CRE’s Centre for Indigenous Policy and Research is pleased to launch our second call for applications for the Indigenous Youth Policy School (IYPS).
The School provides space for Indigenous youth (aged 18-29) to engage with peers through interactive in-person* and online sessions on a local and national level. The IYPS program is designed to meet the needs of each individual student’s strengths through a flexible curriculum and continuous support to ensure their version of success throughout the program is achieved.
The School is a tuition-free program with no academic or professional requirements. Youth can be at any level of learning and understanding about policy (brand new to policy, or with a baseline); we will help ensure everyone starts at the same place. Indigenous youth are given the tools to ensure their priorities are advanced and perspectives are reflected in policies that matter most to them.
*Pending COVID-19 restrictions (all safety precautions will be taken), if in-person is not possible, sessions will be online.
Due to high demand last year, we are making the School more accessible in 2021 by offering both local in-person spaces as well as digital spaces. We will be offering spaces to youth living in any of the 4 following cities; Victoria (PST), Saskatoon (CST), Toronto (EST), and Ottawa (EST).
Further to these we will be offering digital spaces to youth living anywhere within those timezones, as well as reserving spaces for a completely digital cohort on the East Coast for folks living anywhere in NST or AST time zones. For example, if you live in Whitehorse (PST), you would apply to be a part of the Victoria (PST) cohort in a digital space.
Eligibility/Requirements for Youth:
- Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, or Inuit) youth ages 18-29 (as of January 2021)
- Interested in learning about policy development
- Who are solutions-focused with a desire to create real change
- Must be able to meet once a week for an in-person or online class for the entirety of the nine-month program. The program will take place on Tuesdays nights 6:30-8:30 PM each week from January 2021-September 2021. Training will take place on the weekend in January (date TBD), with classes officially beginning on January 26th.
- Living in either Victoria (PST), Saskatoon (CST), Toronto (EST), and Ottawa (EST) for in-person spaces, or living within those time zones or on the East coast (AST/NST) for digital spaces.
This Program Will Provide Youth With The Opportunity…
- To develop policy recommendations in areas that matter to them and to present their solutions to policymakers and leaders
- To co-develop and shape policies and programs with the government during and after completion of the program
- For experiential learning within the community through participation in local events and gatherings
- For ongoing networking in professional environments that can further connections for future employment and career development
- For support in accessing paid opportunities within the government
- To engage with a network of Indigenous policy leaders upon completion of the program committed to policy development, holding the government accountable, and improving the overall representation of Indigenous people in positions of leadership. This network will become a source of knowledge and expertise as it continues to grow each year.
If you require a different format for your application or if you simply prefer to inform us of your needs by email, please contact us at: centre@canadianroots.ca.
* We can offer support to youth who have jobs that may require letters of support to participate in the Indigenous Policy School. Please inquire for details.