Dreamweavers

The specific problem that the Dreamweavers program is trying to solve is the need for more employment opportunities for Indigenous youth across Turtle Island (North America) and ongoing support for Indigenous youth pursuing post-secondary education. The program will be established in two stages, with the post-secondary support portion set up in the first year and the employment networking component available in the second year. The program will offer weekly roundtable sessions for Indigenous youth to discuss and connect in a safe space. It will provide scholarships and bursaries ranging from $2000 to $5000 to eligible participants.

The scale of the problem is significant, with Indigenous youth being less likely to be employed even when excluding those attending school, with an employment rate of 39.3% and an unemployment rate of 23%, compared to 52.8% and 15.1% for non-Indigenous youth. These statistics indicate a significant gap in labour market outcomes with non-Indigenous youth and highlight the need to address unemployment among Indigenous youth.

The factors contributing to the problem that relates to the Dreamweavers solution include a need for more communication, experience, and support for Indigenous youth seeking employment opportunities. Additionally, post-secondary Indigenous students require more than one-time bursaries; they require ongoing cultural support, support after graduation, and opportunities to become employed in their field of study once they finish their degree.

All Indigenous youth throughout Turtle Island who pursue post-secondary education, seek part-time or full-time employment, or seek cultural support will benefit directly from this project. Furthermore, the program will help communities and other Indigenous youth by allowing communities to view the successes of youth pursuing their passions and dreams and inspire them to do the same. The program will actively promote itself in rural, northern, and remote communities across Turtle Island. Participation in the program will allow youth to access job opportunities and experiences not available elsewhere.

The Dreamweavers project is a national post-secondary and employment-based program aimed at positively impacting the lives of countless Indigenous Youth across Turtle Island and their communities. It supports Indigenous Youth pursuing post-secondary education and seeking part-time or full-time employment or support culturally. The project will be set up in two stages: the post-secondary support portion in year one and the employment networking component in year 2. The title Dreamweavers was chosen because it represents the essence of the program, which is supporting the dreams of Indigenous Youth to succeed in any aspect of their lives, no matter where they come from.

The solution involves offering support throughout the year through weekly roundtable sessions so that Youth feel supported and connected throughout their studies. This project will provide opportunities for Indigenous Youth to become employed once they finish their degree. This national project will have positive inter-generational effects on all Indigenous Youth throughout Turtle Island who pursue post-secondary education, seek part-time or full-time employment, or seek support culturally. Indigenous Youth who attend college or University in Canada will be eligible to receive yearly scholarships or bursaries ranging from 2000-5000, depending on their studies and application, directly benefitting them and their studies. Furthermore, participation in the Dreamweavers program will allow Youth to access job opportunities and experiences that won't be offered elsewhere, including in the discussion series and established network. The project uses a streamlined approach for companies to provide virtual and in-person employment to these Youth for whatever career they are interested in. The project aims to address the unemployment and lack of opportunities outside of summer employment that Indigenous Youth face and to offer support even after post-secondary graduation.

The project, called Dreamweavers, is a national post-secondary and employment-based program that aims to positively impact the lives of Indigenous youth across countries and their communities. 

The program will be set up in two stages. The post-secondary support portion will be established in Year 1, and the Employment Networking component will be available in Year 2 for youth to access. The program will offer weekly roundtable sessions for Indigenous youth to discuss and connect in a safe and controlled space. The project's primary objective is to support Indigenous youth throughout the year so that they feel supported and connected throughout their studies and future careers. Dreamweavers will provide Indigenous youth with cultural and financial aid, whether they want to become artists, lawyers, doctors, athletes, or anything else. The program will offer support even after post-secondary graduation, providing youth opportunities to work within their community, province, and country.

The target population of this project is Indigenous youth throughout Canada who pursue post-secondary education, seek part-time or full-time employment, or seek cultural support. Many Indigenous youth struggle with finding part-time and full-time jobs and accessing opportunities due to a lack of communication, experience, and support. Indigenous youth are less likely to be employed than non-Indigenous youth, and the unemployment rate for Indigenous youth is significantly higher than non-Indigenous youth. Post-secondary Indigenous students require more than one-time bursaries; they need weekly cultural support, support after graduation, and employment opportunities once they finish their degree. The Dreamweavers program aims to address these issues and provide Indigenous youth the support they need to pursue their passions and dreams. This project will have positive inter-generational effects on all Indigenous youth everywhere and benefit communities and other Indigenous youth by allowing communities to view the successes of youth pursuing their passions and dreams and inspire them to do the same.

The solution is a national post-secondary and employment-based program called Dreamweavers, intended to positively impact the lives of Indigenous Youth across Turtle Island and their communities. This project is expected to benefit all Indigenous Youth throughout Turtle Island who pursue post-secondary education, seek part-time or full-time employment, or seek support culturally. The target population of this project is Indigenous Youth who require more than one-time bursaries and need weekly cultural support, support after graduation, and opportunities to become employed once they have completed their degree. The project will offer support throughout the year through roundtable sessions so that Youth feel supported and connected throughout their studies. It will also provide employment opportunities for these Youth, which they might otherwise not be able to access without this program. 

