This 5-year partnership supports the creation of a new apprenticeship program, Youth River Guardians, led by a consortium of Matawa First Nations Management partners. The primary goal of this program is to facilitate the involvement First Nations youth in STEM educational programming. The focus of this strategic partnership is primarily directed towards First Nations youth residing in remote communities, who often face the greatest barriers to accessing specialized STEM education.
This partnership will:
• Develop and deliver a Youth River Guardian program with a unique additional training area – information technology. As of 2023, all nine of the Matawa First Nations have been connected to a fibre optic broadband network, and these communities need local staff trained on the ongoing maintenance of the network. First Nations young people will be trained in both environmental stewardship and information technology, from their home communities.
• Enable the Youth River Guardians to assume a pivotal role in their communities by delivering STEM programming to youth. As community members partake in their everyday traditional activities, such as fishing, hunting, and trapping, they can utilize technology to document ecological observations.
• Enable the Youth River Guardians to serve as 'Youth STEM Education Coordinators.' In collaboration with Matawa staff, this will include organizing and hosting youth gatherings and providing participants with education on environmental policies.
