Youth Outreach

Empowering Indigenous youth through justice education and mentorship

Level’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (“IYOP”, formerly "Dare to Dream") is an innovative justice education and mentorship program for First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth aged 11 - 14 that achieves the following:

Engages First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth in fun and collaborative justice-based activities
Empowers youth to reach their full potential
Builds the confidence, critical thinking and leadership skills of youth
Promotes relationship development between youth and justice sector volunteers through storytelling and a two-way knowledge exchange
Celebrates Indigenous customs, practices and beliefs
Advances reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities

Throughout the program, students work with justice sector volunteers and participate in experiential learning opportunities like mock trials, sentencing circles, and field trips that expose them to the justice system in a positive and culturally-empowering way.

With its focus on building relationships, the program provides the youth participants with a positive experience with the justice system during a critical time of their development. IYOP is rooted in building trust, acknowledging colonial legacies, honouring Indigenous practices and customs, and promoting a two-way knowledge exchange between volunteers and Indigenous youth.

RATIONALE

The accessibility of the justice system for Indigenous people in Canada is of significant concern. For instance, Indigenous youth, one of Canada’s fastest growing populations, are more likely to live in poverty and drop out of high school compared to non-Indigenous youth in Canada. Studies have also shown that Indigenous peoples are overrepresented at every stage of the criminal justice process, yet underrepresented in the administration of justice in Canada. Despite making up only 8% of the youth population in Canada, Indigenous youth aged 12-17 account for nearly half of all of admissions to correctional services in Canada at 46%. From a gender perspective, Indigenous boys account for 47% of male admissions to penal youth facilities. For Indigenous girls, the numbers are even more stark, making up 60% of all female youth in the correctional system (Statistics Canada, youth correctional statistics). Canada’s prisons have been referred to as the “new residential schools”.

While the reasons for the inaccessibility of the justice system for Indigenous communities are complex, the lack of culturally appropriate educational programming and supports, coupled with the effects of racism, colonialism and the devaluation of Indigenous cultures and identities are widely recognized as significant barriers. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action contain recommendations focused on the need for a responsive solution to eliminating the over-representation of Indigenous youth in the justice system, and for an increase in programming tailored toward Indigenous youth.

IYOP responds to these concerns and calls to action by offering programming that not only increases the students’ knowledge about the justice system and their critical thinking and leadership skills, but also enhances the volunteers’ cultural humility. The program is celebrated for advancing reconciliation by reducing alienation between the justice sector and Indigenous communities by many community leaders, including Senator Murray Sinclair.

In the long term, the program’s goals are to combat the overrepresentation of Indigenous youth in the justice system, and to cultivate a more inclusive, diverse, and empathetic legal profession.

Indigenous Youth Outreach Program: Portrait of a Student

Endorsements

“The students made me very proud. I will remember them for a long time. Indeed, they made me feel like I was home on my reserve and amongst my people. IYOP is a terrific program, which I have no doubt will create new dreams in the students and I have every confidence that some of them will take it to heart. They are special young people and deserve the chance to go anywhere they want to in life. I believe they will. A big Chi Miigwetch to them and all the generous volunteers.”

– The Honourable Justice Harry LaForme, Ontario Court of Appeal
Endorsements

“I'm impressed with CLA's development and execution of this high-impact initiative that supports First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth and their communities. IYOP engages youth at a critical time in their development, and challenges them to live up to their potential by making sound choices for today and setting positive goals for the future. I am confident that IYOP will have long lasting and far reaching benefits for Indigenous youth in Canada, and the national community at large.”

– The Honourable Bob Rae, Senior Partner at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, and former MP Toronto Centre
Endorsements

“The commitment of the IYOP volunteers makes this program truly extraordinary. Their respect for Indigenous pedagogy, and their focus on empowering First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students through justice education and mentorship is a breakthrough approach. These students are ready to become leaders and advocates and IYOP gives them the opportunity to shine. I support the continued expansion of this program throughout Canada.”

– Phil Fontaine, President of Ishkonigan Consulting and Mediation Inc. and former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
Endorsements

“This is a one-of-a-kind outreach and justice education program. IYOP is equipping Indigenous students with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to become Canada's next generation of leaders. It also encourages the legal community to invest in and promote First Nations, Métis and Inuit success. This innovative program is taking community engagement to the next level and it really should be expanded to other Indigenous communities.”

– The Honourable Bill Graham, Chancellor of Trinity College, University of Toronto, and Former Canadian Foreign Minister
Endorsements

“It is crucial for IYOP to continue as I have seen the transformation in my students in both their self-esteem and understanding of law. These children are the future of our nation, and through their knowledge and understanding gained in IYOP, the possibilities are endless in terms of the impact they can have on a nation.”

