Indigenous youth in Canada are disproportionately impacted by sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) and continue to face systemic barriers to wellness. Addressing this urgent reality requires approaches that are youth-led, ceremony-guided, and rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems.
Nîkânohtakewin emerged through ceremony and ancestral guidance, carried forward by prayers and visions calling Indigenous youth as leaders, visionaries, and Knowledge Weavers. This project honor’s the understanding that young people carry sacred responsibilities and powerful voices that are essential in shaping healthier futures for their Nations.
Guided by Indigenous youth, supported by CAAN Knowledge Givers In Residence and Aunties, Nîkânohtakewin is grounded in teachings that weave together intergenerational wisdom with the innovation and energy of youth. Knowledge Givers and Aunties hold vital roles in guiding, protecting, and supporting youth, ensuring that this work is connected to traditional teachings, kinship responsibilities, and cultural protocols. Together, they help create safe and nurturing spaces for Indigenous youth to lead.
This youth-led, community-based research initiative re-engages and strengthens prevention and early intervention for STBBIs, while responding directly to community priorities. By centering knowledge sharing, cultural connection, and collaborative planning, Nîkânohtakewin fosters youth leadership and resilience, while advancing innovative and culturally relevant responses to STBBI prevention, care, and support.
Indigenous youth, or youth-led organizations who feel called to walk this path, are warmly invited to connect with the Project Coordinator at [email protected] to explore ways to participate in this collective journey forward.
