The Youth Ambassador Program

The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) is excited to offer the DWF Youth Ambassador Program in partnership with RBC Foundation again this summer. We are looking for 120 youth participants! This program will offer the youth the opportunity to gain practical work experience, network, strengthen in-demand professional skills, and gain leadership experience while learning about DWF and learn from Indigenous peoples about their diverse worldviews, knowledge, rights, and perspectives throughout Canada.

This 4-week leadership training program, engage 120 Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth online, in part-time work that will support them to become champions of reconciliation in their schools and communities.

At the end of the program, the youth participants will receive a $1000 honorarium for their participation and have the chance to make lasting change through our new volunteer Youth Ambassador Committee. The Youth Ambassador Committee helps to guide DWF programming and champion our work.

For questions please contact youthambassador@downiewenjack.ca.

The Youth Ambassador Program aims to:

Educate youth on the topics of residential schools, reconciliation, treaties, Indigenous rights, ways of knowing and perspectives
Prepare students to be ambassadors of DWF, engaging schools to become Legacy Schools and to perform reconciliACTIONS in their own communities
Build connections between youth, members of DWF staff, and participating Artist Ambassadors

Engage and empower youth everywhere in Canada
Bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to inspire change
Through online learning, allow youth to gain practical work experience, network, strengthen in-demand skills, and gain leadership experience

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

Apply for the 2027 Program:

Youth Ambassador Advisory Committee

The Youth Ambassador Advisory Committee is a volunteer position for all previous youth ambassador participants. It is an opportunity for them to continue their work with DWF and further their steps towards reconciliation. Youth are encouraged to share their input and ideas on how to make DWF programming and resources better.

Youth Ambassador Highlights

All Youth Ambassador’s receive a free YA Toolkit with all the items they need to participate in the sessions! 

Past Special Guests:

Casandra Woolever

Fashion Designer, Owner - Métis Branded

Drew Hayden Taylor

Author, playwright

Layla Staats

Activist - Musician - Film Maker - Change Artist

Virtual Paint Class with Patrick Hunter

Patrick Hunter is a Two-Spirited Ojibwe painter, graphic designer, and entrepreneur from Red Lake, ON. In 2011, he made the move to Toronto to pursue a career in the visual arts. He is making a name for himself in the corporate world through artistic and graphic collaborations with RBC and BMO Banks, Ernst & Young, TSN, and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.

https://www.patrickhunter.ca/

Virtual Dance Class with Angela Miracle Gladue

Angela Miracle Gladue is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and artist from Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, AB – Treaty 6 territory) and is a member of Frog Lake First Nation. She has over 15 years of professional dance experience as an entertainer and has taught in countless schools, Indigenous communities, youth centres and conferences throughout North America since 2004.

https://www.misschiefrocka.com/

Using Your Career in Communications to Amplify Indigenous Voices with Tanya Talaga

Tanya Talaga is Ojibwe with roots in Fort William First Nation in Ontario. She worked as a journalist at the Toronto Star for more than twenty years and has been nominated five times for the Michener Award in public service journalism. Tanya is the President and CEO of Makwa Creative, a production company focused on Indigenous storytelling. Tanya is the acclaimed author of Seven Fallen Feathers, which was the winner of the RBC Taylor Prize, the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, and First Nation Communities Read: Young Adult/Adult.

https://www.ttalaga.ca/

Running a Small Business & The History of Bannock with Bangin’ Bannock

Bangin’ Bannock owners Destiny and Kelsey made Bannock with participates while sharing information about starting Bangin’ Bannock, their understanding of the origins of Bannock and its significance for Indigenous people. With a focus on Indigenizing business through building community relations and giving back to our community they offered the Youth Ambassadors an opportunity to make their own unique Bannock!

https://banginbannock.ca/

Seed Planting and Food Sovereignty with Teri Morrow

Teri (Deyowidron’t) Morrow, Wolf Clan from the Cayuga Nation. Teri is a registered dietitian working in her home community of Six Nations of the Grand River and is the chair of the Aboriginal Nutrition Network of Dietitians of Canada. One of less than 30 Indigenous Dietitians across Canada. Teri has been involved in health and social research development since 2010 with Western University, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and University of Ottawa. She specialises in Haudenosaunee foods and water protection.

https://www.revitalizingoursustenance.com/

Virtual Beading Class with Lindsey Lickers

Lindsey is an Ongweoweh/ Anishinaabe artist & community developer originally from Six Nations of the Grand River with ancestral roots to the Mississauga’s of the New Credit. She specializes in painting & beading as well as arts and culture facilitation, Indigenous governance, community, and program development. Her traditional name is ‘Mushkiiki Nibi Kwe’, which translates to ‘Medicine Water Woman’ and she is turtle clan.

https://www.instagram.com/mushkiiki_water/

Virtual Yoga and Meditation with Shayla Stonechild

As a Mètis and Nehiyaw Iskwew (Plains Cree Woman) from Muscowpetung First Nations, Shayla Stonechild has always been a catalyst towards Indigenous youth and women unlocking their full potential by reclaiming their voices, bodies and spirits that have been silenced and stolen throughout history and humanity. Shayla is an award-winning TV Host of APTN’s “Red Earth Uncovered”, Yoga Instructor at “CMMN GRND” with over 500+ yoga teacher training hours and is the first Indigenous person to be on the cover of “Yoga Journal” Magazine. She is a part of Lululemon’s Diversity and Inclusion committee in Vancouver. She is the founder of the “Matriarch Movement” a non-profit organization dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices through story, meditation, movement, and medicine. She is a podcast host signed with the “Brand is Female”.

https://shaylastonechild.ca/

Land-Based Storytelling and Self-Sovereignty Toolkit with Ecko Aleck

Ecko is a Nlaka’pamux Artist and Entrepreneur, raised with the shishalh Nation and currently living on/marrying into the Pentlatch (Qualicum) Nation on Vancouver Island. Ecko is a trained digital media and performing artist who specializes in the creation of safe spaces to empower sacred creativity. She works through the disciplines of singing, spoken word, rap, writing, speaking, music, sound, film, and sacred space/empowerment facilitation.

http://www.sacredmatriarch.com/

Cultural Competency Training with DWF’s ReconciliACTION Team

Training provided to the Youth Ambassadors focused on building upon the necessary skills, knowledge, attitude, and values focusing on intercultural competency, cross cultural communication, and meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples. It aimed to improve and provide learners with the appropriate knowledge and relevant information to continuing efforts of reconciliation for both personal and professional development.

Check out the Youth Ambassadors ReconciliACTION video!

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The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Registered Charity Number: 784055915RR0001

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About DWF

Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.

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Get In Touch

E-mail: staff@downiewenjack.ca
Toll-free: 1-833-666-2414
Local: 519-964-0393

Address:
PO BOX 749
OHSWEKEN, ON
N0A1M0