– Sharla Niroopan, Grade 7/8 Teacher at First Nations School of Toronto
Endorsements

“Through Level's IYOP, I have the opportunity to work towards improving graduation rates amongst Indigenous youth in Canada… Without IYOP, these Indigenous youth would not have this positive and engaging exposure to Ontario’s justice system, nor would they have the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding of the system in such a positive way.”

– Karen Restoule, an Ojibway woman from the Dokis First Nation, Justice Coordinator for the Chiefs of Ontario, and former Toronto IYOP Co-Coordinator
Endorsements

“Being a mentor for IYOP has proven to be the most rewarding aspect of working with Level; feeling like you might be making a small impact on the life of a student which could possibly tweak an interest in the law as a career. It’s important for lawyers to give back. Lawyers have particular skills that are needed throughout the world and in our own backyard.”

– Jennifer Guerard, Managing Director, Legal, OMERS Infrastructure, and Chair of Level's Board of Directors
Endorsements

“IYOP and the First Nations School in particular has made me proud and excited for the future of my people. The students have shown so much strength, confidence, and leadership. They are a constant reminder that we as a people are strong and that with programs like IYOP the future will be bright.”

– Fallon Melander, an Ojibway woman from the Wikwemikong First Nation, Policy Counsel at Legal Aid Ontario, and former Toronto Dare to Dream Program Leader
Endorsements

“Level’s program unites two worldviews, introducing youth to the concepts and practices of the Canadian criminal justice system while honouring Indigenous laws, customs and practices. Of equal importance is Level’s work to reform the justice sector through training workshops focused on empathy, intercultural awareness, and inherent and systemic bias.

Level recognizes that in order to advance reconciliation, the justice sector must learn from and walk with Indigenous communities. Level creates space for humility, cross-cultural understanding, and community-led reform: all of which are critical to combatting systemic racism and injustice in our country.”

– The Honorable Murray Sinclair, Senator of Manitoba
Endorsements

“I was so impressed with the thoroughness and precision in which the IYOP team brought the students from A.E. Cross and Vincent Massey Schools to the court house for their mock trial project. As judges we understand the importance of any program that teaches our young citizens about the court’s role in the Canadian justice system. This is of mutual and greater importance when the young participants are from our First Nations community. We gain a better insight into Indigenous culture and, it is our hope, that the students gain more understanding of this part of the justice system.”

– The Honourable Justice Bryan Mahoney, Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench
Endorsements

“As a motivational speaker who works with First Nations, Metis and Inuit youth across Canada, I understand in-depth the adversity our young people face in their day to day lives. I have had the honour of working in partnership with the IYOP staff to present to students at the First Nations School of Toronto. I have seen first-hand the rapport they have established with the students and I am impressed. IYOP assists youth in finding positive direction by helping them to create goals, dreams and visions for their future. Idle minds create idle hands, and idle hands create boredom...when our youth are bored or lack direction, they settle for anything to keep them busy. IYOP aids in preventing this. Through their continued collaborations with various organizations and like-minded individuals in the First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities, Level will succeed at creating a world of a difference in the lives of our future generations: one heart and one mind at a time!”

– Earl Lambert, Cree Motivational Speaker & Inspirational Storyteller
Endorsements

"I have been volunteering with Level’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program for four years now, and it has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences of my legal career. I’ve been working in the criminal justice system as an Assistant Crown Attorney for over 17 years, and while I enjoy my career, the work by its very nature often centres around conflict and the harm people sometimes do to one another. In contrast, IYOP is forward-looking and focuses on the promise of youth and bringing greater inclusiveness to the justice system. It celebrates the history and tradition of Indigenous Peoples and encourages the students to strive to become involved in the justice system and improve its responsiveness to Indigenous issues from within."

– Rick Nathanson, Assistant Crown Attorney and IYOP Volunteer

Students In Action

Resources For Teachers

Teachers play an important role in the delivery of IYOP. Level aims to support our program’s supervising teachers with a suite of resources that will help facilitate and support the delivery of the program in their classroom.

IYOP Overview
Interested in learning more about IYOP? This resource provides a program overview, including the program’s goals and rationale, and provides details on how IYOP works in the classroom.

Supervising Teacher’s Guide
This guide outlines the roles and responsibilities of a Supervising Teacher in the delivery of IYOP. This includes an overview of the program, suggested agendas, tips on working with your local Program Leader, program links to elementary curriculum, and a primer on Indigenous customs, practices and protocols for those seeking to increase their knowledge.

IYOP Info for Parents
This resource can be shared with your students’ parents/guardians so they understand what the program is about. This document also contains a copy of our media release forms for parents to sign.

Interested in Hosting IYOP in your Classroom?

Reach out to our Director of Programs at the contact info below!

Get Involved

Contact your local Program Leader

Are you a law student, lawyer, or other legal professional interested in volunteering for IYOP? Reach out to your local Program Leader! Note: Toronto's program is led by Caitlin MacDonald our Program Manager (contact information below).

Bios coming soon: