What a Year for IYMP

written by Dr. Teena Starlight, Amanda Patrick and Zetta Anderson

The Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program (IYMP) had an impactful 2024–2025 school year, with a continued focus on youth leadership, skill development, and relationship-building. Indigenous high school mentors were trained to plan and deliver weekly healthy living programs for elementary students, gaining confidence, responsibility, and hands-on teaching experience along the way. With the guidance of dedicated Program Leaders, the program remained community-driven, culturally safe, and grounded in Indigenous teachings such as the Circle of Courage and the Four R’s.

This year marked significant growth for IYMP. We hosted four Program Leader Trainings, reaching 74 leaders, delivered one mentor training for 54 high school students, and supported 12 communities in reaching readiness to run the program—an exciting increase from last year. None of this would be possible without the support of our funders, including Air Canada Foundation, Jenkins Foundation, Storey Foundation, Peter Gilgan Foundation, and CN Rail, as well as our valued partners Tim Hortons Children’s Ranch, Mount Royal University, and the Sircle Lab.

Training our Youth

Leadership development remained a cornerstone of IYMP this year. Two Mentor Leader Training Camps—held in October at Tim Hortons Children’s Ranch in Kananaskis and in December at Camp Warwa in Darwell—brought together high school students from across the region. Youth explored the foundations of IYMP, reflected on their leadership styles, learned about nutrition, participated in creative games, and began planning how the program would take shape in their schools. More than 145 high school mentors were trained through these camps, gaining confidence while stepping outside their comfort zones and building lasting connections.

Shaping the Future

Thanks to CN Rail, students from Mînî Thnî had the opportunity to present at Shaping the Future, sharing the importance of mentorship from a student perspective. These youth led a panel discussion, spoke about their experiences in IYMP, and facilitated inclusive games they use with their elementary mentees—highlighting the power of youth voice and leadership.

Urban IYMP

We also continued important collaborative work in Edmonton, partnering with Indigenous youth-serving organizations to co-create the city’s first Urban Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program. This group met throughout the year to shape the program’s vision and implementation, with generous support from the Telus World of Science and funding from the City of Edmonton’s Community Safety & Well-Being program. We are proud to launch the pilot program with Eastglen High School and grateful to the 12 organizations who contributed their time, insight, and leadership to this work.

Celebrating Success

On May 27, we proudly hosted our second annual IYMP Day in partnership with the Iniskim Centre at Mount Royal University. Mentors and Program Leaders from across Alberta gathered for a day of learning and celebration, opened by Elder Roy Bearchief (Siksika Nation) and remarks shared on behalf of Alberta’s Minister of Indigenous Relations. The day included a campus tour, conversations with an admissions advisor, shared meals, and friendly soccer games led by Alberta Soccer. In a closing sharing circle guided by IYMP National Director Dr. Teena Starlight, mentors described IYMP as community, growth, opportunity, and leading in a good way.

Credit Camp

Despite challenging winter weather, 33 participants from four schools also attended our second annual Credit Camp at Tim Hortons Children’s Ranch. During the camp, 24 students earned their HIGH FIVE National Certification and Youth Wellness Leadership Certification. Participants engaged in experiential learning with Rocky Mountain Adaptive and learned Inuit games shared by Daniel Peters. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Elder Flora, our partner schools, and our generous funders for making this experience possible.