Isabelle Canadine '27, a Lehigh student and member of the Seldovia Village Tribe, became the first from her university to attend the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, where she advocated for Indigenous-focused substance abuse policy reform.
For the first time ever, a Lehigh student has been accredited to attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). Isabelle Canadine ‘27, a Global Studies major, travelled to the 24th session of the Permanent Forum as a representative of the organization Tribal Link Foundation, Inc., enabled by the LU/UN Partnership. The Forum was held at UN Headquarters in New York from April 21 to May 2.
The theme of the UNPFII 2025 Session was "Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges."
Canadine, from the Seldovia Village Tribe in Alaska, spoke on behalf of Tribal Link Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that helps to connect Indigenous Peoples through access to information, resources, and networks, specifically with the United Nations system.
Read the full article from the Office of International Affairs >
Spotlight Recipient
Isabelle Canadine ‘27
Undergraduate