“Building Futures” : A Digital Mentoring Center for Indigenous Youth Well-Being and Educational Achievement

Team Members:

Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, Canada

Channarong Intahchomphoo, Adjunct Professor in the School of Engineering Design and Teaching Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Canada

Hojjat Salemi, Chief Business Development Officer, Ranovus

Contact us : cintahch-research@uottawa.ca

Mission:

Our aim is to create a digital mentoring center dedicated to supporting Indigenous youth from kindergarten through grade 12 across Canada, enhancing their holistic well-being and educational achievement, helping them realize their full potential while respecting and integrating their cultural values and traditions.

We will produce and share content on social media to uplift Indigenous youth by showcasing stories and interviews with successful Indigenous individuals, thereby providing them with good role models. Additionally, the center’s social media channels will also feature recommended educational resources like Khan Academy and study techniques, which Indigenous students can use to support their own studies.

Problem Statement:

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and numerous studies have highlighted the systemic barriers and historical traumas faced by Indigenous youth. These challenges significantly impact their mental health, well-being, educational performance, and personal growth. Despite available tools and resources, there is a need for culturally relevant content that is easily accessible through social media technologies, which Indigenous youth actively engage with.

Differentiating Factors:

  • Partnering with social media and technology companies to reach Indigenous youth where they are most active, ensuring our posts are recommended to Indigenous audiences for maximum engagement.
  • Designing our digital mentoring center with a deep understanding of Indigenous cultures and values, actively involving Indigenous communities in the co-creation of content to ensure cultural relevance and authenticity.
  • Placing equal emphasis on the well-being of Indigenous youth and their educational success, incorporating traditional knowledge and practices that foster holistic growth and development.

Work Plans:

  • Building social media accounts for our digital mentoring center, focusing on platforms popular among Indigenous youth.
  • Co-creating content with Indigenous communities, Elders, and knowledge keepers, ensuring that every piece addresses the connection between well-being and education from a cultural perspective.
  • Including Elders and knowledge keepers in the mentoring process to provide cultural guidance and wisdom.
  • Producing content: short video clips for TikTok, longer videos for Meta Facebook and YouTube, and compelling photos and stories for Meta Facebook and Meta Instagram, all reflecting Indigenous perspectives and success stories.
  • Incorporating traditional practices and ceremonies into the digital content to strengthen cultural identity and resilience.
  • Offering content in various Indigenous languages to promote language preservation and cultural pride.
  • Regularly gathering feedback from Indigenous youth to adapt and improve the program, ensuring it meets their evolving needs and preferences.
  • Engaging in marketing activities with partnered Indigenous organizations, social media platforms, and technology companies to promote the work of our digital mentoring center.