YOUTH EMPOWERMENT STREAM
2020/2021 Impact Overview
In 2020/2021, CRE launched the Youth Empowerment Stream. The goal of this program was to support small youth-led projects with grants of up to $5,000
CRE did two intake rounds (Fall 2020 and Winter 2021) The focus of this stream is to fund new and emerging micro-projects that focus on increasing the resilience, engagement and wellness of youth. Projects must be led by 2+ Indigenous youth (ages 1529). Grantees and youth will receive innovative mentorship, training and capacity-building opportunities throughout the project.The Youth Empowerment Stream can be used as a stepping stone to implementing a new idea or start your work with a project idea.
The Youth Empowerment Stream provided $55,000 in funding to 11 groups in 8 Provinces and Territories Who are
Alberta
POWWOW TIMES
Pow Wow Times will run an Indigenous Library where 15 youth will have access to books by Indigenous authors and will participate in a digital book club Youth will review books through video series and will have the space to share their perspectives and impressions of the stories.
British Columbia
RED DEER ABORIGINAL DANCE TROUPE
The Red Deer Aboriginal Dance Troupe Society will host bi-monthly digital drum and song sessions. Knowledge Keepers will share songs, teachings and stories about the songs. Sessions are meant to build skills and knowledge for participants with the intention that the group will have composed a rounddance song by the end of the project.
TAKLA NATION CHIL'KEH (YOUTH) GROUP
Youth will be taken on a trip to gather traditional medicines & supplies such as sage, sweetgrass and smudge bowls. These do not grow in their area, and there has been limited access since COVID-19. Youth will work with Elders and learn teachings around harvesting medicines.
Manitoba
COMMUNITY204
CommUNITY204 will provide space for youth participants to learn bundle teachings, to build their bundles, learn cultural activities (drum making, hunting, sewing, pipe carrying, etc) and to support safety patrols. These teachings and activities would be run alongside a men's sharing circle.
Multi-Provincial
RED TENT OF THE PRAIRIES
Red Tent of the Prairies will host a series of monthly women's sharing circles and workshops around moontime teachings and empowerment. Participants will have the space to learn teachings, share experiences and enhance their sense of community. This project will reach youth in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Newfoundland and Labrador
PORT AU PORT MI'KMAQ
CULTURAL
Re:connect - Youth + Culture will host drum making workshops for youth. The intention of these workshops are for youth to learn the histories, stories and teachings behind the drum.
QALIPU MI'KMAQ YOUTH COUNCIL
This project will support the development of the Qalipu Mi'kmaq Youth Council, and a collaborative election process where leaders are identified in the community. Youth Council members will engage in a visioning process as well where they will map out priorities for youth in their community around programming, social events and community building.
Northwest Territories
BUILDING NORTHERN FUTURES
The Peer Support Group will connect youth ages 16-24 who self identify as vulnerable or at risk. Youth will build connections with peer supports and create a strong network in their community. Peer Programming will include providing one-on-one coaching and advocacy, facilitating group events, promoting young people’s active participation in treatment and in meetings with professionals, helping young people navigate services or undertake activities in the community, coordinating community events for/with young people, publicly sharing personal stories of hope and recovery, engaging in discussions around public policy and legislative activities, and encouraging young people to participate in local activism.
Nova Scotia
HEARTWOOD CENTRE FOR COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Kamlamunikk, which means heart in Mi'kmaw, is a partnership that allows two youth-led, youth serving projects to combine their expertise in art and land based learning and youth engagement to create meaningful healing opportunities that reach Indigenous youth in their networks and communities. The collaboration will allow for each program to share its strengths with the other, resulting in a powerful impact for participants. Youth will participate in art/mindfullness workshops that are grounded in culture.
Ontario
LUNAAPEEW YOUTH COLLECTIVE
The Lunaapeew Youth Collective will engage youth in youth-led programs and activities that focus on revitalizing culture, language, customs and traditions. The focus of the programming is to increase youth's sense of identity and sense of community through building stronger intergenerational connections.
RATITSENHANÓNHNHA - THEY'RE PROTECTING THE FIRE
Group leaders will run a series of online zoom teachings sessions centering around sharing cultural knowledge with youth from across the confederacy.
