Innu Nation & Students on Ice Foundation
Innu Nation & Students on Ice Foundation are partners in the EleV Program. EleV is a collaborative initiative that is creating opportunities for Indigenous learners in their journeys to and through education and onto meaningful work.
The Innu Nation is the representative body of the Innu of Labrador - approximately 3,200 Innu, the majority of whom live in the communities of Sheshatshiu and Natuashish. Guided by a mandate to speak with one voice, Innu Nation protects the rights and interests of its members. As Innu Nation moves toward a final land claim and the establishment of self-government, a key priority is to support Innu youth with opportunities to obtain the education, skills, and knowledge needed to lead and protect our communities in the future.
Innu Nation has been partnering with Students on Ice Foundation (SOIF) for the last two years on the Innu Uinipeku Expedition. SOIF are an internationally recognized leader in experiential education and meaningful youth engagement. Their mission is to inspire and empower leadership for a sustainable future by connecting youth to nature, and to the knowledge, people, and resources to make a difference. Since SOIF launched in 2000, they have brought more than 4,500 globally diverse youth and educators from 55 countries on educational expeditions to Arctic regions.
The Innu Uinipekuu Expedition is an Innu-led ocean expedition that provides Innu youth with a blend of traditional Innu knowledge and modern scientific research training, while building a comprehensive understanding of the Innu marine zones, and furthering conservation efforts. Innu youth face significant barriers when pursuing education away from Nitassinan. This project seeks to reduce those barriers by empowering Innu youth throughout their learning journey by tailoring and delivering educational opportunities in land and marine stewardship for Innu youth on Innu territory. The annual Expedition offers Innu youth hands-on learning and real-world experiences in marine and coastal research, such as water sampling, biodiversity surveys, archaeology, and wildlife monitoring. The project merges natural science with Innu cultural teachings to foster both environmental responsibility and cultural revitalization.
The Mastercard Foundation’s 20-month partnership with Innu Nation and SOIF will include:
- Strengthening and expanding the annual Innu Uinipeku Expedition, including expanding wrap around support for youth participants in preparation and follow up.
- Expanding ongoing expedition-related learning, training & engagement, including building linkages with the K-12 Innu Education system.
- Increasing planning and delivery capacity to strengthen the expedition program (including ensuring engaging hands-on curriculum that blends traditional knowledge with science).
- Offering tailored internships for youth with delivery partners in ocean science, technology, archaeology, and communications.
- Training youth in technical skills related to environmental monitoring, land and water data collection and analysis, and cultural resource protection. This will include workshops and on the land experiences for youth not involved in the Expeditions.
- Building clear pathways through education and onto careers related to future job opportunities in the community. This will include supporting youth through awareness raising, and developing connections and mentorships to follow these pathways.
- Engaging the community (to reach a larger segment of youth and their families) in learning related to environmental monitoring and stewardship through workshops, career fairs, school presentations, social media and radio, and open house community days.
