National Youth Forum 2024
Welcome to the Experiences Canada National Youth Forum, an extraordinary opportunity for youth ages 15-18 to embark on a transformative journey of discovery and connection. In 2024, delve into the critical theme of Reconciliation against the backdrop of Ottawa, Ontario, where Indigenous entrepreneurs, leaders, knowledge keepers, and residential school survivors will share their stories. With all major costs covered, our Forum will bring together 50 passionate youth from each province and territory, fostering friendships, building an alumni support network, and offering a chance to become leaders, volunteers, and mentors. Join us for an unforgettable experience that goes beyond borders, introducing hundreds of teens to the rich tapestry of Canadian regions, cultures, and histories.
We are incredibly grateful for the high number of applications received for the National Youth Forum 2024. Given the high demand applications are now closed.
Theme: Reconciliation
July 3-7, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario
Open to youth ages 15-18
Experiences Canada is excited to be able to bring youth together for this innovative Forum. A total of 50 youth between the ages of 15-18 from each province and territory will be selected to attend four bilingual, expert-led pre-forum webinars on topics related to Reconciliation (2024) followed by in-person, multi-day events and activities focused on the same two themes in each city.
Building on the success of our 2022 Allyship Forum in Winnipeg, participants in the 2024 Forum on Reconciliation will hear from Indigenous entrepreneurs, leaders, knowledge keepers, elders, and residential school survivors.
Expected Outcomes:
- 50 teens introduced to new regions, cultures, histories of Canada
- Friendships and an alumni support network – for life
- First-hand learning from experts in reconciliation
- Opportunity to visit cultural institutions, historical sites, and locales unique to Ottawa and surrounding regions
- Participant produced podcasts on their experiences from the Ottawa Forum
- Library of free learning resources on the themes available before, during and after the Forum
- Opportunities to become youth leaders, volunteers, and mentors
Webinar 1: Economic Reconciliation
This webinar will introduce the concept of economic reconciliation in a way that is appropriate for an audience of youth between the ages of 12 and 18. Subsequent webinars addressing sub-themes of entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship and the impacts of residential schools will also be covered through the lens of economic reconciliation, as will the in-person events in Ottawa for youth participants in early July, 2024.
In this session, our goal is to lay the foundations of understanding why economic self-determination of Indigenous Peoples is integral to reconciliation, and how it is beneficial for both Indigenous peoples and settlers. Closing the socio-economic gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians would yield a $27.7B contribution to the GDP in Canada according to the 2019 Indigenous Economic Progress Report. The National Indigenous Economic Strategy is designed to drive positive change, address long-standing inequities, and achieve inclusive growth for and with Indigenous communities.
Webinar 2: Indigenous Entrepreneurship
This webinar will build on the introduction of the concept of economic reconciliation covered in the first webinar. The goal is look at Indigenous entrepreneurship in the context of broader economic reconciliation and the growth of Indigenous owned start-ups and businesses in non-traditional sectors like fashion, IT, construction, marketing, transportation and many others. The growth and prosperity of Indigenous-owned business will benefit not only Indigenous communities but all of Canada as well, and as such is a key component of economic reconciliation.
According to Carole Anne Hilton (founder of the Indigenomics Institute), entrepreneurs play a major role in the Indigenous economy by providing growth opportunities but also by creating a new cultural narrative.
Webinar 3: Environmental Reconciliation
This webinar will build on the first two webinars in this series, which have introduced the broader concept of economic reconciliation, and the role that Indigenous entrepreneurship plays in economic reconciliation. The goal of this webinar is to look at the environment through the lens of economic reconciliation, and how environmental stewardship is a key component of successful economic growth and prosperity.
Many corporations and companies in Canada have significant operations that have an impact on our environment. We often hear in the news of stories where economic activity and the development of new projects (particularly natural resource-based initiatives) are in conflict with Indigenous communities. True partnerships between corporations and Indigenous communities are bound to be beneficial to the country as a whole, making industries stronger via responsible environmental stewardship and the growth of local economies.
Webinar 4: Residential Schools and their impact
This webinar is the fourth in the series on the theme of economic reconciliation and will build on the previous webinars covering the concept of economic reconciliation, the role of entrepreneurship and how to address environmental stewardship in the context of economic growth. This fourth webinar will look at the lasting impacts of residential schools and the role education will play in economic reconciliation, in a way that is age appropriate for the participants who are between the ages of 12 and 18. Given the sensitive subject matter related to residential schools, it is important that the material be approached in a way that is appropriate to the age and maturity of the participants.
Residential schools were government-sponsored religious schools that were established to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. In total, an estimated 150,000 First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children attended residential schools, the last of which closed in 1996. In 2021, the federal government made 30 September a federal statutory holiday to be observed annually as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour the survivors of residential schools and their families. In honour of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor, this day is marked by the wearing of orange shirts to commemorate all the children who had their culture taken away from them.
While residential schools are a devastating part of our shared history, education will play a role in reconciliation, and particularly in economic reconciliation, as there is still an education attainment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Introducing our Webinar Speakers
Youth Leaders
Our Youth Leaders act as hosts, mentors, chaperones and workshop facilitators for the duration of the program. Youth Leaders assist in the planning and preparation of the webinars, advising and participating in the creation of the online workshops and supplementary tools and resources, and leading podcast production teams. Youth leaders play an important role in facilitating various program activities and mentoring youth through their final podcast or webinar presentation.