Taanshii, my name is Justin Ron Langan. I am a Métis advocate, social entrepreneur, and policy leader originally from the rural community of Swan River, Manitoba, Canada. I currently serve as Impact Officer of the Winnipeg Hub in the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, where I represent young Indigenous voices on some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to digital sovereignty.

As the Founder and Executive Director of O’KANATA, a federally incorporated, youth-led nonprofit, I lead initiatives that empower Indigenous youth through education, employment, eco-literacy, and cultural revitalization. Our work bridges local community projects with global frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From establishing youth employment hubs and eco-literacy programs to developing the Indigenous Artisan Trade Gateway, O’KANATA provides pathways for Indigenous youth to thrive while strengthening community resilience.

In 2025, I was selected as one of the Davos 50 and spoke at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos on granting nature legal personhood, a dialogue exploring how legal frameworks can protect ecosystems by recognizing their rights to exist and regenerate. I have also presented at Arctic Frontiers, the European Commission, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the World Trade Organization, advocating for inclusive governance and the integration of Indigenous knowledge into global decision-making.

My expertise sits at the intersection of environmental sustainability, Indigenous rights, and emerging technologies. This summer, as an AI Fellow at Mila Institute in Montréal through the Indigenous Pathfinders in AI program, I co-developed LandWatch.AI, an Indigenous-led platform that combines satellite data, open weather models, and traditional ecological knowledge to predict wildfire risks and support land stewardship. This project represents my commitment to ensuring Indigenous communities not only adapt to climate impacts but also shape the future of technology with sovereignty and agency.

I am deeply committed to equity and inclusion. As one of the few openly LGBTQ2S+ Indigenous leaders on the international stage, I strive to create space for marginalized voices in global policy dialogues. My leadership has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Indspire Métis Youth Award, CBC Future 40 Under 40, Corporate Knights Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leader, and the Commonwealth Youth Award Regional Finalist.

Beyond advocacy, I am a storyteller, photographer, and cultural worker. I curate the Indigenous Film Archive, preserving cinema dating back to the 19th century, and have produced photography projects documenting the wisdom of Elders. Through my creative work, I aim to safeguard heritage and share narratives that inspire both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences.

I have also served in diverse governance and advisory roles: as a Parliamentary Intern in Canada’s House of Commons, a Board Member for The Counselling Foundation of Canada, a Youth Leader with Ducks Unlimited Canada, and as a member of the EU-Arctic Youth Dialogue team, among many others. Each experience has deepened my ability to bridge local lived realities with international policy frameworks.

Looking ahead, my vision is to unite ancestral wisdom with modern governance and technology. I plan to pursue graduate studies in public policy, concentrating on Indigenous governance, digital sovereignty, and climate resilience. My goal is to continue building pathways where Indigenous knowledge is valued not as supplementary, but as essential to shaping sustainable, just, and inclusive futures.

My leadership philosophy is rooted in three principles: equity, cultural pride, and intergenerational accountability. I believe lasting transformation requires both systemic reform and community-driven empowerment. Through every role I take on, whether speaking on a global stage, mentoring youth in rural Manitoba, or advancing projects at O’KANATA, I remain guided by the responsibility to uplift others and ensure the next generation has more opportunities than the last.

In summary: I am one of the limited number of young Indigenous leaders regularly invited to global forums, while remaining grounded in rural community work at home. I bridge policy and practice, local and global, tradition and innovation, with an unwavering commitment to improving the state of the world by ensuring Indigenous youth and communities are at the center of solutions for our shared future.