Youth Empowerment Stream – Sprout (CREation)

Youth Empowerment Stream – Sprout (CREation) is sponsored by CREation. The Youth Empowerment Stream – Sprout, part of the CREation multi-level funding program, provides small grants to youth-led projects across Canada. It focuses on new and emerging micro-projects that increase the resilience, engagement, and wellness of Indigenous youth.

Youth Empowerment Stream - Indigenous Youth Roots This stream will next open for applications in Fall 2026. Please check back here for more information and review previous funding guides (at the bottom of the page!) The Youth Empowerment Stream will provide small grants from $2,500 – $5000 to youth-led projects happening in urban, rural, and remote communities across Canada.

The focus of this stream is to fund new and emerging micro-projects that focus on increasing the resilience, engagement, and wellness of youth. Projects must be led by 2+ Indigenous youth (ages 15-29). Youth leaders (grantees) will receive innovative mentorship, training, and capacity-building opportunities throughout the project.

The Youth Empowerment Stream can be used as a stepping stone to implement a new idea or start your work with a project idea.

There is a priority in this stream to support: New and emerging Indigenous grassroots groups and collectives Projects that are testing and/or trying a new idea New groups who have never run a project before Groups who have never received funding from Creation before Download YES Creation Funding Guide Télécharger YES Creation Funding Guide FR We’re looking to fund projects that focus on one or more of the following areas: Assessment and Feasibility Studies Projects will focus on assessing community and youth needs, doing feasibility projects and engaging the community in consultation.

Projects that increase access to arts, art-based workshops, cultural knowledge, traditions and ceremony Projects will support youth groups in accessing capacity-building, knowledge mobilization and funding resources. Projects will focus on innovating healthcare systems, developing solutions to infrastructure and resource challenges (such as access to clean water and sustainable food sources) and increasing access to technology.

Intergenerational Relationship Building Projects will engage multiple age groups and should help to enhance the sense of community ( i.e. projects where youth participate in programs with Elders, families, adults, etc ).

Youth and Community Wellness Projects will focus on enhancing community wellness and can include one-off events or long-term programs and any type of programming related to wellness ( i.e. workshops, teachings, gatherings). Creation will prioritize funding grassroots youth groups consisting of a minimum of 2 Indigenous youth.

Please note: for the purpose of this program, IYR defines Indigenous as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada, living both on and off-reserve.

Eligible groups and projects include: Unincorporated/grassroots youth groups/collectives/councils comprised primarily of Indigenous youth Emerging, incorporated youth groups (note: IYR defines "emerging" as groups that have an operating budget of less than $50,000) Projects must serve primarily serve Indigenous youth Ineligible groups and projects: Individuals and/or projects that are not led by 2+ Indigenous youth Projects that are not youth-led (or where the majority of the leadership is 30+) Non-Indigenous groups and organizations Groups that have received more than $10,000 in funding from IYR over the past 12 months Projects taking place outside of Canada Examples of Funded Projects Learn about some projects that have been funded in this stream: Lake Superior High School Anishinaabemowin Boodawe Committee (Ontario) Lake Superior High School Anishinaabemowin Boodawe Committee will host a student-lead powwow for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

As part of their school’s Indigenous leadership project, Indigenous students identified hosting a powwow at their school to promote their language and culture as their next step for increasing community engagement. Métis Harvesting Collective (Manitoba) Métis Harvesting Collective will run a fish harvesting camp for Red River Métis youth.

This is an opportunity for Métis youth to gather, spend time on their homelands and waters, learn traditional skills from Elders, eat traditional foods, and give back to their community. The harvest, if successful, will be processed and distributed to Elders, family and community members in need.

The Seventh Fire Singers (Saskatchewan) The Seventh Fire Singers will be a women’s weekly drum circle which will focus on healing through learning songs and teachings from various knowledge keepers. Activities include opening prayers, talking circles, designing and painting the drums, making medicine pouches, practicing songs and a celebration where a final performance will be held.

This program will offer a space to revitalize women’s teachings that have been lost. The Selkirk Spirit Dancers (Yukon) The Selkirk Spirit Dances will travel around the Yukon, performing northern Tutchone songs and dances. While preparing to travel and perform, youth will learn how to put together dances and choreograph dances, learn new songs and dances, as well as learn how to make and repair their regalia.

See the general FAQ h ere How many youth leaders do I need for this stream? You need at least two Indigenous youth who are leading your project. If you have more youth leading and/or also have adults supporting, that’s fine too!

How many people should my project reach? Reach looks different for different projects. Some projects are focused on reaching big numbers of youth (like 500+ over one single event ) .

Other projects are focused on reaching a small number of youth but with a deeper engagement (like 15 youth but weekly over several months). We’ve funded both types of projects! Can we apply if our group is new?

Yes! You are more than welcome to apply, even if you have never led a project before. The focus of this grant is to support newer groups .

How do I make a budget for my project? The first step is you will want to sit down and make a list of all possible expenses you might have for your project. Make sure you consider things like: workshop supplies and materials, honorariums, food/snacks, space rental if needed, transportation, gifts, printing, etc. Sometimes it’s helpful to think through each step and day of the project, and what supplies you will need that day.

You’ll have to fill out our budget template (which you can find here) as a part of your application. There is an example budget in the template that you can follow. If you are having any troubles, please reach out to us and we are happy to help!

I have an idea, but I’m not sure how to turn it into a project. Can you help? Absolutely!

We are happy to hop on a call or zoom meeting and talk through your idea. We also can give some helpful tips and pointers! Reach out to Meagan to schedule a call.

What do you mean by “operating budget”? When we ask for an “operating budget”, we are asking about how much money your group has access to over the course of a year.

This amount should include all administrative costs, staff salaries, program costs (materials, renting out a space, snacks, etc.), honorariums, etc. This budget spans the entire year, and encompasses your group’s entire budget, not just the budget for the project you’re applying for! It is okay to provide an estimate for this number if you don’t know the exact amount.

It is also more than okay to apply for a Creation grant if you’re a new group or if your group currently has an operating budget of $0. 00!! IYR has run 14 rounds of the Youth Empowerment Funding Stream.

In total $539,950 in funding has been given to 115 projects. Funded projects have reached 9,712 Indigenous youth. What excites us about this stream is that we get to support projects that are just taking off – we love supporting youth who are trying new things, and to see the ways those ideas grow.

Past Youth Empowerment Funding Guides March View English Guide | View French Guide October View English Guide | View French Guide March/June/August/November View English Guide | View French Guide June/August Blossom View English Guide | View French Guide June/August/November Sprout View English Guide | View French Guide June/November/January Sprout View English Guide | View French Guide June/November/January Blossom View English Guide | View French Guide November View English Guide | View French Guide Grant Contact Name and Pronouns Program & Community Engagement Coordinator Reach Out for More Information IYR is a registered charity that provides Indigenous youth led leadership, learning and experiences to every youth that participates in our programs.

We provide programming, grants, and opportunities that are grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Website by Design de Plume Inc.