‘Every child is such a gift’: 4th annual Youth Teepee Summit hosts Maori

Kids from across Alberta are in Edmonton this week for the fourth annual youth teepee summit, including a volleyball team from New Zealand.

Carmen Hatfield said her heart is full after the fourth annual Youth Teepee Summit kicked off its first day in the Edmonton river valley Tuesday.

“Every child is such a gift,” said Hatfield, who is the summit’s executive assistant.

The summit brings together Indigenous youth from across the province to connect, participate in cultural, physical and education activities, and interact with elders and speakers.

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But this year, 70 Maori youth from Aotearo (commonly referred to as New Zealand), were also part of the festivities.

“It’s incredible to have them here,” said Hatfield. “It’s going to be really inspiring to see their culture … and we can teach each other (our) ways.”

The Maori youth are in Edmonton for the 2025 All Nations Volleyball Showcase that ran from July 25 to 28.

“It’s really important for us to make sure that we connect the people of these lands and waters,” said coach Ngaakohu Paapuni. “They get to sit and listen and learn the narratives of this particular generational knowledge that I think will help benefit our young people in terms of indigeneity around the world.”

Taiki Pou, one of the Maori youth, said the trip has served as an opportunity to experience other Indigenous cultures.

“It’s been really cool getting to see the powwow dances, smudging and all these Indigenous experiences from this land and comparing and contrasting them to what we have back home in New Zealand,” Pou told CTV News Edmonton.