Youth Leadership Council (YLC) aims to empower syilx Youth by equipping them with essential life skills through leadership training, cultural confidence, safety and prevention workshops. This prevention-focused program is supported by the Okanagan Indian Band Public Safety Office. Those aging out of the council will be included in a Youth Council alumni list, allowing current members to connect for peer support and mentorship.
Leadership Training: Connecting OKIB Youth to educators, mentors, and Elders in the community and the nation. Leadership training workshops are delivered throughout the year either in-person or online training. Other Leadership trainings take place at local, provincial and international conferences such as Cultural Safety Education, the syilx Youth Leadership Conference and Gathering our Voices Youth Leadership Conference.
Cultural Confidence: Connecting OKIB Youth to educators, mentors, and Elders in the community and the nation. Cultural Confidence series is delivered through workshops monthly (the last Friday of each month). YLC gathers with Birch Creek for drum making, drumming and song, and stick games. This builds confidence and a sense of belonging for Youth that participate in syilx culture. Other workshop series throughout the year include land-based teachings, traditional plant and medicine knowledge, syilx harvesting and protocols, medicine making, food preservation/canning, nation hunting camps, rattle making, equine connection, and attending/participating in powwows, conferences such as the syilx Youth winter gathering, and first speakers language gathering.
Safety & Prevention Workshops: Connecting OKIB Youth to educators, mentors, and Elders in the community and the nation. Prevention workshops are delivered through facilitations throughout the year either in-person or online training. YLC has started a movement “What Happens Upstream”, which is a platform for Youth to advocate for their needs and bring awareness to Youth serving organizations. YLC regularly joins seminars online or that are taking place in the Okanagan. Other workshops include peer support, crisis response and intervention training through Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), and culturally responsive communication with your syilx sisters.
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