OUR GOAL
Our goal is to create a community of celebrated Indigenous youth leading work that responds to the dynamic needs and priorities of their communities.
This work is done in partnership with a network of individuals, organizations and funders who all share a commitment to the values of OIYPP.
We achieve this in three ways:
The partnership is deeply rooted in reciprocity and shared ownership focusing on mutual learning experiences to build strong, equal and lasting relationships between everyone involved
- Providing direct financial, mentorship and capacity support to indigenous youth to explore and execute their own ideas;
- Building reciprocal relationships between Indigenous youth and a community of support including individuals, organizations and funders.
- Increasing awareness amongst the sector of philanthropy’s on-going role in colonization and in response pushing for change according to our learnings and values
The partnership is deeply rooted in reciprocity and shared ownership focusing on mutual learning experiences to build strong, equal and lasting relationships between everyone involved
OUR VALUES
Our values are ever evolving and come from a place of discussion and unity. Every year, our Advisory Committee, made up of Youth Advisors and a core team from The Circle and Tides Canada, meet in-person for a day of visualization and relationship building. This process molds OIYPP activities and allows us to reflect and update our values as necessary.
It is important to note that the values are intentionally presented in no particular order to hold all OIYPP participants equally accountable.
It is important to note that the values are intentionally presented in no particular order to hold all OIYPP participants equally accountable.
DECOLONIZE - While it is true that settler colonialism was a historical event that perpetuated racial violence, forced assimilation, language loss, and land apprehension. We would also add that settler colonialism is on-going and are critical of how the structures in place today uphold settler colonial ideals. In this recognition, and during a time of reconciliation, we aim to approach our work through the framework of decolonization. OIYPP views the decolonization process as a chance to disassemble colonial structures and reimagine a society that prioritizes Indigenous knowledge and traditions. We want to allow Indigenous youth to create projects they identify with and are passionate about. Therefore, using decolonization as a guiding framework, we will create space for projects that are not bound by eurocentric requirements.
ACCOUNTABILITY - In keeping with the spirit of decolonization, we have decided to add accountability as a value that we wish to uphold in our work with OIYPP. We recognize that the philanthropic sector was built through the extraction, dispossession, and exploitation of wealth from Indigenous lands and bodies. OIYPP believes that Indigenous youth hold the key to advancing the implementation of new systems that center the wellbeing of the community. In response, our goal is to remain accountable to those youth through our explicit disruption of existing systems. Whereby, in hopes of preventing further harm and changing the system, we plan on being hyper-conscious of where the wealth is coming from.
INDIGENIZE - This is the act of us respectfully decoupling from Eurocentric approaches and focusing on a process of relearning that encompasses the diversity of Indigenous peoples. By acknowledging our original land-stewardship responsibilities, we strengthen an understanding of Indigenous sovereignty and we model our cultural values, languages, and teachings in the philanthropic sector through this project.
LEADERSHIP - Indigenous youth have strong voices, dynamic energies and creative solutions to tackling issues brought on by 150+ years of government policy and colonization. OIYPP has taken a leadership role within the philanthropic sector by offering supportive resources to Indigenous youth whom are empowered to confidently lead positive changes in their communities. Children and youth are our leadership.
RECIPROCITY - This is a model of interaction based on positive relationships that are grounded in mutual respect and benefits. To us, a value of reciprocity means ‘giving, receiving, and sharing’. We believe that we have just as much to gain from a partnership with youth, as they do with us. We aim to move forward throughout all stages of the process in a reciprocal manner; always allowing for open communication and promoting the sharing of ideas. It is with genuine respect and a humble outlook that OIYPP intends to build partnerships and empowerment.
RESPONSIBILITY - For OIYPP, relationships are at the centre of our work and we are committed to fulfilling our responsibilities to these relationships. As part of this, we believe in the importance of building mutual trust with the people who we collaborate with, and ensuring that we are transparent and responsive to the needs of Indigenous young people and their communities. We are also guided by our responsibility to protect youth from ongoing harms that exist in the sector (e.g. racism, tokenism, extraction of knowledge and labour etc.). Youth are resilient and carry their own tools to navigate these spaces, however, OIYPP is in a position to help them strengthen these tools and to shield some of this harm. We are responsible to upholding all of OIYPP’s values in our work, and ask that our network of supporters and collaborators also act according to these responsibilities.
COMMUNITY - Mobilization and community building are strengths built between the individual and relationship with their community. OIYPP recognizes the importance of each person’s unique roles, responsibilities and gifts when working in community and strives to create an empowering network of support for further community successes.
HEALING - OIYPP works to support healing within the communities of Indigenous youth and the philanthropic sector. Therefore healing reflects two approaches for us:
RELATIONSHIP - Respect, honesty, courage, wisdom, truth, humility and love guide us in building unity among our relationships with our Indigenous Youth Leading Projects, our Indigenous Youth Advisors, the Core Team and our partners in philanthropy.
ACCESSIBLE - OIYPP takes into consideration the language, time, visual and emotional aspects of itself and reviews this annually, to ensure it’s as reflective and inviting as possible, for youth to participate in and enjoy the experience. We recognize people that may participate in OIYPP are on their own journeys and we do our best to meet them where they are at. Accessible means to be intentionally conscious of circumstance. Conscious of the locations and communities of youth - but also consciously breaking down barriers that youth often face when it comes to accessing the philanthropic sector. OIYPP was created by youth who have had experiences (often negative) with granting programs and organizations that are not reflective of them as young Indigenous people and their experiences.
REVITALIZE - This change was in recognition that the overuse of the word innovation has diluted its meaning. OIYPP’s transition to include revitalize as a value recognizes that youth are resilient and they have the power to make changes in their lives and their communities. Indigenous youth also have influence of how OIYPP does its work; in best supporting youth whom see the needs within their communities and that have a vision for positive changes. That power and influence leads to the revitalization of their lives, their communities, and the philanthropic sector.
