Who is she?
Gabrielle Fayant is the co-founder of Assembly of Seven Generations (A7G), an Ottawa-based non-profit focused on empowering Indigenous youth. “Seven Generations” refers to the Seven Fires Prophecy of the Anishnaabe people, which says that in the time of the Seventh Fire, a new generation will return to traditional ways of life.
What’s her background?
Fayant is from Fishing Lake Métis Settlement in Alberta. She moved to Ottawa with her mother when she was a teenager. She started A7G in 2014 to give Indigenous youth a sense of community and connection in the city.
What is she known for in Ottawa?
Fayant has won many awards for her work with A7G, including the CBC Ottawa Trailblazer award. The non-profit’s programming includes weekly youth gatherings, a community garden, a storefront in the ByWard Market, an annual round dance, and a powwow to be held on Sept. 21.
“We’ve had a really big impact in just being a reliable organization,” Fayant said.
“We’re an organization that will hold our helpers and the people that represent us accountable. We strive to do our best to make safe spaces.”
Fayant co-manages Adaawewigamig, A7G’s ByWard Market location. The store employs Indigenous youth and sells items from Indigenous brands and artists.
In 2017, Fayant was appointed one of three Independent Youth Advisers to guide the Indigenous Youth Voices initiative, which created a report on how the federal government can implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 66. The call requires the federal government to “establish multi-year funding for community-based youth organizations to deliver programs on reconciliation and establish a national network.”
What do people say about her?
In an interview for CBC, Carolyn Bennett, the former federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, referred to Fayant as a “truly impressive (advocate) and role (model)” for Indigenous youth.
“When I needed support, they were there, and because of that, I just kept coming back,” Cedar Aisipi, one of Fayant’s volunteers told the Ottawa Business Journal about her experience with A7G.
What is something people don’t know about her?
Since Fayant was little, she has loved to play the recorder. Her go-to song is The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
“I still have a recorder from back in the day that I’ll just randomly bust out when we just want to get a laugh,” Fayant said.
