The Ongoing Impact of the EleV Network
Illuminating the path to a “good life”
We are excited to share the ongoing successes and progress of the Mastercard Foundation EleV Program and the impactful work of our partners in supporting Indigenous young people across Canada.
By supporting partnerships that enhance access to equitable education, meaningful employment, and thriving youth, EleV can inspire further innovation, build momentum for systemic change, and ensure that Indigenous youth are empowered to shape their own futures. Our goal is for education and employment systems to be transformed to enable 100,000 Indigenous young people to access post-secondary education and transition to meaningful livelihoods by 2030. Keep scrolling to learn about the impact EleV and our partners have made for Indigenous young people from coast to coast to coast so far. We are excited to share the ongoing successes and progress of the Mastercard Foundation EleV Program and the impactful work of our partners in supporting Indigenous young people across Canada.
Elder Dr. Leroy Little Bear
Special Advisor to the President and Distinguished Niitsitapi Scholar at the University of Lethbridge Iniskim
Elder Dr. Leroy Little Bear is a member of the Kainai Blood Tribe Reserve, a Blackfoot community in Southern Alberta. His academic journey began in residential school and continued through undergraduate studies into law school. As an alum of the University of Lethbridge and a respected academic, Elder Dr. Little Bear was asked to create Canada’s first Native American Studies program – one which influenced the study of First Peoples in multiple programs of study across North America.
Table of Contents
Supporting & Structuring
Collaboration
The corn is the sister who provides support and structure. Through resources and collaboration, EleV partners are leading the way to transform educational and employment systems to better serve Indigenous young people.
Doing Things Differently
Mastercard Foundation EleV partners are working tirelessly to challenge and transform education systems and programs by incorporating Indigenous cultures, worldviews and languages. These efforts focus on shifting policies, practices, resource flows, relationships and connections, power dynamics and mindsets – all in an effort to create environments that genuinely support Indigenous young people. By prioritizing culturally relevant and community-driven approaches, the EleV program works with partners to ensure that educational and employment opportunities are meaningful and accessible.
Growing Indigenous-Led Innovation
By working alongside partners that prioritize Indigenous-led innovation, EleV recognizes that those closest to the issues are best positioned to develop effective solutions. EleV partners support initiatives that are developed with and for Indigenous young people, fostering environments where Indigenous leadership can thrive and grow.
Challenging Existing Structures
EleV partners are committed to challenging and reimagining existing structures that have historically marginalized Indigenous Peoples. By advocating for policy reforms and developing culturally relevant programming and new funding models that prioritize flexibility and responsiveness, they promote practices that respect and incorporate Indigenous knowledge. These efforts dismantle systemic barriers and create equitable opportunities for Indigenous young people to succeed in education and employment.
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Featured story
Indigenous-led Organizations Leading Transformative Change
Indigenous-led organizations across Canada are building systems today that invest in youth leadership, in Indigenous expertise and local knowledge to transform education and employment systems.
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Featured story
Indigenous Leadership in the Transition to a Clean Energy Future
The Mastercard Foundation and Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) have partnered to advance Indigenous leadership in the transition to a green energy future.
Nourishing & Nurturing Partnerships
The bean plant is the sister who gives the others nourishment. The Mastercard Foundation EleV program provides the nourishment that partners need to truly transform and create impactful, lasting change.
System Transformation
The EleV program fosters systemic change to benefit Indigenous young people by investing in Indigenous-led initiatives that challenge and reshape the existing education and employment landscapes. By centering Indigenous worldviews and self-determination, the Foundation supports partners in creating environments that reflect Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. This leads to meaningful and sustainable change, helping Indigenous young people access education and employment, transition into meaningful livelihoods and live a good life.
Nourishing the Ecosystem
The Foundation and EleV nurtures the ecosystem by building genuine, trusting, and intentional relationships with partners, communities and youth. This approach ensures that the partnerships are adaptive and responsive to the needs and aspirations of Indigenous young people. By committing to partners’ goals for multiple years and providing flexible funding, the EleV program enhances adaptability and responsiveness. This approach provides partners with the opportunity to pilot activities, learn from them, and adjust their strategies effectively based on self-determination to achieve long-term outcomes.
Create Lasting Change
Investing in Indigenous youth and Indigenous-led initiatives creates a network of supportive and successful possibilities for Indigenous Peoples by Indigenous Peoples. By providing the type of support that encourages and strengthens self-determination, the EleV program nurtures unlimited growth and opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to thrive for the next seven generations to come.
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Reinforcing & Respecting Opportunities
The squash is the sister which protects the others from pests with her rough, sprawling leaves, providing strong reinforcement at the base of the plants. Like the squash, the Mastercard Foundation EleV program provides a foundation for partners who further support Indigenous young people through education and meaningful employment. Guided by the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Indigenous young people can live the good life – or ‘mino bimaadiziwin’ in the Anishinaabe language, Anishinaabemowin.
Education
The impacts of education on the futures of Indigenous young people is expanded with support and opportunity. The partnerships with the EleV program nurture the needs and aspirations of Indigenous young people through cultural integrations and network support. A culturally safe learning experience creates long lasting positive effects for young people pursuing academics to gain more meaningful opportunities.
Meaningful Employment
Creating meaningful livelihoods becomes possible when Indigenous Peoples have the self-determination to provide opportunities to the community. The EleV program works with partners who provide meaningful opportunities through training, education, funding, and guidance. The partnerships create opportunities to reinforce a foundation for Indigenous Peoples to provide for their communities and inspire their peers.
Living a Good Life
The opportunity to live a good life can come easier for Indigenous youth when they have better access to education and meaningful employment. The strength of partnerships and collaborations is reinforced through the incorporation of the Seven Grandfather Teachings into the foundation of the relationships between all participants – from Mastercard to partners and through to the recipients of relevant support. When a young entrepreneur is equipped with a support network that reflects and respects their culture, values and worldviews, their opportunities expand.
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System Change
Entry Points
Strategic Outcome 1:
Indigenous young people access and succeed in transformed education and training systems reflecting Indigenous ways of knowing, being and learning.
Strategic Outcome 2:
Indigenous young people have access and opportunities, and can successfully transition to meaningful livelihoods.
Our Reach
Many of our partners serve Indigenous young people and communities in multiple regions, over large territories. The dots on the map represent the distribution of our partners across Canada and do not convey the areas they serve.
Pathway to Change:
The Demonstration Effect
The work of EleV and our partners will lead to more Indigenous young people accessing and succeeding in education and employment systems, including entrepreneurship.
We will facilitate action in areas necessary to enable progress, such as digital connectivity. Ultimately, we want our work to result in Indigenous young people prospering through connection to culture, language and land, a strong sense of self, and opportunities to lead.
Education and employment systems are transformed to enable Indigenous young people in achieving Mino Bimaadiziwin
By the
Numbers
24,499
Outreach
$228.2M
Commitments
Approved
3,047
Youth Supported
Towards Work
4
Youth Led
Partners
39
Partners
$118.1M
Disbursed