Boozhoo! The Gi-ga-wiiji-ozhichigemin Niibing (When it is summer, we will make things with each other) program is gently asking the community for donations to support the program, the youth, facilitators, community members, elders & knowledge keepers involved.

The Gi-ga-wiiji-ozhichigemin Niibing: Indigenous Youth Art Residency Program is looking to work with six Indigenous youth artists between the ages of 15-25 who reside in Thunder Bay for the duration of the program. The program is scheduled to begin on July 11th, 2025 and run until July 31st, 2025. The Indigenous Youth Residency Program was created by Quill Christie-Peters as part of her Master's Thesis at UVIC in 2017 to reflect on artistic programming for urban Indigenous Youth. This summer, the program is coordinated by Chase Lester and Jesslynn Friday, local ENAGB Youth Council members. Jesslynn has participated as a resident in the 2020 and 2022 cohorts of the Indigenous Youth Residency program and wishes to continue to engage in youth-focused community work.

Your potential contribution to this program will assist us in providing land-based, language-based, and art-based activities to these youth who will also be learning about various Indigenous resistances, settler colonialism on Turtle Island, Palestine, and globally, and tending to our relationships with homelands, ancestors, bodies, and selves.

All the potential funds raised will ensure that the program’s youth artists, facilitators, knowledge keepers & elders are paid generously and that we can cover any additional costs associated with travel, gifts, and materials for the land-based activities. Any other additional funds raised will support the program’s development, catering costs, and administration work.

We find this work to be the most fulfilling kind of protest youth can do, and we greatly appreciate any donations that may come forward. Any form of support, such as engaging and sharing our posts is greatly appreciated as well.

The applications for the program open on June 9th and close on June 30th, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Stay tuned for more information about the application requirements and the program in general!

We are grateful to have the support of the Indigenous Youth Futures Partnership at Carleton University!

Chi-miigwech! Follow us on Instagram @gigawiijiozhichigeminnibiing and visit our Facebook page: Gigawiijiozhichigemin Niibing.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions, concerns, or inquiries!

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