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The Nikan’usk program focuses on creating culturally appropriate youth leadership development opportunities for youth throughout Waponahkik.
Nikan’usk Leadership Development focuses on creating opportunities for Wabanaki youth to connect inter-tribally as well as within their own tribal communities to integrate leadership skills they’ve gained to carry on to our next generations. We focus on engaging Wabanaki youth through fostering healthy development, building leadership skills, positive relationships, and promoting deeper cultural connections. A main component of the Nikan’usk division is the tribal youth council. Youth council members engage in projects focused primarily on cultural preservation, social change, environmental knowledge, individual/community wellness, and community service.
Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness works with each of the five tribal communities to support youth-led youth councils with middle school aged youth up to age 24. Youth council helps empower young people by providing a safe and supportive platform to uplift their voices. Youth council members are involved in community activities that focus on language preservation, traditional arts and crafts, and traditional dance throughout the year. These events honor and celebrate their individuality and culture alike to help strengthen their cultural identity, and to ensure these traditions are passed down to future generations. Click here to learn more about Youth Council.
We support youth-led and youth-serving programming that builds young people’s resilience and strengthens youth leadership on issues of public health, restorative practices, outdoor experiential learning, and social justice. Our goal is to help as many youth as possible reclaim their cultural identity, and help empower them to make positive changes within their communities and beyond.
Our substance use prevention efforts include supporting community health fairs, tabling at community celebration days, hosting “Culture is Prevention” efforts and activities, hosting substance–free community events, and providing prevention education/trainings.
