Autumn Peltier

2023 Community Hero

ABOUT THE Hero

Autumn Peltier is an Indigenous Rights & Water activist whose journey for justice has made waves around the globe. She is 19 years old. Peltier captivated the world’s attention at the age of 12 when she admonished Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at an Assembly of First Nations event, for the choices he had made for her people.

At 13, Peltier first spoke at the United Nations General Assembly. Amongst many accolades, she’s received the Sovereign Medal of Exceptional Volunteerism from the Governor-General of Canada and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Invited back in 2018 & 2019, she spoke at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit in New York and continues to travel the international stage speaking about Indigenous rights, inclusion, representation, and collaboration, all while inspiring the next generation.

She’s been a featured speaker at The World Economic Forum, sharing the stage with Greta Thunberg, is a regular guest speaker at The United Nations, has been shortlisted for the International Children’s Peace Prize 3 times, and in 2022 was runner-up for the International Children’s Peace Prize with the Nobel Peace Prize committee. Further, in 2022, The Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa, Canada, built an Autumn Peltier showcase display highlighting her ribbon skirts worn at the United Nations as well as her work and contributions as part of Canada’s history.

She has been featured on the front cover of Maclean’s and included in Maclean’s Top 50 Canadian Power List. In 2022, Peltier was an Honorary Doctorate Inductee from Royal Roads University, received the Daniel G. Hill Award from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, as well as the Emerging Canadian Leader Award from Public Policy Forum.

Autumn’s movie, “The Water Walker,” a documentary, was released on HBO Canada and has been available across many of Canada’s school boards. In 2023, Autumn was the first Indigenous person to be featured on a Hershey chocolate bar campaign across Canada, celebrating prominent and impactful women leaders across the country.

Also in 2023, Autumn began her first novel partnership, set to be released in 28 countries with Penguin Random House. Closing out the year of ’23, Autumn was awarded the prestigious Community Hero Award with Canada’s Walk of Fame.

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