about us
EMPLOYMENT • EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT
At Focus Forward for Indigenous Youth, our approach celebrates Indigenous youth’s strengths, knowledge, and aspirations.
We create programs that are relatable, relevant, and transferable, ensuring that every experience is meaningful today and supports long-term success.
ABOUT US
EMPLOYMENT • EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT
FOCUS FORWARD FOR INDIGENOUS YOUTH is a national registered charity that partners with Indigenous communities across the country to empower Indigenous youth by creating meaningful employment and skills development opportunities.
Rooted in the principles of collaboration and cultural relevance, our work is guided by the belief that Indigenous youth hold the power to shape a thriving and self-determined future for themselves and their communities.
WHAT WE DO
YOUTH FIRST, COMMUNITY DRIVEN
Our programs empower youth with the tools, knowledge, connections, and confidence to thrive on their journeys.
Each program is uniquely shaped by the youth and communities we serve, reflecting community economic goals and cultural traditions, while fostering strong networks through workshops and activities led by Indigenous leaders and mentors.
OUR PROGRAMS ARE TYPICALLY BUILT AROUND ONE OF THE FOLLOWINGMAIN STREAMS:
EXPERIENTIAL
EMPLOYMENT
• Provides practical employment opportunities to Indigenous youth aimed to offer hands on experience in industries including (but not limited to) construction, retail trade, travel and tourism, agriculture, fishing and hunting, and arts.
• The majority of programs are designed to align with high school course curriculum giving students an opportunity to earn high school credits for their participation.
TRADITIONAL SKILLS
& ENTREPRENEURSHIP
• Provides programming that allows Indigenous youth to explore pathways to sustainable employment grounded in culture and traditional knowledge.
• Programs are centered around opportunities for learning traditional skills (such as moccasin making, beading, hunting, and trapping) and paired with workshops that explore entrepreneurship and business practices.
WHAT WE DO
YOUTH FIRST, COMMUNITY DRIVEN
Our programs empower youth with the tools, knowledge, connections, and confidence to thrive on their journeys.
Each program is uniquely shaped by the youth and communities we serve, reflecting community economic goals and cultural traditions, while fostering strong networks through workshops and activities led by Indigenous leaders and mentors.
THE PROGRAMS ARE TYPICALLY BUILT AROUND ONE OF THE TWO FOLLOWING MAIN STREAMS:
EXPERIENTIAL EMPLOYMENT
● Provides practical employment opportunities to Indigenous youth aimed to offer hands on experience in industries including (but not limited to) construction, retail trade, travel and tourism, agriculture, fishing and hunting, and arts.
● The majority of programs are designed to align with high school course curriculum giving students an opportunity to earn high school credits for their participation.
TRADITIONAL SKILLS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
● Provides programming that allows Indigenous youth to explore pathways to sustainable employment grounded in culture and traditional knowledge.
● Programs are centered around opportunities for learning traditional skills (such as moccasin making, beading, hunting and trapping) and paired with a workshops that explore entrepreneurship and business practices.
WHY WE DO IT
“the more skills we have, the more we want to learn,
and the more confident we feel…”
INDIGENOUS YOUTH ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BUILD THEIR SKILLS AND ARE ASKING FOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES,
as stated by a First Nations youth, “the more skills we have, the more we want to learn and the more confident we feel… the more we feel educated and confident, the more we will be willing and able to work towards building a better future for ourselves and our communities” (Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth 2016:96).
Mary, a previous youth participant, shared with us that they believed “all Indigenous youth should have these opportunities” to give back to their communities while gaining employment experience.Similar to Mary, we believe all Indigenous youth should have full and equitable access to educational and employment opportunities to reach their full potential.
Our Vision
We envision a world where all Indigenous youth can confidently navigate their futures.
