How Volunteering and Mentorship Strengthen the Future of Inuit Youth

Volunteer opportunities can empower youth. It encourages them to lead and to build inspiring connections. And when young people see how their work impacts their community, they gain confidence in themselves. Through the Ikajurniq Program, our mentors help Inuit youth, aged 12 to 30, realize these kinds of projects across Nunavut.

In March, Ilitaqsiniq hosted a Nunavut-wide Ikajurniq gathering so that youth from our program could connect and share their experiences. From fetching fresh water and ice to distribute to Elders and community members, to learning to hunt and harvest country food, such as fish, ptarmigan, seal and geese, Nunavut’s next generation of leaders talked about their projects and learnings with pride.

Arviat: Girls Club

Learning to cook and giving back to the community went hand in hand for the Arviat Girls Club volunteer project. With guidance from their mentors, the girls prepared, cooked and delivered meals around the community. They went out to meet and serve meals to bear patrols and water and sewer workers. They stopped in to meet other community members who wanted a freshly made meal.

By cooking together, they built strong and lasting friendships. The project showed them that there are many ways to support the community.

Iqaluit: Ikajuqatigiit

Traditionally, our communities relied on the seal hunt to survive and support each other. The Ikajuqatigiit Program shows youth in Iqaluit how to reclaim these on-the-land skills so they can give back to their families and community. During the program, one of the youth struggled to stay engaged at first, but came to realize that active particiation was the only way to remain out on the land. With support from mentors, he began to connect hunting and fishing with supporting his community and soon re-engaged, helping the group hunt and successfully harvest a seal.

The youth then went door to door, overcoming individual shyness and delivering the country food they caught to Elders.

Rankin Inlet: Kids Cultural Camp

To live off and work with the land, youth need instruction. The Kids Cultural Camp in Rankin Inlet provides activities and hands-on training through hunting, fishing and community organizing. This way, the youth develop a real relationship with their community and the land on which they live. These skills translate to all parts of their lives, including the classroom and future employment.

One mother wrote to us about the positive impact the camp had on her son: “He has grown so much independence since the program. He is now on one of the student councils in MUI and has become more open with the public. The program has changed my son’s demeanour in a positive way.”

About Ikajurniq

Providing youth in Nunavut with mentorship to realize their community projects builds a stronger, resilient future for everyone. Ikajurniq is funded in part by Canada Service Corps, a national movement that empowers youth aged 12–30 to gain experience and build important skills while giving back to their community.

If you want to support youth in your community by running an Ikarjuniq Program—reach out today.