Our Story: A Youth Cohort Learning Journey

As part of the two and a half year "Best Practices in Rural Alberta Project" focused on wise practices in four Alberta Indigenous communities, a group of 15 Indigenous youth from across the province took part in a parallel learning journey.

In addition to assisting with the research project, special opportunities were created so that each could develop their own skill sets in communication and presentation. This work helped them to prepare for their participation in the Wise Practices Symposium. A dozen of the Youth Cohort came to Banff over four days to work with facilitators to create short documentaries. The results of this work are included here, as four short video projects.

Each group was tasked with creating a work which answered these key questions:

• What have you learned being part of the Youth Cohort?

• How have you grown or what difference do you see in yourself?

• What has changed for you?

• What do you now need to share with the world?

The four projects, and their creators, are:

• Berries - Cory Beaver, Johnny Thunder

• Polar Bear - Coby Eagle Bear, Drew Calliou, Amanda L'Hirondelle

• Sparrow - Kenzie Mistaken Chief, Andrea Kastendieck

• Tree Fern - Sarah Kastendieck, Tashina Makokis