The project will positively impact Indigenous Youth and their communities, allowing communities to view the successes of Youth pursuing their passions and inspiring them to do the same. The project will offer yearly scholarships or bursaries ranging from $2,000-$5,000, depending on the Youth's studies and application, directly benefitting them and their studies. Furthermore, participation in the Dreamweavers program will allow Youth to access job opportunities and experiences that won't be offered elsewhere, including in the discussion series and established network. Communication for this project will not be limited to urban areas but will be actively promoted in rural, northern, and remote communities across Turtle Island.

Our group, led by myself, is well-positioned to deliver the Dreamweavers project. I have a growing team of Indigenous Youth leaders with diverse experiences and skills, who have been involved in various projects over the past few years, including the creation of a Youth Networking Website, a podcast, Heartwarmers, the Indigenous Film Archive, and a quarterly magazine. I have also spoken on Arctic Policy at the Arctic Encounter Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska, demonstrating my team's credibility and recognition in various areas of activism and advocacy.

Justin Langan, comes from a rural northern Indigenous community and has a deep connection to various rural, urban, and northern communities. This is an authentic Indigenous solution led by Indigenous youth, from these communities.

The Dreamweavers project is a national post-secondary and employment-based program that aims to support the dreams of Indigenous Youth to succeed in any aspect of their lives. My group recognizes the employment crisis across turtle island and the struggles many Indigenous Youth face in finding part-time and full-time employment, even virtually. 

Our project offers a direct and streamlined approach for companies to provide virtual and in-person employment to Indigenous Youth for whatever career they are interested in.

Our project's solution is to offer support even after post-secondary graduation so that Youth graduate in a field they are passionate about and are provided opportunities to work within their community, province, and country. The project will have positive inter-generational effects on all Indigenous Youth everywhere.

Our group's experience, skills, and dedication to Indigenous Youth advocacy and activism, combined with the importance and relevance of the Dreamweavers project, make us well-positioned to deliver this solution. Furthermore, our project aims to benefit all Indigenous Youth throughout turtle island who pursue post-secondary education, seek part-time or full-time employment, or seek support culturally. We plan to actively promote this project in rural, northern, and remote communities across turtle island.

We at O'KANATA have developed a national post-secondary and employment-based program called Dreamweavers. We aim to support Indigenous Youth in pursuing their passions and dreams, accessing education and employment opportunities, and providing cultural and financial aid. However, our organization needs more than just funding; we need expertise, support, active partnerships and networking to succeed correctly.

We humbly ask MIT Solve to support implementing our Dreamweavers program and expand its impact on Indigenous Youth communities across Canada. MIT Solve is a platform that provides funding, mentorship, and resources to support innovators working on solving global challenges, which is the perfect support system for us now. The support from MIT Solve could help us provide more scholarships and bursaries, support weekly roundtable sessions for Indigenous Youth, offer employment opportunities, and promote the project in rural, northern, and remote communities. With the additional funding, we can scale our impact and help more Indigenous Youth pursue their dreams and succeed.

I am a 24-year-old Metis, LGBTQ2+ Youth from the rural town of Swan River. Since 15, I have been an advocate and leader for Indigenous young people. I sit on numerous local, provincial, and national committees. I have lived within Winnipeg, Manitoba for the past 4 years and I am proud to live here and have been raised within the rural community of Swan River, Manitoba. This solution has a deep connection to many communities across turtle island, and I have had the pleasure to volunteer in hundreds of local Indigenous communities since 2015. Some of my achievements include the 2021 Metis Youth Indspire Award, Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, Top 25 Environmentalists under 25, National Champion of Mental Health for Youth, and more. I expect to use my knowledge to become a stronger leader within my community. After I graduate, I plan on doing my LSAT and going to Law School. I hope to become a lawyer and, eventually, a politician who advocates for the rights of Canadians on a national stage, a place where I can create the most change. In my spare time, I like to volunteer, work out, watch movies, do photography and hang with friends.

This solution is the first of its kind, directly addressing systemic education and employment issues. Indigenous youth faces throughout turtle island, all with Indigenous youth as the leaders. We are leaders who have been moulded and shaped through our volunteerism and advocacy as Indigenous leaders and have a solid connection to our communities. This differs from the various solutions from urban areas wanting to do what's best for rural communities, and we understand the issues and the solutions needed.

Our projects have already become a catalyst to inspire other Indigenous youth leaders and changemakers to promote their solutions in their communities. This also provides more legitimacy to Indigenous Youth as leadership worthy of support and able to showcase our strengths in all areas of business and activism.

The market understands the need to support Indigenous youth in their projects, but with the elevation of O'KANATA we will see a dramatic shift in the way Indigenous young people are supported, not through a colonial framework, but through one built by Indigenous people.

