Ten youth from across the Kivalliq region and two youth from Iqaluit spent a week in Iqaluit to attend workshops during IIKELC’s Peer Leadership Program. The youth spent time with special guest speaker Don Burnstick, who facilitated talking circles on a range of topics including Indigenous community healing, sober living and healthy lifestyles, and cyberbullying. The youth also attended the IIKELC Reach Out Workshop and Peer Leadership Mental Health Program, as well as a workshop with Bernice Clark and her husband where they learned how to make soap and spoke about healing in terms of Inuit culture. To sum up the experience that the youth had, we will quote Brianna Taparti, “I’ve made lifelong friendships during this program. This could not have gone any better than expected!”.
We want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors, Northwestel and Calm Air, for making this program possible!
More Programs
Youth Peer Leadership 2025 Applications Now Open!
The aim of the Peer Leadership program is to foster youth’s confidence in being supportive community members, including how to respond to disclosures of abuse and thoughts of suicide, and how to practice self care. We are also looking to form connections between youth from across the region and help them to feel more comfortable.
Youth Peer Leadership Program 2023
This year the youth focused on learning suicide intervention skills, healthy relationships and boundaries for oneself, and the importance of youth mental health in Nunavut.
Introduction to Sewing with Sewing Machines
IIKELC was proud to run an Introduction to Sewing with Sewing Machines program for youth ages 13-18 and 19-25! Participants made their own throw pillows to take home as well as wind pants! This program took place during the winter of 2022 at the office in Iqaluit.