Oshkwazin Trailblazer Program
The Oshkwazin Trailblazer Program currently consists of:
Trailblazer Summer Employment & Trailblazer Land Camps
Trailblazer Summer Employment
This program provides part-time summer employment for Indigenous youth during July and August.
During their time as a Trailblazer, youth receive teachings and mentorship from TRACKS staff, local Indigenous Elders, and Knowledge Holders. By the end of the summer, the youth take some of the knowledge they learn, and with support from TRACKS staff, they pair up to prepare one of four Trailblazer Land Camps (see below!) for other Indigenous youth in their community.
Since 2023, the Summer Trailblazers are also eligible for a high school course credit (GPP30) through the Ontario Ministry of Education via our network membership with Actua!
We will be hiring for this year's Summer Trailblazers starting in April 2024. The posting will be available at the below link.
If you want to learn more about the Summer Trailblazer Program, send us an email below!
During their time as a Trailblazer, youth receive teachings and mentorship from TRACKS staff, local Indigenous Elders, and Knowledge Holders. By the end of the summer, the youth take some of the knowledge they learn, and with support from TRACKS staff, they pair up to prepare one of four Trailblazer Land Camps (see below!) for other Indigenous youth in their community.
Since 2023, the Summer Trailblazers are also eligible for a high school course credit (GPP30) through the Ontario Ministry of Education via our network membership with Actua!
We will be hiring for this year's Summer Trailblazers starting in April 2024. The posting will be available at the below link.
If you want to learn more about the Summer Trailblazer Program, send us an email below!
TAKE ACTION NOW
DON'T WAIT ANY LONGER
Trailblazer Land Camps
Over the course of the summer, the Summer Trailblazers host 4 Land Camps that are open to other Indigenous youth to attend.
All Land Camps are based around a Traditional Knowledge topic with teachings shared by an invited Elder or Knowledge Holders, as well as a craft or hands-on activity. Each year, topics of the Land Camps are chosen by our Summer Trailblazers. Over the years, topics have included: Berry teachings, Water and fish teachings, Medicine wheel teachings, Shaker making, Basket weaving and more!
Trailblazer Summer Land Camps 2024 will be held on:
All Summer Land Camps run 10am-3pm at our Tipi Space at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre. Curious what a land camp looks like? Click the button below to check out a short blog post!
If you are interested in our Summer Trailblazer Land Camps, the best way to stay updated is by signing up to our email list below!
All Land Camps are based around a Traditional Knowledge topic with teachings shared by an invited Elder or Knowledge Holders, as well as a craft or hands-on activity. Each year, topics of the Land Camps are chosen by our Summer Trailblazers. Over the years, topics have included: Berry teachings, Water and fish teachings, Medicine wheel teachings, Shaker making, Basket weaving and more!
Trailblazer Summer Land Camps 2024 will be held on:
- July 4, 2024
- August 1, 2024
- August 8, 2024
- August 15, 2024
All Summer Land Camps run 10am-3pm at our Tipi Space at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre. Curious what a land camp looks like? Click the button below to check out a short blog post!
If you are interested in our Summer Trailblazer Land Camps, the best way to stay updated is by signing up to our email list below!
TAKE ACTION NOW
DON'T WAIT ANY LONGER
About TRACKS Oshkwazin (2021)
What is TRACKS Oshkwazin?
TRACKS Oshkwazin is a leadership program for Indigenous youth ages 14-18, providing them with valuable training and leadership development opportunities. The name Oshkwazin was gifted to the program and is an Anishinaabemowin word meaning “to light your internal fire”. The Oshkwazin program aims to help Indigenous youth connect to and deepen their relationship to their own fire.
Oshkwazin provides a place for Indigenous youth to:
Oshkwazin provides a place for Indigenous youth to:
- Connect other Indigenous youth and discuss issues that matter to them
- Meet and build relationships with Knowledge Holders and Elders
- Learn about Indigenous issues and receive traditional teachings
- Further develop their gifts and tend to tend to their internal fire
- Improve team building
- Gain work and volunteer experience