COMMUNICATION - OIYPP is committed to act as a bridge to communicate what we are learning, and whether it is working and what isn’t. Helping our youth and funders in the philanthropic sector better understand one another in order to support youth led change making in Indigenous communities. By communicating clearly and honestly we can help increase awareness and accountability.
LANGUAGE - There are many different indigenous languages among our youth and communities. We want to invite youth to share, include and revitalize our languages as much as possible in the awesome work they are doing in communities.
ACCOUNTABILITY - In keeping with the spirit of decolonization, we have decided to add accountability as a value that we wish to uphold in our work with OIYPP. We recognize that the philanthropic sector was built through the extraction, dispossession, and exploitation of wealth from Indigenous lands and bodies. OIYPP believes that Indigenous youth hold the key to advancing the implementation of new systems that center the wellbeing of the community. In response, our goal is to remain accountable to those youth through our explicit disruption of existing systems. Whereby, in hopes of preventing further harm and changing the system, we plan on being hyper-conscious of where the wealth is coming from.
INDIGENIZE - This is the act of us respectfully decoupling from Eurocentric approaches and focusing on a process of relearning that encompasses the diversity of Indigenous peoples. By acknowledging our original land-stewardship responsibilities, we strengthen an understanding of Indigenous sovereignty and we model our cultural values, languages, and teachings in the philanthropic sector through this project.
LEADERSHIP - Indigenous youth have strong voices, dynamic energies and creative solutions to tackling issues brought on by 150+ years of government policy and colonization. OIYPP has taken a leadership role within the philanthropic sector by offering supportive resources to Indigenous youth whom are empowered to confidently lead positive changes in their communities. Children and youth are our leadership.
RECIPROCITY - This is a model of interaction based on positive relationships that are grounded in mutual respect and benefits. To us, a value of reciprocity means ‘giving, receiving, and sharing’. We believe that we have just as much to gain from a partnership with youth, as they do with us. We aim to move forward throughout all stages of the process in a reciprocal manner; always allowing for open communication and promoting the sharing of ideas. It is with genuine respect and a humble outlook that OIYPP intends to build partnerships and empowerment.
RESPONSIBILITY - For OIYPP, relationships are at the centre of our work and we are committed to fulfilling our responsibilities to these relationships. As part of this, we believe in the importance of building mutual trust with the people who we collaborate with, and ensuring that we are transparent and responsive to the needs of Indigenous young people and their communities. We are also guided by our responsibility to protect youth from ongoing harms that exist in the sector (e.g. racism, tokenism, extraction of knowledge and labour etc.). Youth are resilient and carry their own tools to navigate these spaces, however, OIYPP is in a position to help them strengthen these tools and to shield some of this harm. We are responsible to upholding all of OIYPP’s values in our work, and ask that our network of supporters and collaborators also act according to these responsibilities.
COMMUNITY - Mobilization and community building are strengths built between the individual and relationship with their community. OIYPP recognizes the importance of each person’s unique roles, responsibilities and gifts when working in community and strives to create an empowering network of support for further community successes.
HEALING - OIYPP works to support healing within the communities of Indigenous youth and the philanthropic sector. Therefore healing reflects two approaches for us:
- Healing the history of philanthropy, how it has impacted and often participated in dispossession and colonization of Indigenous peoples
- Youth know what is needed and have the ability to heal themselves and their communities
RELATIONSHIP - Respect, honesty, courage, wisdom, truth, humility and love guide us in building unity among our relationships with our Indigenous Youth Leading Projects, our Indigenous Youth Advisors, the Core Team and our partners in philanthropy.
ACCESSIBLE - OIYPP takes into consideration the language, time, visual and emotional aspects of itself and reviews this annually, to ensure it’s as reflective and inviting as possible, for youth to participate in and enjoy the experience. We recognize people that may participate in OIYPP are on their own journeys and we do our best to meet them where they are at. Accessible means to be intentionally conscious of circumstance. Conscious of the locations and communities of youth - but also consciously breaking down barriers that youth often face when it comes to accessing the philanthropic sector. OIYPP was created by youth who have had experiences (often negative) with granting programs and organizations that are not reflective of them as young Indigenous people and their experiences.
REVITALIZE - This change was in recognition that the overuse of the word innovation has diluted its meaning. OIYPP’s transition to include revitalize as a value recognizes that youth are resilient and they have the power to make changes in their lives and their communities. Indigenous youth also have influence of how OIYPP does its work; in best supporting youth whom see the needs within their communities and that have a vision for positive changes. That power and influence leads to the revitalization of their lives, their communities, and the philanthropic sector.
COMMUNICATION - OIYPP is committed to act as a bridge to communicate what we are learning, and whether it is working and what isn’t. Helping our youth and funders in the philanthropic sector better understand one another in order to support youth led change making in Indigenous communities. By communicating clearly and honestly we can help increase awareness and accountability.
LANGUAGE - There are many different indigenous languages among our youth and communities. We want to invite youth to share, include and revitalize our languages as much as possible in the awesome work they are doing in communities.
Evolved Values
OIYPP's values are fluid and evolving with each year's learnings. The values below have since evolved to more closely represent OIYPP's mission.
Youth has been included in Youth Leadership
Empowerment, has since evolved to Community
Open, has since evolved to Accessible
Innovation, has since evolved to Revitalize
Removed Values:
Dialogue
Intergenerational
Youth has been included in Youth Leadership
Empowerment, has since evolved to Community
Open, has since evolved to Accessible
Innovation, has since evolved to Revitalize
Removed Values:
Dialogue
Intergenerational