🌿 Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP)
Rooted in Tradition. Growing Through Community.
The NAEDC Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) originally spearheaded the Indigenous Youth Empowerment Program (IYEP) as a pilot project to engage and empower youth on the Fort Belknap Reservation.
Developed as a grassroots community initiative, IYEP was designed to strengthen youth connection to culture, leadership, and identity.
As the project grew in participation and community support, it transitioned into an independent, youth-led committee—separate from NAEDC—guided by the vision, values, and leadership of the Fort Belknap community it serves.
IYEP was born from youth surveys conducted in 2022 across the Fort Belknap Indian Community, where young people expressed their desire to learn more about Aaniiih and Nakoda culture, language, traditional games, powwow, dance, music and art.
Today, IYEP continues to thrive as an independent grassroots committee—inspiring cultural pride, leadership, and connection through community-led programs, mentorship, and celebration.
🔥 IYEP Powwow Mentorship & Leadership
One of IYEP’s signature initiatives is its Powwow Mentorship Program, which empowers youth to lead by planning, organizing, and hosting community powwows.
Each year, IYEP proudly hosts seven youth powwows across the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, giving young people opportunities to showcase their talents, strengthen their cultural identity, and connect with the wider community.
Participants gain hands-on experience in event coordination, fundraising, leadership, and cultural engagement, while honoring Aaniiih and Nakoda language, art, dance, and song.
Since 2022, the program has helped inspire a resurgence of youth dancers and singers, revitalizing community pride and strengthening intergenerational connections.
✨ Our Mission (IYLP – NAEDC)
The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP), operated by the Nakoda Aaniiih Economic Development Corporation (NAEDC), is dedicated to strengthening identity, belonging, and pride through Aaniiih and Nakoda traditions, stories, music, art, dance, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and ways of knowing—helping young people grow into confident, grounded community leaders.
🌾 Our Story
IYEP began as a pilot project within NAEDC’s Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP)—created to explore innovative ways to connect Indigenous youth to their culture and heritage.
As the project grew in scope and community involvement, it transitioned into an independent grassroots committee to better serve youth and families in culturally centered, community-led ways.
While IYEP now operates independently, NAEDC continues its amazing work with youth through the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP)—offering leadership training, workforce development, and cultural programming for youth across the Fort Belknap community.
🪶 Programs and Activities (IYLP – NAEDC)
Through the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP), NAEDC partners with local schools (Hays/Lodgepole, Harlem, and Dodson), tribal programs, and nonprofit organizations to host year-round youth and family activities focused on leadership, cultural preservation, and wellness.
Summer Programs:
Each summer, the IYLP team co-hosts youth camps on the Fort Belknap Reservation. These camps blend cultural learning, outdoor exploration, and skill-building activities that promote resilience and leadership among Indigenous youth.
Seasonal Activities:
During spring and fall, youth participate in outdoor and cultural experiences such as hiking, traditional Native Games, and land-based learning—encouraging environmental awareness, teamwork, and cultural pride.
🎯 Traditional Native Games & STEM Learning (IYLP – NAEDC)
NAEDC’s Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) continues to incorporate Traditional Native Games as a key component of its youth engagement efforts.
These games—taught by certified Native Games Trainers—embody Indigenous values of wellness, respect, and intergenerational learning. They also integrate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) principles through hands-on cultural practice.
Youth learn geometry, physics, and environmental science in the context of traditional tool-making, strategy, and movement, making STEM education both engaging and culturally grounded.
💬 Our Impact (IYLP & IYEP)
From a single pilot initiative to two thriving, complementary programs, both IYLP (NAEDC) and IYEP (Independent Committee) have made a lasting impact on youth development in Fort Belknap.
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IYEP continues to lead with community-driven mentorship, cultural engagement, and its annual series of seven youth powwows.
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IYLP builds youth capacity through leadership, career pathways, and traditional ecological knowledge.
Together, these programs have revitalized cultural participation and inspired new generations of youth to embrace leadership rooted in identity, language, and cultural pride.
🌎 Join & Support Us
The NAEDC Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) rely on the dedication of youth, families, and community volunteers—along with the generosity of partners and donors who believe in the power of youth and culture.
We welcome collaborations, donations, and partnerships that help expand opportunities for youth leadership, cultural revitalization, and community growth.
💠 Your support helps us continue investing in Indigenous youth who will lead our communities with strength, knowledge, and purpose.
📣 Stay Connected
Follow the Native Youth Program on:
📸 Instagram | 📘 Facebook
🌐 Visit us online: www.fortbelknapcedc.org