Indigenous Blue Economy Day Camp
Grounding Future Pathways in Land, Water, and Indigenous Knowledge
The Indigenous Blue Economy Day Camp was created with a clear intention: to reconnect Indigenous youth with the lands and waters that have always sustained their Nations, while opening up pathways into marine-based careers, stewardship, and entrepreneurship.
While the ocean economy continues to grow, Indigenous youth remain underrepresented in these spaces—despite holding deep, generational relationships with the territories these industries rely on. This program was designed to shift that reality by creating a space where youth could see themselves reflected in both traditional and emerging roles connected to the water.
Across two years of programming, the Day Camp has continued to evolve—building on relationships, expanding partnerships, and deepening its impact. Rather than functioning as a one-time experience, it is becoming part of a longer-term approach to connecting Indigenous youth to opportunity in the Blue Economy.
The experience is intentionally grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and learning. Youth are not only introduced to technical skills and career pathways—they are immersed in relationship-building with the land, the water, and the people who care for them.
Knowledge holders and community partners play a central role in shaping this experience. Their involvement ensures that learning is rooted in respect, reciprocity, and shared responsibility. Youth learn directly from those working in marine stewardship, research, restoration, and ocean-based industries—creating a bridge between cultural knowledge and contemporary opportunities.
The camp is also designed to be hands-on and experiential. Through field-based learning, workshops, and direct engagement, youth are able to explore what a future in the Blue Economy could look like—not as an abstract concept, but as something tangible and within reach.
While the ocean economy continues to grow, Indigenous youth remain underrepresented in these spaces—despite holding deep, generational relationships with the territories these industries rely on. This program was designed to shift that reality by creating a space where youth could see themselves reflected in both traditional and emerging roles connected to the water.
Across two years of programming, the Day Camp has continued to evolve—building on relationships, expanding partnerships, and deepening its impact. Rather than functioning as a one-time experience, it is becoming part of a longer-term approach to connecting Indigenous youth to opportunity in the Blue Economy.
The experience is intentionally grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and learning. Youth are not only introduced to technical skills and career pathways—they are immersed in relationship-building with the land, the water, and the people who care for them.
Knowledge holders and community partners play a central role in shaping this experience. Their involvement ensures that learning is rooted in respect, reciprocity, and shared responsibility. Youth learn directly from those working in marine stewardship, research, restoration, and ocean-based industries—creating a bridge between cultural knowledge and contemporary opportunities.
The camp is also designed to be hands-on and experiential. Through field-based learning, workshops, and direct engagement, youth are able to explore what a future in the Blue Economy could look like—not as an abstract concept, but as something tangible and within reach.
Impact & Reach (Across Two Camps)
39 youth participants
13+ Nations represented
15 facilitators and knowledge holders
26 community partners
13+ Nations represented
15 facilitators and knowledge holders
26 community partners
Who Was Involved
Youth participants, marine professionals, knowledge holders, and community partners all contributed to creating a program that balanced cultural grounding with real-world exposure.
Community Benefit
The Day Camp supports intergenerational knowledge exchange while strengthening youth confidence in exploring education and employment pathways connected to the ocean.
By compensating knowledge holders and facilitators through honoraria, the program upholds the principle that Indigenous knowledge and expertise must be valued. Youth participants also receive honoraria, reinforcing that their time, presence, and contributions are meaningful and worthy of recognition.
This approach shifts the experience from passive participation to active engagement—supporting youth in seeing themselves as future leaders, stewards, and professionals within the Blue Economy.
By compensating knowledge holders and facilitators through honoraria, the program upholds the principle that Indigenous knowledge and expertise must be valued. Youth participants also receive honoraria, reinforcing that their time, presence, and contributions are meaningful and worthy of recognition.
This approach shifts the experience from passive participation to active engagement—supporting youth in seeing themselves as future leaders, stewards, and professionals within the Blue Economy.
Looking Ahead
The Indigenous Prosperity Centre is actively seeking sponsors and partners to expand the Indigenous Blue Economy Day Camp and deepen its impact.
Future programming will continue to grow Nation-based partnerships, expand hands-on learning opportunities, and strengthen pathways for Indigenous youth to enter—and lead within—ocean-based sectors.
Future programming will continue to grow Nation-based partnerships, expand hands-on learning opportunities, and strengthen pathways for Indigenous youth to enter—and lead within—ocean-based sectors.