Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project

06/10/2026

Enjoy the process. Beadwork can be an expressive form of art. Enjoy and love the process because behind every stitch is a story of resilience. Happy crafting and trust the process! ✨ 🪡 🧶 ✨

06/04/2026

Baapaagimaak/ Aagimaak- Black Ash(tree)

The black ash tree provides variety medicinal and practical uses to many Indigenous people across turtle island. One of our favourite uses for this tree are the beautiful creations we can make from it, Makak(baskets). The harvesting process of these trees can be labour intensive and physically demanding. We remember our ancestors in each step that we take as it connects us to the land and to creation. Remember to always practice sustainable harvesting methods and always give thanks. Miigwetch!

06/01/2026

June is Indigenous Peoples Month, a time to honour the strength, brilliance, teachings, and leadership of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle island.
 
At Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project (OIYPP) we hold deep gratitude for the youth, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community partners, and families who continue to guide this work in a good way. Every gathering, conversation, ceremony, and act of care reminds us that our communities carry generations of wisdom, resilience, love, and possibility.
 
This month, we celebrate Indigenous youth who are creating change, reclaiming language and culture, building community, protecting the land, and dreaming big for the generations to come. Your voices matter. Your leadership matters. Your presence matters.
 
We also recognize that Indigenous Peoples Month is not only about celebration; it is about truth, accountability, relationship building, and continued action toward justice and reconciliation every single day of the year.
 
We invite our community to spend this month listening, learning, supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, and uplifting Indigenous voices.
 
From all of us at the Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project, Chi miiigwetch for walking this journey alongside us. 🤍
 

05/28/2026

With the flowers in bloom, new life has sprung. All things in creation are living beings and all play an important role in the circle of life.🌎

Here’s a great way we can recognize these creepy crawlers! 🪲🐞🦋🐜🦟
getoutside anishnaabemowin

05/22/2026

Looking for something to do this weekend? If you’re going to be in the Toronto area, be sure to check out this years first annual Cultural Festival and Competition powwow~ “Honouring the Voices of the Future”🗣️🥁

This event will be taking place on May 23rd- 24th, 2026, at 📍Woodbine Park | 1695 Queen St E. Toronto Ontario📍

Remember these are OPEN events to all!Always be respectful to visitors from near and far and ask questions! toronto ontario woodbinepark indigenousartist foryou indigenousculture indigenouscanada torontoevent communityengagement likefollowshare

05/14/2026

Spring is in the air! 🌿We hope you get out on the land and enjoy the sunshine ☀️ remember that just 15 minutes of sunlight can have a huge impact on brain function and productivity. 🧠💪🏽🌅

05/12/2026

OIYPP wants to send a huge thank you to everyone who joined on April 28th and 29th in Toronto for the Youth Funders Network Gathering (GTA Grassroots Mini Pitch)! ✨
It was so beautiful to gather at George Brown College with youth, community members, and funders to connect, learn, share ideas, and talk about how to access funding for amazing community projects. 🌱🤍
To all the youth who signed up and pitched your projects, miigwetch. Your ideas, passion, creativity, and courage were incredibly inspiring. Every single project shared was meaningful, needed, and rooted in care for the community. The youth in the room supporting, listening, and cheering each other on also brought such powerful energy to the space. 💫
We are so excited to see where your journeys take you and we wish you all the best as your projects continue to grow and bloom. 🌿✨
Miigwetch / Thank you as well to all the funders and partners who came out to support youth leadership and community visioning. 🙏

05/07/2026

On April 25th, 2026, our Youth Advisory Council, Steering Committee, Elder in Residence, and staff gathered together in Toronto with the for our annual Makakikedaa Grant Review and Steering Committee Huddle. ✨🪶
It was a powerful day grounded in connection, culture, learning, and community. 🤝🌱
We were grateful for teachings shared by our Elder in Residence, Carol Hermiston, and our Operations Manager of Cultural Knowledge, Miisheen-Meegwun, including Ziizibaakwad (Sugar) teachings, Baagadowe (Lacrosse), and Ginebigobinigewin (a snake game).🍁🥍🐍
Our Youth Advisory Council thoughtfully completed the final review of the 2026 Makakikedaa Grant applications, helping move resources into the hands of Indigenous youth, grassroots groups, and communities across Ontario. 💫🫶🏽
From meaningful teachings to laughter, rock climbing 🧗🏽‍♀️, basketball 🏀, shared meals 🍽️ provided by 🤤, and relationship building with ENAGB, the day reminded us that this work is rooted in care, culture, and community. 🧡
We are so proud of our Youth Advisory Council and cannot wait to celebrate this year’s funded youth and community-led projects. 🎉✨

04/12/2026

04/03/2026