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Youth

Empowering Indigenous Youth through Entrepreneurship

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Champagne and Aishihik First Nations' Sha Shäw Community Corporation is hosting a three-day camp for Indigenous youth entrepreneurs, led by Geena Jackson, creator of the reality TV series Bears' Lair. The camp will feature a series of entrepreneurship sessions, where youth will learn valuable skills such as public speaking, financial literacy, marketing, and media skills. The Yukon government is supporting the camp with a grant of $35,000, which will provide up to 30 spots for youth between 11 and 18. The camp aims to foster pride, achievement, and community connection among Indigenous youth, and provide them with the resources and education to make impactful decisions for their futures.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Sha Shäw Community Corporation is hosting a three-day entrepreneurship camp for Indigenous youth, led by Geena Jackson, creator of Bears' Lair TV.
  • The camp will feature a series of entrepreneurship sessions, where youth will learn valuable skills such as public speaking, financial literacy, marketing, and media skills.
  • The camp will be open to up to 30 youth between 11 and 18, and will include a business-pitch reality competition.
  • The Yukon government is supporting the camp with a grant of $35,000.
  • The camp aims to foster pride, achievement, and community connection among Indigenous youth, and provide them with the resources and education to make impactful decisions for their futures.
  • The camp teaches soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, and adaptability, alongside practical tools like negotiation, media training, and financial literacy.
  • The creator of the TV series, Geena Jackson, has plans to expand the program to French-speaking communities and new territories.
  • The camp is influenced by the format and values of the TV series, which aimed to celebrate diversity, culture, and "co-opetition" (a hybrid of competition and cooperation) along with its own pitch reality series model.
  • Additionally, Jackson aims for youth to leave the camp with more than business knowledge but also to build confidence, step outside their comfort zones, and develop social skills such as public speaking, eye contact, and meaningful connections beyond digital platforms.
  • Since the entrepreneur camps began in 2022, they have grown to include 80 Indigenous nations across Canada, and are now operating based on community interest and sponsorship.

Statistics:

  • The camp will feature up to 30 participants aged 11-18.
  • The government has provided a grant of $35,000 to support the camp.
  • The camp is part of a larger program that has grown to include 80 Indigenous nations across Canada.
  • 80 Indigenous nations have participated in the entrepreneur camps since their inception in 2022.
  • The camp has been supported by the Yukon government, and has plans to expand to French-speaking communities and new territories.

Sources:

  • "News Release: Government of Yukon" (July 31)
  • "Yukon News" (undated)

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