The image above shows EleV partners and Mastercard Foundation staff participating in a birch bark workshop at Wanuskewin.
It takes one person to see your potential and hold you like a little ember.
In June 2026, the Mastercard Foundation EleV Program brought together Indigenous young people, partners, Elders, and staff to connect, learn, and strengthen the power of the EleV Network to drive transformative change in support of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth.
Held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - on Treaty Six Territory and the Homeland of the Métis - the gathering centred on the theme Harnessing Networks for Change. Over three days, participants explored how relationships, trust, and collaboration can accelerate lasting impact in service of Indigenous youth and communities.
Grounded in land, culture, and community the gathering opened on June 10 at Wanuskewin, a sacred site and historic gathering place for Northern Plains Indigenous Peoples. Sessions held at the University of Saskatchewan on June 11 and 12 focused on open dialogue, shared learning, and reflection. Conversations emphasized accountability, action, and a collective vision for the future - particularly the importance of Indigenous youth leadership in shaping that path forward.
Key Insights
Relationships First: The Foundation for Impact
A primary theme that emerged throughout the gathering was that lasting change depends on strong relationships.
“Everything begins with good relationships,” said Wole Onabolu, General Counsel at the Mastercard Foundation. “The connections in this room have created new opportunities for collaboration, learning, and impact.”
Participants underscored that relationships are not a starting point - they are the work itself. The EleV Network, built over years of trust and collaboration, enables more open conversations, deeper learning, and collective approaches to addressing the complex challenges that Indigenous communities are facing.
As Jupika Kotierk, a member of the Foundation’s Indigenous Youth Advisory, shared: “Networks are made up of people, not institutions. We each have a role to play in solving the challenges we face.”
Indigenous Youth Visions panel at the 2026 EleV Network Gathering. From right to left: Cody Buziak, Honey Constant-Inglis, Leora Badger, Kal Ledoux, Olivia Craggs.
Rethinking How Success Is Measured
Another important insight is the need to rethink how impact is defined and measured, to ensure it reflects the goals, needs, and realities of Indigenous young people. Success measures must reflect identities and cultures and evolve alongside the aspirations of Indigenous youth.
Participants called for more collaboration with youth in shaping these measures. As Jennifer Brennan, Senior Director of Canada Programs noted, “We need metrics that reflect the connection between success and identity, and between hope and opportunity.”
Collective Action for Lasting Change
A powerful teaching shared at the gathering illustrated the importance of a collaborative, learning network in advancing Indigenous-led transformation with generational impact.
Dr. Leroy Little Bear, of the University of Lethbridge, spoke about the Haudenosaunee “Three Sisters” teaching - corn, beans, and squash growing together in a mutually supportive system.
Corn provides the stalk, standing tall and looking toward the horizon. Squash protects the land with its broad leaves and thorny vines, helping to conserve water and keep animals away. Beans bring nitrogen to the soil, nourishing the other two sisters so all three can grow together.
Applied to the EleV Network: communities provide the vision, partner organizations create conditions for success, and the Mastercard Foundation provides resources that sustain and strengthen our collective work. Together, these interconnected roles demonstrate how a network of organizations, harnessed around a shared purpose, leads to stronger outcomes than any one group could achieve alone.
EleV partners and Mastercard Foundation stuff participating in a hoop dancing workshop at Wanuskewin.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 EleV Network Gathering reinforced an essential truth: meaningful change is built on trust, shared responsibility, and relationships that honour the voices and leadership of Indigenous young people.
When youth are empowered to lead, when communities define what success looks like, when networks act towards a common purpose, they become catalysts for transformation.