Join Indigenous Youth Services and Make a Difference
Discover the Indigenous Youth Services Mentorship Program!
The Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program is a culturally grounded initiative designed to connect Indigenous youth with supportive, experienced mentors who provide meaningful guidance, encouragement, and connection. Delivered either in-person or through secure virtual platforms, this program is inspired by the traditional Big Brother/Big Sister model and tailored specifically for Indigenous communities. It offers young people a safe, consistent relationship with someone who understands their cultural identity, unique challenges, and aspirations.
This mentorship experience is more than just a support system. It is a powerful opportunity to reclaim community-based kinship, strengthen resilience, and promote healthy development through relationships rooted in trust, culture, and care. Whether the focus is emotional wellness, academic success, cultural learning, or navigating personal challenges, our mentors are committed to walking beside youth on their journey to adulthood.
Welcome to Indigenous Youth Services Youth Center
Why Mentorship Matters
Indigenous youth today face a number of complex, intergenerational challenges shaped by colonization, systemic inequity, and cultural displacement. As a result, many young people grow up without access to strong role models, cultural guidance, or consistent emotional support. Mentorship offers a critical intervention that can positively influence the trajectory of a young person's life.
Through sustained, one-on-one relationships with culturally attuned mentors, youth experience reduced isolation, increased self-worth, and a deeper connection to their identity and community. This program also serves as a bridge between traditional knowledge systems and contemporary lived realities, helping young people find meaning, belonging, and strength as they navigate modern challenges.
By investing in relationships that center Indigenous values, this program restores a sense of kinship, offers protective factors against systemic barriers, and empowers youth to reclaim their place as future leaders, knowledge-keepers, and changemakers within their communities.
Culturally Responsive Mentorship
Each mentorship relationship is intentionally rooted in Indigenous worldviews. Mentors draw upon cultural teachings, stories, and traditional practices to support youth in developing a stronger sense of identity and belonging. Cultural responsiveness is not a feature of the program; it is its foundation. Mentors are trained to provide guidance in ways that honor language, spirituality, connection to land, and community protocols.
Whether it's through participating in ceremonies, learning traditional skills, or simply holding space to talk about lived experiences, our approach creates a safe environment where youth can explore their identities without judgment or assimilation. Culture is a source of strength, and mentorship helps restore that connection.
Flexible Delivery (In-Person or Virtual)
Accessibility is central to the program's design. Recognizing the diverse geographies and realities of Indigenous youth, the Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program is offered both in-person and virtually. This ensures that no matter where a young person lives—urban, rural, or remote—they can access the same consistent, high-quality support.
Virtual mentoring is conducted through secure platforms, with training and guidelines to ensure youth safety and privacy. In-person mentorship is available through local programming partners, allowing for cultural and land-based engagement where appropriate.
Personalized and Strength-Based
No two youth are the same. That’s why each mentor-mentee pairing is made thoughtfully, with attention to personality, goals, shared interests, and lived experiences. The program is intentionally strength-based, focusing on what makes each youth unique and capable rather than on perceived deficits or challenges.
Mentors help youth identify their strengths, set personal goals, and develop the life skills they need to thrive. This individualized approach builds confidence, autonomy, and trust—ensuring youth feel supported as they grow into who they are meant to be.
Community and Leadership Engagement
Mentorship doesn’t happen in isolation. Youth are encouraged to engage with community events, cultural gatherings, volunteer opportunities, and leadership experiences. Mentors help open doors to these opportunities, making sure youth feel connected and included in their wider circles.
These experiences strengthen cultural pride, create a sense of responsibility, and inspire youth to become active participants in community well-being. By building leadership capacity through service and cultural engagement, the program nurtures the next generation of Indigenous leaders and changemakers.