Our impact goals for the next year are to sustainably create a website where Indigenous youth can apply for post-secondary and employment support. This includes the development of a network wherein Indigenous young people can access job opportunities and services to improve their skills.

We also want to expand our relationships with other Indigenous organizations and collaborate on projects and conferences. Focusing on rural, northern, isolated, and urban communities and how to better incorporate them into these projects is key.

O'KANATA measures progress towards our impact goals by implementing various projects and initiatives, such as the Sasher.ca Youth Networking Website, On the Land Podcast, Heartwarmers, Indigenous Film Archive, and O'K Publication. These projects aim to provide support, opportunities, and cultural aid to Indigenous Youth across turtle island. Our organization's impact goals are also addressed through its national post-secondary and employment-based program, Dreamweavers. The program offers support to Indigenous Youth pursuing post-secondary education, seeking employment, or requiring cultural support. Additionally, the program includes a discussion series and established network, allowing youth to access job opportunities and experiences that won't be offered elsewhere. Communication for this project is not limited to urban areas, and the organization actively promotes it in rural, northern, and remote communities across turtle island. The project's implementation will have positive inter-generational effects on all Indigenous Youth everywhere. Therefore, we measure our progress towards our impact goals by evaluating the number of Indigenous Youth who benefit from our projects and programs and the positive outcomes achieved by these youth.

O'KANATA is an organization formed in late 2019 by Indigenous Youth leaders with the aim of empowering Indigenous youth to shape their leadership styles and make decisions regarding providing support and programs that will provide them prosperity. Our group's theory of change centers around providing support and opportunities to Indigenous Youth through various projects, including the Sasher.ca Youth Networking Website, the On the Land Podcast, Heartwarmers, the Indigenous Film Archive, and O'K Publication. Our group also attends various conferences, meetings, and volunteer initiatives throughout North America. Our group's flagship project, entitled Dreamweavers, is a national post-secondary and employment-based program that will positively affect the lives of countless Indigenous Youth across Turtle Island and their communities. The project will provide post-secondary support in Year 1 and an Employment Networking component in Year 2 for Youth to access. The project aims to address the employment crisis happening across Turtle Island, where many Indigenous Youth struggle with finding part-time and full-time employment, even virtually. Indigenous Youth throughout Turtle Island who pursue post-secondary education, seek part-time or full-time employment, or seek cultural support will benefit directly from this project. The project also aims to benefit communities and other Indigenous youth by inspiring them to pursue their passions and dreams.

The core technology that powers this solution is a mixture of ancestral practices, wisdom, and knowledge all implemented into a website wherein Indigenous youth can access post-secondary support and employment support. There will also be educational components and supports offered to increase cultural and language revitalization. We hope to implement an app within the next year as well.

These values are at the forefront of our leadership, and with that, only Indigenous leadership can remain as the head lead, but we also have 2 non-Indigenous staff and the majority of our leadership are women. Many of our leadership are part of the LGBTQ2+ community and are part of the BIPOC community.

O'KANATA's business model is centred around supporting Indigenous Youth through various initiatives and projects. We have created projects such as the Sasher.ca Youth Networking Website, On the Land Podcast, Heartwarmers, Indigenous Film Archive, and O'K Publication to support Indigenous Youth. We also attend conferences, meetings, and volunteer initiatives throughout North America. Our latest project is Dreamweavers, a national post-secondary and employment-based program that will positively impact Indigenous Youth across turtle island and their communities. The project aims to address the employment crisis among Indigenous Youth, offer weekly cultural support, support after graduation, and opportunities to become employed once they finish their degree. This large, national project will have positive inter-generational effects on all Indigenous youth everywhere. The program's revenue model is funded through provincial and federal grants, sponsorships, and donations. This allows us to support communities across turtle island. We will offer yearly scholarships or bursaries ranging from 2000-5000 for youth pursuing post-secondary education in Canada. We are currently developing a website to offer these products and services in a secure setting.

1. Grants and funding: Our organization will continue to apply for grants and funding opportunities offered by governments, non-profit organizations, and private foundations that align with our mission and values.

2. Fundraising events: We will host fundraising events, such as galas, auctions, or charity walks, to raise funds for our organization.

3. Donations: Later this year, we will accept donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations that support our mission and values.

4. Sponsorship and partnerships: We look forward to forming partnerships with corporations, businesses, and organizations that share our values for Indigenous youth prosperity and provide us with financial support.

5. Membership fees: At some point, we can also consider charging membership fees to individuals or organizations who want to support our cause and be part of our community.

6. Product or service sales: We can develop products or services related to our mission and values, such as merchandise or educational resources, and sell them to generate revenue.

7. Social enterprise: We are at the early stages of establishing a social enterprise.

We have received funding grants of up to 25 thousand dollars already from the Canadian Roots Exchange and from the University of Manitoba to produce our previous projects, which have been successful.