Reconciliation
Meet TELUS' Indigenous youth advisors: Bridging culture, technology and entrepreneurship
Jun 26, 2025
(Above) Top row (L-R): Clint Davis, James Delorme, Christy Morgan, Shaun Soonias, Magnolia Perron, Stephanie Han, Kim van der Woerd. Bottom row (L-R): Shak Gobért, Shazia Zeb Sobani, Luc Lainé, Marissa Nobauer, and Sean Willy
At TELUS, we believe in the power of diverse voices and perspectives, especially when it comes to shaping our future. Today, we're excited to introduce you to two remarkable individuals who have joined the Indigenous Advisory Council as youth representatives: Magnolia Perron and Shadrak (Shak) Gobért. Magnolia has served on the Council since 2023 and Shak joined earlier this year. Their unique experiences and insights are helping to guide our journey of reconciliation and fostering Indigenous entrepreneurship.
Embracing diverse backgrounds
Magnolia Perron, from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory on the Bay of Quinte, Ontario, has a mixed background that includes Mohawk, French Canadian, and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. With a background in psychology and Indigenous policy, Magnolia now works at the
National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association
(NACCA) supporting Indigenous women and youth in entrepreneurship.Shak Gobért, from Frog Lake First Nation, situated in Treaty 6 territory in Alberta and located 200 kilometres east of Edmonton, brings a wealth of experience in IT and technology. His journey led him to create his own Indigenous tech company,
Peyak
, focusing on augmented reality products that incorporate Indigenous culture and teachings.The importance of youth voices
Indigenous populations are some of the youngest in Canada, which is why having them represented at the decision-making table is such a must, according to both Magnolia and Shak. The Elders who guided the development of our reconciliation action plan echoed how critical youth perspectives are to our strategy.
“The vast majority of our population is under the age of 35, so we do look to youth in general as being very key to our communities,” said Shak.
According to the latest Statistics Canada data, 41.2% of Indigenous people are under the age of 25, compared to 27.3% of the non-Indigenous population.
Both advisors stress that youth representation is not just about having a token young person at the table. It's about recognizing the valuable insights, fresh perspectives, and cultural understanding that young Indigenous leaders bring to discussions about reconciliation, economic development and community well-being.
Magnolia also points to the important spillover effects of youth representation. "There's a kind of ripple effect when young people are in leadership roles. We don't know who's watching - in a way, we become role models for other young people in our communities.”
“The vast majority of our population is under the age of 35, so we do look to youth in general as being very key to our communities,” said Shak.
According to the latest Statistics Canada data, 41.2% of Indigenous people are under the age of 25, compared to 27.3% of the non-Indigenous population.
Both advisors stress that youth representation is not just about having a token young person at the table. It's about recognizing the valuable insights, fresh perspectives, and cultural understanding that young Indigenous leaders bring to discussions about reconciliation, economic development and community well-being.
Magnolia also points to the important spillover effects of youth representation. "There's a kind of ripple effect when young people are in leadership roles. We don't know who's watching - in a way, we become role models for other young people in our communities.”
Fostering Indigenous entrepreneurship
A common thread in both advisors' work is the focus on Indigenous entrepreneurship as a path to self-determination. Shak's augmented reality products are breaking stereotypes and showcasing Indigenous culture in innovative ways. They bridge traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technology and allow users to interact with cultural teachings in new and exciting ways.
"We can merge our culture, and our teachings, and our languages with these exciting augmented and virtual realities, 3D and spatial and all that," he said.
Magnolia's work at NACCA aligns with this vision: “I see entrepreneurship as a path to self-determination for Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations. Investing in Indigenous businesses is not just a good investment – it’s a smart one. It empowers people to meet needs in their communities that have often gone unmet, while also creating new opportunities for growth and innovation.”
"We can merge our culture, and our teachings, and our languages with these exciting augmented and virtual realities, 3D and spatial and all that," he said.
Magnolia's work at NACCA aligns with this vision: “I see entrepreneurship as a path to self-determination for Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations. Investing in Indigenous businesses is not just a good investment – it’s a smart one. It empowers people to meet needs in their communities that have often gone unmet, while also creating new opportunities for growth and innovation.”
The path to reconciliation
Both advisors stress the importance of continued commitment to reconciliation. "Allies are needed more than ever,” says Magnolia. “Effective allies support by actively listening,educating themselves, taking the burden off Indigenous people to always do the legwork, and speaking out in support of Indigenous rights."
Personal growth and impact
Being part of the TELUS Indigenous Advisory Council has been a growth opportunity for both Magnolia and Shak. As Magnolia shares, "I feel like it's very reciprocal in the sense that I'm also learning so much. The fact that I get to sit there and listen to what [other advisors] have to share and I get to learn from their wealth of experience and expertise is incredibly special."
At TELUS, we're committed to amplifying Indigenous voices and building relationships centred on reciprocity. The youth advisors gain corporate board experience while offering important insights from their generation that will continue to influence how we evolve and implement our reconciliation commitments.
By including youth advisors like Shak and Magnolia on the Indigenous Advisory Council, we're not only enriching our decision-making processes but also investing in the future leaders of Indigenous communities.
We look forward to the continued guidance and fresh perspectives that Shak and Magnolia will bring to our reconciliation efforts and initiatives supporting Indigenous communities across Canada.
At TELUS, we're committed to amplifying Indigenous voices and building relationships centred on reciprocity. The youth advisors gain corporate board experience while offering important insights from their generation that will continue to influence how we evolve and implement our reconciliation commitments.
By including youth advisors like Shak and Magnolia on the Indigenous Advisory Council, we're not only enriching our decision-making processes but also investing in the future leaders of Indigenous communities.
We look forward to the continued guidance and fresh perspectives that Shak and Magnolia will bring to our reconciliation efforts and initiatives supporting Indigenous communities across Canada.
