About
Our Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program is a safe and empowering space where Indigenous youth come together to learn, share, and grow alongside Indigenous leaders, Knowledge Keepers, and mentors from across Turtle Island. Grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, this program weaves culture, storytelling, leadership, and career exploration into a nurturing virtual community.
This program is completely free, national in scope, and open to Indigenous youth at all stages of their leadership journey. There is no cost for Indigenous participants to join WIL’s Indigenous Youth Mentorship Group Program. In partnership with WIL and the Emerging Leaders Placement Project, funded in part by the Canada Service Corps, we are proud to offer 24 spaces in the mentorship program to all Indigenous youth ages 14–30.
Program Vision
The program creates a meaningful space for Indigenous youth to reconnect with stories from Indigenous role models and explore pathways into leadership, education, community engagement, and future careers.
Youth experience mentorship that honours community values, land connection, identity, and the strength of Indigenous teachings.
There is no charge for Indigenous youth to participate in WIL's Indigenous Youth Group Mentorship Program. In collaboration with our Emerging Leaders Placement Project funded in part by Canada Service Corps, WIL is proudly offering 24 mentorships to Indigenous youth participants (ages 14-30).
As we walk together through topics that may touch on lived experiences, we honour that emotions and memories may arise. Participants are encouraged to care for themselves in the ways that feel right. A safe space will be created for anyone who needs time, quiet, or support, and our Knowledge Keeper will be there to offer guidance, listening, and grounding practices.
What Makes This Program Unique
01
Culturally Grounded Mentorship
02
Collective Group Mentorship Circles
03
Accessible, Low-Barrier Format
04
Representation Across Communities
Who This Program Is For
Indigenous youth (First Nations Status & Non-Status, Métis, Inuit) who are:
-
Ages 14–30
-
Interested in leadership, community building, and mentorship
-
Looking to connect with Indigenous mentors in a supportive environment
-
Located in any region of Canada, including urban, rural, and remote communities
Recruitment includes regional chapters and outreach through Indigenous schools, youth programs, and community partners.
Why Join This Program
Youth who participate will:
-
Strengthen confidence
-
Learn from Indigenous mentors and role models
-
Develop leadership and community-building skills
-
Explore education and career pathways
-
Build meaningful connections with other Indigenous youth, mentors and role models
-
Grow within a supportive mentorship circle
This program celebrates who you are, where you come from, and the future you are building as a leader.
Program Structure and What to Expect
Each mentorship session follows a consistent, culturally grounded structure:
1
Opening Circle and Cultural Grounding
2
Mentor Storytelling (career journeys, cultural sharing, leadership wisdom)
3
Breakout Discussions with Mentors and Youth
4
Collective Reflection Circle and Closing
Sessions are approximately 90 minutes and held once per month.
Indigenous Group Mentorship – Program Design in Progress
Our Indigenous Group Mentorship program is being intentionally shaped in collaboration with Indigenous youth. As we gather intake forms, we are listening closely to understand your goals, interests, lived experiences, and what support looks like for you.
The information you share will directly guide the creation of a custom mentorship program that reflects your needs, strengths, and aspirations. Our goal is to build a meaningful, culturally respectful experience that supports your personal, educational, and leadership journey.
Your voice matters—and this program will be shaped by you.
Session 1:
April 2, 2026
Session 2:
April 30, 2026
Session 3:
May 28, 2026
Session 4:
June 11, 2026
Mentors
The program is facilitated by an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper who guides the cultural integrity of the sessions. Mentors represent a balance of Indigenous peoples from diverse Nations and professions.
Youth Support and Cultural Safety
The program provides:
A welcoming environment with cultural safety at the forefront
A supportive Program Lead and technical team
Mentorship guidance
A national community of peers
Our goal is for every youth to feel supported, validated, and inspired throughout the journey.
Registration
Registration for the 2026 cohort opens soon.
Subscribe to our mailing list for updates and early access.
Land Acknowledgement
The Women in Leadership Foundation acknowledges that our head office is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ (land) of the Syilx / Okanagan people who have been here since time immemorial. We recognize, honour, and respect the Syilx / Okanagan territory upon which we live, work, and play.
The Okanagan Nation is comprised of 7 member communities in the Southern Interior of British Columbia: Okanagan Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band, Penticton Indian Band, Upper Nicola Band, Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands, and Westbank First Nation; and in Northern Washington State, the Colville Confederated Tribes.
tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ means the land in the nsyilxcən language and everything that lives and interacts on it. It is an all-encompassing word that expresses the intersectionality of land and nature.
Women in Leadership also recognizes, honours and respects the presence of all Indigenous people, past, present and future.
Funding Acknowledgement
The Emerging Leaders Placement Program is funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada Service Corps Program.
We are proud to support youth leadership, community engagement, and volunteerism across Canada thanks to this vital funding.
#CanadaServiceCorps
#LeadersToday