Youth Leadership Council

Kayla has been a devoted member of the Youth Leadership Council 2021 and is honoured to serve as the Chair for the 2025-2026 term. Born in her homelands, Vernon, BC, she currently lives in her community. Her family includes her parents, Anne and Brian Ochoa, her grandmother, Penny Lawrence, and her late step-grandfather, Alvin Shaffer.  

As a proud syilx multimedia artist, Kayla showcases her talents through canvas paintings, digital art, beading, and mural work, some of which can be seen at the OKIB’s Public Safety office. She is also deeply passionate about land-based learning and cultural confidence, believing that connecting with the land is vital for healing.  

Kayla enjoys activities such as hiking with her dog Honey-Bear, gathering and harvesting, and continually expanding her knowledge of traditional plants and medicines.  

In her role as Chair of the Youth Leadership Council, Kayla’s primary goal is to offer guidance, education, and support to the Youth in her community. She is particularly dedicated to advocating for mental health awareness and education, possessing knowledge in suicide prevention and mental health workshops.  

Eager to gain more tools to assist those in need, Kayla is committed to creating safe spaces for Youth to share their voices and believes there is always more to learn. 

Emmarie is a dedicated Youth Leadership Council Co-chair and a graduate of W.L. Seaton High School. She holds a certificate in Indigenous early childhood education and has been actively involved in hockey for over ten years. Emmarie has attended the RCMP academy in Vernon and gained mentorship through the Indigenous Youth Leadership academy at the RCMP depot in Saskatchewan.   

A passionate advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG2S), she takes part in the annual Red Dress Day walk. Emmarie is an exceptional public speaker and MC’d the 2024 What Happens Upstream Youth Conference and has participated in the SD22 Trustee Forum, addressing the challenges faced by Indigenous students. Her goal is to continue developing her skills through training and workshops alongside the Youth Leadership Council, focusing on helping Youth foster a sense of belonging and advocate for a safer community.

Reed is an avid sports lover, especially when it comes to baseball. He grew up playing the sport and remains an active participant in the Vernon Men’s League. Recently, Reed graduated from W.L. Seaton High School with his diploma and earned a certificate from UBC’s Indigenous Summer Leadership Camp.  

He currently resides in his homelands, Vernon, living with his mother, Keona Joe, and his brother, Adrian Wilson. Reed cherishes his connection to his culture, whether it’s through listening to the language, spending time with elders, or enjoying the land.  

Saasin is a recent graduate of W.L. Seaton High School and a dedicated member of the Youth Leadership Council. Her plan is to attend post-secondary to veterinary medicine. She recently worked alongside OKIB Youth at the Komasket Youth summer camp and traveled to the Uze De’Yah Youth cultural exchange camp in Takla Narrows. 

Saasin offers valuable insights and cultural knowledge from her travels throughout her life. One of her initiatives is for the Youth Leadership Council to travel to as many Youth conferences as possible, including the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) 2025, in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. 

Akasha is a bright, empathetic, and inquisitive individual who has been a member of the Youth Leadership Council since 2023. She has attended two conferences hosted by Gathering Our Voices and is currently working towards her n’syilxcən certificate with Nicola Valley Institute.

Akasha enjoys spending time with her pets, working on creative projects, and learning new things. A goal she wishes to see achieved by being a part of the Youth Leadership Council is encouraging other Youth and seeing them succeed.

Cruz is an active member on the Youth Leadership Council of the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB). He is a Junior Firefighter with the OKIB fire department and a recent graduate of W.L. Seaton High School. 

Residing in the OKIB community, he has a strong connection to syilx culture and actively participates in hand drumming with the Birch Creek Drum Group. Skookum about amplifying the voices of Youth, Cruz demonstrates leadership by engaging in workshops and collecting feedback on council initiatives.

His goal is to tackle systemic barriers faced by Indigenous Youth by linking them with mentors in a culturally safe setting. 

Shelbe is soft-spoken, thoughtful and creative. She is also a huge fan of anime, her purple sweater and cats, and one of her favourite pastimes is drawing and reading. She is a recent graduate of W.L Seaton High Schol and has been a member of the Youth Leadership Council since 2023. Shelbe has obtained a certificate in Peer Support & Crisis Intervention training with Gurleen from Canadian Mental Health Association and has attended the 2025 Gathering our Voices Conference in Kamloops. Shelbe is interested in developing her leadership skills that will equip her to help the Youth in community.

Gabriel is kind, thoughtful, and a super supportive friend. He is also a huge fan of anime which runs in the family! Gabriel is currently a student at W.L. Seaton High School and resides in the OKIB community and has been a Youth Leadership Council member since 2025. Gabriel has attended three Gathering our Voices Youth Leadership conferences and has obtained a certificate in Peer Support & Crisis Intervention training with Gurleen from the Canadian Mental Health Association. Gabriel is interested in expanding his skill set and participating in leadership training, especially when it comes to learning anything new that involves leveling up your mental health.