Carleton University. His favourite part of the project was the meaningful friendships and the valuable experiences he gained while travelling, meeting new people, and spending time in Thunder Bay.
Alicia is a Media Production and Design student at Carleton University who designed and developed the website. Her favourite part was visiting and connecting with people in Thunder Bay. She also loved seeing the project come to life and hopes it brings positive change for youth in foster care.
Mackenzie is a Media Production and Design student at Carleton University. She illustrated and designed the care booklet and was the video editor for the interviews. Her favourite part of the project was playing in the park with the youth in Thunder Bay and getting dizzy on the play structures.
Habone is a Media Production and Design student at Carleton University. Her favourite part of the project was co-creating alongside the Indigenous youth, travelling to Thunder Bay, and connecting with them.
Aandeg Miikana (Crow's Path) was born in Thunder Bay, on the traditional territory of the Fort William First Nation, signatory to the Robinson-Superior Treaty.
This work was led by Indigenous youth, with a broader circle of collaborators. We carry deep respect for the lands, waters, and communities that shape who we are. While the work remains central to Thunder Bay, this resource is meant for youth across Northwestern Ontario; thus, we acknowledge their many Nations, many stories, and many homelands.
We also acknowledge that some collaborators contributed to this work from Ottawa, on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabe people. We honour the voices, knowledge, and lived experiences of all the youth who engage with Aandeg Miikana. This space exists because of you.
This work was made possible through the Indigenous Youth Futures Partnership (IYFP), supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). IYFP's commitment to community and youth-led research has been foundational in building the relationships, trust, and collaborative spaces that made this work possible.
We also gratefully acknowledge the Royal Institute of Mental Health Research and the City of Thunder Bay for their generous support of this initiative.
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