National Learning Community 2024

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"The most life-changing thing has been the people I’ve met through my NLC family! I have made lifelong friends that I share so many amazing memories with that I never would have if it wasn’t for 4Rs."

– 2019 NLC Member

I’m excited by the NLC’s call to grow together. There are few spaces to be able to grow into depth with relationships as there is a focus on quantity of connections rather than an intentional approach towards partnerships.

– 2019 NLC Member

I’m excited by the NLC’s call to grow together. There are few spaces to be able to grow into depth with relationships as there is a focus on quantity of connections rather than an intentional approach towards partnerships.

– 2019 NLC Member

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"I’m excited by the NLC’s call to grow together. There are few spaces to be able to grow into depth with relationships as there is a focus on quantity of connections rather than an intentional approach towards partnerships."

– 2020 NLC Member

I’m excited by the NLC’s call to grow together. There are few spaces to be able to grow into depth with relationships as there is a focus on quantity of connections rather than an intentional approach towards partnerships.

– 2020 NLC Member

I’m excited by the NLC’s call to grow together. There are few spaces to be able to grow into depth with relationships as there is a focus on quantity of connections rather than an intentional approach towards partnerships.

– 2020 NLC Member

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"I was fortunate to attend a 4Rs NLC event. A safe, supportive, and open space for cross-cultural dialogue, reflection and relationship- building. The opportunity to engage in this environment was impactful, it felt authentic and personal."

– 2021 NLC Member

I was fortunate to attend a 4Rs NLC event. A safe, supportive, and open space for cross-cultural dialogue, reflection and relationship- building. The opportunity to engage in this environment was impactful, it felt authentic and personal.

– 2021 NLC Member

I was fortunate to attend a 4Rs NLC event. A safe, supportive, and open space for cross-cultural dialogue, reflection and relationship- building. The opportunity to engage in this environment was impactful, it felt authentic and personal.

– 2021 NLC Member

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"4Rs and the NLC gives more than it takes! The reciprocity I experienced was unreal and gave me a glimpse of what real community care and organizing can feel like."

– 2020 NLC Member

4Rs and the NLC gives more than it takes! The reciprocity I experienced was unreal and gave me a glimpse of what real community care and organizing can feel like.

– 2020 NLC Member

4Rs and the NLC gives more than it takes! The reciprocity I experienced was unreal and gave me a glimpse of what real community care and organizing can feel like.

– 2020 NLC Member

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"I learned so much especially in how community care was modelled in all of our meetings and supports. It was a weird year to be doing the NLC but I am glad that there was so much space created to navigate that with us as a cohort."

– 2020 NLC Member

I learned so much especially in how community care was modelled in all of our meetings and supports. It was a weird year to be doing the NLC but I am glad that there was so much space created to navigate that with us as a cohort.

– 2020 NLC Member

I learned so much especially in how community care was modelled in all of our meetings and supports. It was a weird year to be doing the NLC but I am glad that there was so much space created to navigate that with us as a cohort.

– 2020 NLC Member

What is the NLC?

The National Learning Community (NLC) is a year-long leadership program for young people across so-called Canada to learn new ways of community organizing, as we take on the work of decolonization together.

Indigenous peoples from all over the world are already living in a post-apocalyptic reality, and there is wisdom in these experiences – ancestrally, contemporarily and in the ability to still envision ourselves with joy in the future. We want to pull together this wisdom to find solutions to some of the challenges our communities have been facing.

This year we invited teams of 2-4 young people between the ages of 18-30 to apply for the opportunity to:

Join a community of BIPOC young people who will learn, share and grow alongside with in hopes of strengthening kinship networks in the face of these crises;
Participate in an opening retreat in February 2024, where they will connect with their NLC cohort for land and culture-based learning, within a supportive environment that includes elders, knowledge holders, mental health supports and other BIPOC youth mentors;
Be supported throughout their planning by the 4Rs team, community of mentors and mental health supports so you are able to put more intention into the visioning, facilitating, budgeting, communications and coordinating elements of your project;
Envision, plan and put together a community initiative, gathering or project using $10,000 worth of funds;
Learn new organising skills including community care and relationship-based project management, creative facilitation, and more all while caring for our own well-being;
Participate in online coaching sessions with the 4Rs team as well as the opportunity to join skill-building sessions together with the rest of the NLC;
Come together in November 2024 for a closing retreat to share lessons and celebrate one another’s achievements.

This year we called on BIPOC young people across so-called Canada to draw on the wisdom of their communities and join the NLC as we explore: What does it look like to centre Indigenous knowledge, skills, and governance systems to address the societal, ideological and environmental crises that we’re facing?

This year we called on BIPOC young people across so-called Canada to draw on the wisdom of their communities and join the NLC as we explore: What does it look like to centre Indigenous knowledge, skills, and governance systems to address the societal, ideological and environmental crises that we’re facing?

Celebrating the Impact We’re Making Through the NLC

Since the start of the NLC in 2017, Indigenous youth, with the support of BPOC and settler allies, have made big impacts in their communities through projects they have accomplished through our program. While we know the true impact of community organizing is immeasurable, we want to take a moment to recognize the impact of our alumni and the work of our team at 4Rs. Since the launch of the NLC, together we have:

Connected young people from many different nations, including Ojibway, Inninew, Anishinew, Algonquin, Oneida, Inuit, Dene, Gwich’in, Inuvialuit, Nêhiyawak, Métis, Mi’kmaw, Ililiw, Nakoda, Nisga’a, Ts’msyen, Tahltan, and Wolastoqiyik nations.
Provided support to on-reserve, rural and urban communities across different territories such as Vancouver, BC, Iqaluit, NU, Bunibonibee Cree Nation, MB, Thunder Bay, ON, Kingsclear First Nation, NB, Halifax, NS, Inuvik, NWT, and more!
Made kin with 106 NLC alumni who spent so much time learning and planning with us!
Hosted 9 online gatherings and a 4Rs alumni reunion focused on connection, culture, identity, and solidarity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic!
Witnessed NLC teams offer back over 25 in-person initiatives to their communities, ranging from on-the-land culture camps, BIPOC art shows, Indigenous drag shows, multi-day gatherings exploring Indigenous identity and solidarity, ceremonies, seasonal storytelling gatherings, healing-centred gatherings, trips to strengthen relationships between Indigenous communities, and more!

Past NLC Alumni Initiatives:

2019 Winnipeg NLC Team

2S Celebration

Hosted by Jake Tuesday and Lee McLean

2020 Iqaluit NLC Team

Ivviulutit Art Show

Hosted by Jukipa Kotierk and Jasleen Jawanda

2019 Lnu Crew NLC Team

Braiding Our Gifts Together Gathering

Hosted by Alexa Metallic, Emily Dunne, Hannah Martin and Brennan Googoo

2020 Listuguj NLC Team

Niganpugultieg Web Series

Hosted by Nadia Wysote, Macy Metallic and Rosalie Labillois

Get Involved

Donate to the NLC! Help to empower Indigenous youth across the country to have a generational and systemic impact on their communities through capacity building & leadership training, projects and events.

Donate

Applications for the 2024 NLC are now closed! Keep an eye on our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to stay informed and up to date about the application status!