Indigenous Youth Conference
A Conference Shaped by Youth, For Youth
The Indigenous Youth Conference was not simply designed for youth—it was co-created with them. From the earliest stages of planning, an Indigenous Youth Steering Committee played a central role in shaping the vision, priorities, and overall direction of the conference.
Rather than approaching the event with a predetermined structure, the Indigenous Prosperity Centre worked as a vehicle to bring forward what youth themselves identified as important. This meant listening first—understanding what youth wanted to see, who they wanted to hear from, and what kinds of experiences would feel meaningful and relevant to their lives.
Youth emphasized the importance of interactive workshops over traditional speaker formats, representation from Indigenous athletes and creatives, and opportunities to connect directly with Indigenous businesses. They wanted a space that felt energizing, reflective of their identities, and grounded in real-world pathways they could see themselves in.
The result was a conference that felt alive with their voices. From the opening moments—where youth from each Nation were invited to stand and be recognized—to the flow of the day itself, the tone was set by youth leadership. The Indigenous Prosperity Centre’s role was to support, coordinate, and deliver on that vision, ensuring that what was imagined by the youth committee could be experienced in a meaningful and well-supported way.
A key feature of the conference was the Indigenous Vendor Marketplace. This space reflected the youth committee’s desire to see tangible examples of Indigenous entrepreneurship. Youth were able to engage directly with business owners, ask questions, and witness what Indigenous-led economic success looks like in practice—turning abstract ideas about “economic development” into something visible, relational, and achievable.
Rather than approaching the event with a predetermined structure, the Indigenous Prosperity Centre worked as a vehicle to bring forward what youth themselves identified as important. This meant listening first—understanding what youth wanted to see, who they wanted to hear from, and what kinds of experiences would feel meaningful and relevant to their lives.
Youth emphasized the importance of interactive workshops over traditional speaker formats, representation from Indigenous athletes and creatives, and opportunities to connect directly with Indigenous businesses. They wanted a space that felt energizing, reflective of their identities, and grounded in real-world pathways they could see themselves in.
The result was a conference that felt alive with their voices. From the opening moments—where youth from each Nation were invited to stand and be recognized—to the flow of the day itself, the tone was set by youth leadership. The Indigenous Prosperity Centre’s role was to support, coordinate, and deliver on that vision, ensuring that what was imagined by the youth committee could be experienced in a meaningful and well-supported way.
A key feature of the conference was the Indigenous Vendor Marketplace. This space reflected the youth committee’s desire to see tangible examples of Indigenous entrepreneurship. Youth were able to engage directly with business owners, ask questions, and witness what Indigenous-led economic success looks like in practice—turning abstract ideas about “economic development” into something visible, relational, and achievable.
Impact & Reach
- 250 conference attendees
- 25 Indigenous vendors featured
- Over 18 Nations represented
Who Was Involved
Youth leaders, Indigenous entrepreneurs, artists, speakers, facilitators, and community partners all contributed to creating a space that reflected both community priorities and youth vision.
Community Benefit
The conference strengthened youth networks and created a sense of possibility grounded in real relationships. By centering youth voices in the design process, the conference fostered a deeper level of engagement and ownership—participants were not just attendees, but part of something that was built with intention and care.
At the same time, the Indigenous Vendor Marketplace generated direct economic benefit for vendors while reinforcing the importance of supporting Indigenous businesses. This created a cycle of impact—where youth were inspired by what they saw, and Indigenous entrepreneurs were supported through visibility, connection, and sales.
At the same time, the Indigenous Vendor Marketplace generated direct economic benefit for vendors while reinforcing the importance of supporting Indigenous businesses. This created a cycle of impact—where youth were inspired by what they saw, and Indigenous entrepreneurs were supported through visibility, connection, and sales.
Looking Ahead
The Indigenous Prosperity Centre is currently planning the second annual Indigenous Youth Conference and is actively seeking sponsors and partners to support its continued growth.
Building on this youth-led model, future conferences will continue to deepen engagement, expand opportunities, and ensure that Indigenous youth remain at the center of shaping the spaces created for them.
Building on this youth-led model, future conferences will continue to deepen engagement, expand opportunities, and ensure that Indigenous youth remain at the center of shaping the spaces created for them.