WISEST Indigenous Youth Council
WISEST’s Indigenous Youth Council engages Indigenous youth aged 15-25 of all gender identities, with a focus on women, gender-diverse, and two-spirit youth. The purpose of the council is to give Indigenous youth the opportunity to explore their place and identity in scholarship and STEM while receiving the support and mentorship of community leaders and scholars. Through the council, youth are able to gain and develop a range of skills through various projects and initiatives that allow them to engage with their communities, schools, and selves in meaningful and culturally-centered ways. Members are able to develop their own initiatives with guidance and support, or work with existing initiatives; work can be group-based or individual-based. Additional opportunities for community building within the council will be made available.
Expectations of Council Members:
- Attend the monthly 1.5 hour meeting
Supports and Mentorship to Council Members include:
- Workshops on grant writing
- Workshops on how to apply to scholarships
- Project and event planning support & guidance
- Resources for students applying to university
- Resources for current university students
- Scholarship database for Indigenous students
- And more
Eligibility
Under the mandate of the council, to move beyond borders and allow Indigenous youth to build cross-border kinship and solidarity, Indigenous is defined as someone who comes from the peoples that have occupied the land since time immemorial, for example:
- First Nation
- Métis
- Inuit
- Maori
- Sámi
- Maya
- Khoekhoe
- etc.
The Indigenous Youth Council uses a system of trust in self-identification.
If you have any questions or would like to join the council but are outside of the age parameters, please contact wisreach@ualberta.ca to discuss the possibility of joining.