Shem Mattinas (he/him) is a Môsoniyi Ililiw, from Moose Cree First Nation and Attawapiskat First Nation in Treaty 9 Territory in Ontario, with ancestral ties to the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee in Quebec. This fall, Shem will begin the Social Service Worker program at Northern College, with plans to pursue a university degree in Political Science.

Shem is the Urban Youth Representative on the Mushkegowuk Regional Youth Council and the Founder of the O’Gorman Indigenous Student Council. He currently works as a Program Assistant with the Attawapiskat First Nation Crisis and Mental Health Team, supporting frontline community wellness. In the spirit of Shannen Koostachin’s legacy, Shem has co-organized and attended youth-led protests, including public opposition to Ontario’s Bill 5, which weakens environmental protections and threatens the rights of First Nations communities in the face of expanding mining development.

Alongside his college studies, Shem plans to develop a Youth Advocacy Toolkit, in collaboration with his peers, a resource that will equip young people across the Mushkegowuk Territory with practical tools and teachings to organize, speak out, and lead with confidence. In the years ahead, Shem hopes to serve as an elected official or work in the mental health and community wellness sector to continue supporting and uplifting his communities.