FPCC’s Youth Empowered Speakers (YES) program provides immersion language learning and paid internships for B.C. First Nations students working towards a career in language revitalization.
The YES program combines Mentor-Apprentice language learning in one of the 36 funded languages and a paid internship at a First Nations organization of your choice. Up to $32,320 is available in funding per individual. Start your application today!
Applications are being accepted until January 31, 2025.
YES program participant Autumn Cooper and her mentor Adam Manson, from Snuneymuxw First Nation didn’t give up on their Hul’q’umi’num’ language learning goals even when times were challenging. Autumn had this to say about her first year in YES:
“Through these hard times, we always made time for our language meetups as we realized how healing our language is. We looked back seeing all these opportunities where we could have given up because life was getting tough but we have a goal and nothing will stop us from completing it. It truly means a lot to me that you all (FPCC) have made this an easy, fun experience for us and I cannot wait to continue the work.”
Eligibility Information
Eligible applicants include: B.C. First Nations youth aged 18-35 enrolled in post-secondary. Urban and non-status applicants living on or off-reserve are eligible. Learner of one of the First Nations languages from B.C. See here for the full list of eligible languages.
The goal of the YES program is for youth to learn their language while preparing for a career in language revitalization in one of three streams:
- Early Childhood Immersion Educator Stream for ECE students alongside MAP hours and a paid internship
- Language Immersion Teacher Stream for BEd students alongside MAP hours and a paid internship
- Community Language Revitalizationist Stream for students in a degree/program (relevant to their career in language revitalization) alongside MAP hours and a paid internship
Info Session
A pre-recorded info session is currently available on the program page to help answer any questions you may have. In addition to this, we will be hosting an online Q & A session on Thursday, January 9, 2024, from 12 – 1 pm PST.
Register for the Q&A session here!
How to Apply
Applications are received via FPCC’s Grant Portal. Note: FPCC is currently transitioning to a new improved grant portal. All applications for YES must be made on this new system. Please visit the program page for more information on eligibility, application guidelines and how to apply.
We are here to provide support
Program staff are available to support you with your application! Please contact the program staff listed at the bottom of the program page by January 13, 2024 for a one-on-one review of your draft application. Requests for support after this date will be met as staff time allows.
Poster
Please share this opportunity with your community and networks. Download the program poster here!
Funder
Funding for the Youth Empowered Speakers Program is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH).
Learn More
To read Mentor-Apprentice Program stories click here.
Share Your Story
Do you have a story about the work your community is doing to revitalize First Nations arts, languages, cultures and heritage in B.C.? We want to hear from you! Please send your story to info@fpcc.ca and check back as we post more stories about the good work being done across the province.
Connect with Us
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To view all current FPCC funding opportunities, please visit our Grants page.
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