Alumni – 4Rs

Supporting Young People Across So-Called Canada
4Rs has had the benefit of being able to join young organizers in their journeys across so-called Canada through the National Learning Community (NLC). By having young people join the NLC we have been able to help grow our collective capacity and strategically weave together networks of awesome people, organizations and movements contributing to a healthier ecosystem for young people engaging in decolonization & reconciliation work.

Why a Learning Community?

At 4Rs we want to model a new way of being in relationships with other youth – relationships that are grounded in healing, respect, love and kindness; where we celebrate each other’s gifts and grow our leadership in ways that are more reflective of our values as Indigenous and racialized peoples.

We think it is possible to be doing our work in healthier ways while also creating healthy and happy communities. We hope that by thinking about ourselves as a group of folks who commit to learn and grow together, the young people in the NLC will leave with a new way of relating to one another, new approaches for navigating trauma responses and emotional burnout, as well as taking away concrete community organizing skills that we can use to continue to build something different for our futures.

In this learning community, we want young people to know that we are there with them during this entire process. When things get hard, when they need help, advice when they want someone to listen to their ideas or review something they are thinking of working on – the NLC is there. We’re also here to celebrate them, and to remind you of their brilliance when they need some affirmations or reminders.

The Cohorts

Cohort 1: 2017-18 NLC

The 2017-18 NLC cohort was the first cohort of the program. This year, we gathered 20 young people to join us as we explored what it meant to push back against reconciliation as a buzzword and move it to something that can create a more meaningful relationship between Indigenous peoples and settlers. Over the course of this year, this cohort was able to plan and implement 10 different youth-driven projects.

This year we had youth from Oxford House First Nation, MB, Guelph, ON, Vancouver, BC, Edmonton, AB, Iqaluit, NU, Toronto, ON, Saskatoon, SK, Oneida Nation of the Thames, ON, Ottawa, ON, Curve Lake First Nation, ON, and Nogojiwanong (Peterborough), ON. Some of the projects this year focused on decolonizing food systems, bringing BIPOC young people into ceremonial roles, and building capacity to address reconciliation.

Cohort 2: 2019–20 NLC

The 2019-2020 cohort gathered 18 young people to join us as we explored what it meant to make room for Indigenous-centered reconciliation. Over this year, this cohort was able to plan and implement 5 different youth-driven projects. The projects included on-the-land gatherings for Indigenous youth, gatherings to build up allyship between youth, and a gathering to celebrate two-spirit kin.

This year, we had youth from Inuvik, NWT, Halifax, NS, Winnipeg, MB, Calgary, AB, and Thunder Bay, ON. The projects included on-the-land gatherings for Indigenous youth, gatherings to build up allyship between youth, and a gathering to celebrate two-spirit kin.

Cohort 3: 2020–21 NLC

The 2020-21 cohort gathered 20 BIPOC young people to join us as we explored what it meant to centre kinship, lateral love and self-determination as we explored reconciliation and decolonization in our communities. Over the course of this year, this cohort was able to plan and implement 6 different youth-driven projects.

This year, we had youth from Thunder Bay, ON; Listuguj, QC; The Pas, MB; Opaskwayak Cree Nation, MB; St John’s, NL; Vancouver, BC; Edmonton, AB; and Iqaluit, NU. Some of the projects this year included online cultural workshops, gatherings to build up allyship between community organizers, and art shows for BIPOC 2LBGTQ+ youth.

Cohort 4: 2021–22 NLC

2021- 2022 NLC

The 2021-22 cohort gathered 20 BIPOC young people to join us as we explored what it meant to centre on healing justice, collective liberation, and well-being, as well as reconciliation and decolonization in our communities. Over the course of this year, this cohort was able to plan and implement 6 different youth-driven projects.

This year, we had youth from Winnipeg, MB; Halifax, NS; Unama’ki, NS; Calgary, AB; Vancouver, BC; Ottawa, ON; and Kitigan Zibi, QC. Some of the projects this year included a program to explore ethical relationships to the land for non-Indigenous kin, online cultural workshops, a community fridge project, and a wellness web series for BIPOC youth.

Cohort 5: 2022–23 NLC

The 2022-23 cohort gathered 28 young people to join us as we explored what it meant to centre Indigenous futures as we explored reconciliation and decolonization in our communities. Over the course of this year, this cohort was able to plan and implement 8 different youth-driven projects.

This year, we had youth from Winnipeg, MB; Sheshegwaning, ON; Wikwemikong, ON; Kingsclear, NB; New Aiyansh, BC; and Parry Sound, ON. Some of the projects this year included gatherings for Indigenous youth to explore traditional mental wellness practices and projects to revitalize traditional gathering and ceremonial practices.

Cohort 6: 2024 NLC

The 2024 cohort gathered 13 young people to join us as we explored what it looks like to centre Indigenous knowledge, skills, and governance systems to address the societal crises that we’re facing so we can create futures where our communities thrive. Over the course of this year, this cohort was able to plan and implement 6 different youth-driven projects.

This year, we had youth from Winnipeg, MB; Ottawa, ON; Eskasoni First Nation, NS; Thunder Bay, ON; X̱wemelch’stn First Nation, BC; and Beausoleil First Nation, ON. Some of the projects this year included gatherings for Black and Indigenous youth to connect with the land and each other, a culturally-focused life promotion program for 2 Spirit and Indigenous queer youth, and gatherings to learn teachings and history around the Jiiman (canoe).

Past Projects Overview

Want to learn more about past projects? Take a look at our interactive map to learn more about the amazing work former NLC youth have done together.

Click on the map pin to learn more about past NLC projects.