Indigenous Youth Cultural Access Project

Across Canada, culture-based health promotion and prevention approaches have been developed to support the wellness of Indigenous youth. These programs have been effective in improving mental health, reducing substance use, fostering belonging, and supporting cultural identity and community connection; however, they remain underfunded and difficult to sustain.

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The Indigenous Youth Cultural Access Project aims to understand how policies, governance, and funding impact culture-based programs for Indigenous youth in Canada. Using an environmental scan, interviews, and discussion circles, the study identifies systemic barriers and offers solutions for sustaining culture-based programs. Project findings have been shared through a Catalyzing Change gathering. Future sharing will include policy briefs, academic publications and presentations, and a research report.