Regional Youth Advisory Committe Members
Provincial Youth Advisory Committee Members
Tyler Thomas
PYAC Member
Tyler Thomas is a Métis Youth from Grand Marais. Tyler has recieved his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Major in Accounting from University, and he has plans to continue furthering his education in this field. Tyler is the vice chair of the Grand Marais & District MMF Local and a member of the MMF Local Advisory Committee in the Southeast Region.
Gavin Ferland
pyac member
Gavin Ferland is the Representative of the Pas Region for the Provincial Youth Advisory Committee. He grew up in a small Métis community of Red Deer Lake, and there, he has learned to feed himself and his family through traditional Métis practices such as hunting, trapping, and fishing. He is also a huge sports fan and has played sports his entire life with his favorite sports being hockey, baseball, and golf.
Justin Langan
pyac member
Justin Langan is a 21-year-old Métis Youth from Swan River. Justin has received a diploma in Writing and Producing from the Interactive Media Arts program at Community College. Currently, Justin is a freelance filmmaker and will be attending University this fall.
Kaylee Smith
pyac member
Kaylee Smith is a Métis woman from St. Laurent in the Interlake Region. Currently, she is persuing a Bachelor of Nursing degree in University and plans to pursue a career as a Registered Nurse. Kaylee is passionate about advocacy and education in her role as Co-President of the Métis University Students’ Association. She spends her spare time enjoying sports, the outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
Sasha Thorstienson
pyac member
Sasha Thorsteinson is a 22-year old Métis woman from Portage La Prairie. She has been a member of the Métis Prairie Steppers since their formation in 2005, and was dancing before that. She is now a freelance dance instructor who loves teaching others the tradition and sharing her culture. She is also a Fire Fighter for her local department and in school to get her license to be a Paramedic.
Dakota Dorion-Evans
pyac member
Dakota Dorion-Evans is a 21-year-old Métis Youth from Thompson. She is also the Youth Representative for the Thompson Region on the Provincial Youth Advisory Committee (PYAC). Her goal in the future is to obtain a degree in Social Work. In her spare time, she likes to go fishing, quading, and camping.
Alyssa Thomas
pyac member
Alyssa Thomas is a Métis woman from the Southeast region and is currently the Infinity Women Secretariat Youth representative on the Provincial Youth Advisory Committee. Alyssa will be completing her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at University this coming spring, and plans to pursue law school in 2021. Alyssa enjoys volunteering within the Métis community, participating in by youth for youth initiatives, and spending time with her family and friends.
Montana Ledoux
pyac member
Montana Ledoux is a 21-year old Métis Citizen from Winnipeg. He is the Vice-Chair for the Provincial Youth Advisory Committee. He is also part of the Winnipeg Regional Youth Advisory Committee and used to be a line cook before Covid-19 took place.
Kyra De La Ronde
pyac member
Kyra De La Ronde is a Metis woman from Selkirk, Manitoba. Kyra has been the Infinity Women Youth representative for the Interlake Regional Youth Advisory Committee since March 2018. In 2020, President Chartrand appointed Kyra as his presidential appointee for the Provincial Youth Advisory Committee. Currently a student in Red River College with the Indigenous School of Education, in the diploma program for Community Development and Social Innovations. Kyra is the female high school hockey coach at Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School, as well as the Director of Communications and Operations at Waanishka Movement Inc. Through her education and advocacy Kyra, hopes to continue her work within her Metis community in creating programming for Indigenous Young Ones. Passionate about Land-Based Knowledge and connecting youth with Mother Earth.