Our Program

The Arctic Youth Leadership (AYL) program was designed to provide Inuvialuit young people with an opportunity for personal growth and development through challenge and adventure. Building skills in teamwork, leadership, communication are part of the program, as well as building the confidence and resilience to use these skills in all aspects of one's life. Through the provision of these skills and attributes to young people, the AYL program is designed to enhance the opportunities that participants undertake in the rest of their life through the development of skills that contribute to their ability to be successful in a wide variety of pursuits.

The AYL program was started in 2004 by IDC with the goal of providing enhanced leadership opportunities for young people from the ISR. IDC has, among other goals, the objective of increasing employment of Inuvialuit beneficiaries as part of the staff and leadership of the Inuvialuit administration. A need was identified for leadership and personal development that went beyond employment-related skills development; the former being closely tied to personal success and achievement in almost any field. Given this understanding, IDC sought to enhance opportunities for young beneficiaries by developing a program with these goals in mind.

At the heart of the Arctic Youth Leadership program is the idea that by challenging ourselves, we learn more about our skills and capabilities. In so doing, we build confidence to try new things and enhance our ability to achieve in the rest of our life. Research shows that a key determinant of people's success is their belief in themselves. The ability to overcome challenges, to work well with others, to communicate effectively, to take responsibility for one's actions, to work towards long term goals despite short-term inconvenience, and the ability to overcome challenges through innovation and change - these are the hallmarks of good leaders. They are also skills that can be learned and developed - setting young people up for future success.