Step Into Your Power: Apply to the Youth Leadership Academy, a paid summer program in Dakwäkäda starting June 15th
Are you a CAFN Citizen age 18–29 who’s ready to step into leadership and make a difference in your community? The Youth Leadership Academy Program (YLAP) is a brand-new, full-time summer program based in Dakwäkäda (Haines Junction), running Monday–Friday from mid-June to August 14.
Over 12 weeks, you will:
• Earn a training allowance of $28/hour
• Receive a new Dell laptop and accessories
• Learn from Elders, Knowledge Keepers, instructors, and guest speakers
• Build skills in personal wellness, leadership, culture, governance, and community prosperity
• Graduate with a $500 bonus and join the YLAP Alumni
YLAP is designed to help you learn about yourself, your culture, and your government—all while building practical skills you can use in work, school, and community life.
You’ll explore six core learning units, from strengthening your mind, body, and spirit, to understanding self-government, economic development, and how to bring community voices into decision-making. The program wraps up with on-the-land learning, including a 3-day Flatwater Canoe Safety Course at Pine Lake and a 5-day camping trip at Mush Lake supported by Parks Canada, CAFN Land Guardians, and Elders.
Seats in the Youth Leadership Academy are limited – apply now to save your spot.
Unit 1: Walking Our Path – Strengthening Mind, Body & Spirit Start by getting to know who you are and what you want your future to look like. In this unit, participants take an honest look at their mind, body, and spirit, explore personal values and strengths, and build tools to care for their mental health. Youth will try different self-care practices – from traditional healing and ceremony to meditation, drumming, sound therapy, tapping, and more – and create a personal wellness plan to carry forward after the program.Unit 2: Growing Leaders – Building Confidence & Finding Your Voice This unit helps youth define what kind of leader they want to be and honours the people who have supported them along the way. Participants explore leadership styles, craft their own leadership origin story, and practice public speaking, active listening, and tough conversations. Together, they talk openly about imposter syndrome and lateral violence, and learn how to create safe, respectful workplaces grounded in lateral kindness.Unit 3: Honouring Our Ancestors’ Gifts – Culture, Land & Identity In this unit, youth deepen their connection to culture, language, and land. They learn about Our Dän K’è ways, participate in CAFN 101 and a Clans System workshop, and build confidence speaking Southern Tutchone. Through a personal genealogy project and time with Elders, participants explore how culture and land shape their worldview. They also discover modern tools for cultural preservation—like 3-D printing, VR, holograms, AI tools, and language apps—and design a cultural preservation plan to share with Leadership. The unit wraps up with orienteering on CAFN Traditional Territory. Unit 4: Leading with Knowledge – How Our Government Works This unit gives youth a clear picture of how CAFN government works and how we got here. Participants learn about Yukon Land Claims, modern treaties, self-government, and intergovernmental relationships, and explore key documents like the TRC Calls to Action, UNDRIP, and Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow. Through a 3-day Treaty Simulation Workshop with the Gordon Foundation, they experience mock meetings and debates. Youth also learn how CAFN is run behind the scenes—governance models, departments, finances, and HR—and even design a mock political campaign to imagine themselves stepping into Leadership roles.Unit 5: Building Our Future – Community Prosperity & Caring for the Land Unit 5 helps youth build confidence with money and community economics. Participants learn about personal budgeting, investing, and financial planning, and what it takes to start a business from the ground up. They explore how procurement and the Yukon First Nations Procurement Policy can support CAFN businesses, and look at social enterprises that give back to the community. Youth design and pitch a community project idea, and learn how resource management, economic development, land stewardship, and community wellbeing all connect. The unit includes learning about the Asheyi (Aishihik) Hydro facility, touring the site, and hearing from Elders about the old village and surrounding area.Unit 6: Community Wisdom – Let Our People Guide the Way In the final unit, youth focus on community voices and good governance. They learn what it means to serve as a board or committee member, and explore how to bring First Nations ways of knowing and being into meeting practices. Participants build skills in using social media in a good way to reach Citizens of all ages, while respecting confidentiality and recognizing conflicts of interest. Youth will plan and host a “Youth and Elder’s Cards and Coffee” event, and explore what meaningful consultation with CAFN can look like as part of reconciliation. Finishing Strong: On-the-Land Learning at Pine Lake & Mush Lake The Youth Leadership Academy wraps up with hands-on, on-the-land learning. Participants complete a 3-day Flatwater Canoe Safety Course at Pine Lake and practice their bushcraft skills. Then, the group heads to Mush Lake for a 5-day camping trip, supported by Parks Canada, CAFN’s Land Guardians, and Elders. Youth will hike, paddle, learn at fish camp, and listen to stories around the campfire—bringing together everything they’ve learned about leadership, culture, and community.
Newsletter Subscription
Receive community announcements, news from Chief and Council, important dates, and more, delivered to your inbox.
Sign up for robocall
Interested in receiving important CAFN updates through text or voice alerts?
10°C
11°C
3°C
