Certification

The youth panel was founded in 2004 as there was a need to recognize and honor young Aboriginal leaders from across Canada. Once again their voices will be heard, their achievements will be shared and their challenges will be revealed!  Each year CANDO selects six Aboriginal youth participants. Once all submissions have been received, the CANDO Board, Conference Committee and CANDO Staff select the youth based upon their strengths, their initiatives, their accomplishments, their entrepreneurial spirit of launching their careers, and their participation within their communities. Successful applicants will be notified no later than two weeks after the nomination deadline.

In an effort to highlight Aboriginal youth initiatives and successes, CANDO features a National Youth Panel at our Annual National Conference & AGM. This event features Aboriginal youth who are pursing and speaking their ways of success in areas of education, working within the field of Aboriginal economic development and/or as individual entrepreneurs. Previous youth panelists have been involved in employment and entrepreneurial ventures such as: a sports wear company; fresh water bottling and catering businesses, a Vice President of an Internet company, an artist and writer who owns a comic book publishing company, an Outfitting company, Outdoor garden center craft store owner, Outdoor Adventure Company, Fashion Designer, First Nations Snowboarding Team Coordinator and Aboriginal Diabetes Outreach Program worker to name a few.

Some of the youth panelists education include: Community Economic and Social Development Course Programs; Media, Communications, and Visual Program; Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance; Bachelor of Management; Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Education; Master of Education and various other degrees and diplomas. The panel allows youth from across the country to showcase their talents, achievements and to talk about their challenges, strengths and the support they have received while working hard for the benefit of their people.

Do you know an individual between the ages of 18-35 making a difference in your community? If so, this is your opportunity to share their achievements by simply nominating him or her for the 6th National Youth Panel to be held  in October 2010. Please contact the CANDO office at cando@edo.ca or by calling 1-800-463-9300 if you have any questions or require more information. Youth nomination forms will be avaliable shortly, check back for updates.

SAY Magazine/CANDO Partnership

CANDO and SAY Magazine formed a partnership to highlight the National Youth Panel participants to share the best practices. SAY Magazine is, “the largest national magazine for and about Native youth - the largest growing demographic in North America…now in our sixth year, has grown through special lifestyle editions and now features seven additional themed editions geared to lifestyles of all ages.” For more information about Say Magazine visit their web site at www.saymag.com or email info@saymag.com

Download an issue of SAY Magazine to read about last year’s 4th Annual CANDO Youth Panel!  >>Download SAY Magazine-Winter 08 (6.6MB PDF)

2008 National Youth Panelists

2007 National Youth Panelists

Left to right: Dusty Rose, Andrea Dykstra, Josh Gottfriedson, Chief Shane Gottfriedson, Crystal Favel, and Jeff Ward. (Missing Aqpik Peter)

2006 National Youth Panelists

Left to right: Jerry Cunningham, Helen Ward-Wakelin, Jason Robertson, Caroline Van Every-Albert, and Alex Sauvie, (missing Solomon Cyr)