She害羞草研究所檚 not old enough to get her learner害羞草研究所檚 permit, but Autumn Peltier has been a driving force in the fight to protect water in Canada害羞草研究所檚 Indigenous communities for years.

The teenage activist from Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island in northern Ontario has been engaged in the issue since she first came across a boil-water advisory in a nearby Anishinaabe community when she was eight years old.

But Peltier said she害羞草研究所檚 had this connection since she was in the womb, where according to cultural teachings, one learns to love water as they love their mother. It traces back even further to her female ancestors, from whom she inherited her traditional role as a water carrier.

As she turns 15 on Friday, the same day students across Canada are expected to march in a massive strike intended to disrupt climate-change inaction, Peltier finds herself at the forefront of an environmental movement being led by youth like her and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

This weekend, Peltier 害羞草研究所� the chief water commissioner for Anishinabek Nation, which advocates for 40 member First Nations in Ontario 害羞草研究所� will return to the United Nations to share her vision for a world in which everyone has access to clean water.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 willing to do my best to represent Canada and the Indigenous people and have a strong voice for our future,害羞草研究所� she said by phone from New York.

害羞草研究所淚 basically want to tell them about the importance of water from a cultural, spiritual level, and then try to tell them that it害羞草研究所檚 time for action.害羞草研究所�

Peltier is set to address hundreds of international guests on Saturday at the Global Landscapes Forum, a platform on land use backed by UN Environment.

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It害羞草研究所檚 her second time speaking at the UN headquarters in Manhattan, having urged the General Assembly to 害羞草研究所渨arrior up害羞草研究所� and take a stand for our planet last year.

Peltier, who was nominated for the 2019 International Children害羞草研究所檚 Peace Prize by the David Suzuki Foundation, has spread her message at hundreds of events around the world, her mother, Stephanie Peltier, said.

In 2015, Peltier attended the Children害羞草研究所檚 Climate Conference in Sweden, and a year later, confronted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about his 害羞草研究所渂roken promises害羞草研究所� at a meeting of the Assembly of First Nations.

害羞草研究所淪he has taken Canada害羞草研究所檚 water crisis on Indigenous lands to the global stage,害羞草研究所� Robert Nasi, executive director of the Global Landscapes Forum, said in a statement.

Peltier will help kick off the forum害羞草研究所檚 conference on ecosystem restoration with a speech drawing on her spiritual knowledge about Indigenous Peoples害羞草研究所� connection to land, water and Mother Earth.

The event comes on the heels of the UN害羞草研究所檚 Climate Action Summit, where earlier this week 16-year-old Thunberg delivered an impassioned plea and scolded world leaders for their inaction on climate change. Thunberg is expected to attend Friday害羞草研究所檚 climate protests in Montreal.

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Peltier had hoped to meet up with Thunberg in New York, but said making plans proved to be difficult. She害羞草研究所檚 still excited to connect with other international youth activists, particularly those from Indigenous communities.

Peltier feels her generation is leading the charge on climate change, because while they may not have created the problem, they害羞草研究所檙e poised to suffer the most severe consequences.

害羞草研究所淲ill we even have a future to look forward to, for our future children, grandchildren?害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭his is our future we害羞草研究所檙e trying to protect and take care of, because it害羞草研究所檚 being basically destroyed.害羞草研究所�

With youth-led climate strikes sprouting up across the globe, Peltier害羞草研究所檚 mother said there are signs that adults are finally catching up.

害羞草研究所淲here I come from, the youth are our teachers. We learn from them, and so you have to listen to them,害羞草研究所� Stephanie Peltier said. 害羞草研究所淭oday, I think it害羞草研究所檚 just an eye-opener, and the youth are being empowered and they害羞草研究所檙e being allowed to share.害羞草研究所�

She said her daughter害羞草研究所檚 Instagram audience has seen a tenfold increase this week from 5,500 followers to more than 55,000 as of Thursday afternoon.

She assumes that Thunberg害羞草研究所檚 moment in the global spotlight may be a factor in this exponential growth. She noted that young Indigenous activists have long been advocating for environmental issues, but are only now receiving recognition.

害羞草研究所淲e know first hand 害羞草研究所� that our people have been impacted for many years,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淣ow everybody害羞草研究所檚 saying, hey, what about the Indigenous people? They害羞草研究所檝e been doing this work too.害羞草研究所�

Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press

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