"To ensure the best possible future for our people you must lead the way"
Patrick Brazeau, Former National Chief, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples

CAP has long been committed to the advancement of Canada’s Aboriginal youth and is dedicated to ensuring that through our National Youth Council, Aboriginal youth have an active voice in ALL decisions made on behalf of the organization.  The principal mandate of the CAP National Youth Council is to improve the well-being of off-reserve Aboriginal youth through:

• Raising awareness about Aboriginal youth issues
• Encouraging the development and establishment of infrastructure and programs/services directed at social, cultural and community needs of Aboriginal youth
• Creating and providing opportunities for positive change for Aboriginal Youth and their communities through empowerment, education, culture and training

CAP encourages all Aboriginal youth to participate actively at the regional and provincial level through its Affiliates. It is the CAP Affiliates who either elect or appoint members to the CAP National Youth Council, who in turn, serve in many capacities within the CAP umbrella structure, including CAP internal/external committee’s, conferences and meetings, the CAP National Caucuses and one vote on the CAP Board of Directors. It is the CAP National Youth Council who elects a National Youth Representative who is mandated to represent and bring forward the voice of Aboriginal youth to the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and its Affiliates.

In addition to incorporating Aboriginal youth needs into all aspects of policy initiatives including those related to education, economic development, human rights, health, and the environment, CAP is also engaged in activities that are geared specifically to youth, such as the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (NAYSPS). Please utilize the left side navigation system to browse the CAP youth section.

"To ensure the best possible future for our people you must lead the way"
Patrick Brazeau, Former National Chief, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples

The CAPNYC provides Aboriginal youth with an integrated platform to participate in issues that affect them individually and collectively.

Background:
In 2001, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples recognized the need to include a National Youth Representative as a voting member of the Board of Directors to bring forward issues and concerns of our Youth constituents; further in 2002 the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples recognized the need for a National Youth Council.   Delegates at the 2002 AGM voted unanimously to accept and recognize the CAP National Youth Council as an official structure within the organization.

CAPNYC Composition:
The CAPNYC is comprised of one officially recognized Aboriginal youth from each CAP Affiliate, as well as an elected Executive Steering Committee, consisting of a National Youth Representative and a three-member Steering Committee. The CAPNYC receives ongoing coordination and support from the CAP youth portfolio. Contact information of current CAPNYC members can be found here.

CAPNYC National Youth Representative:
The CAPNYC National Youth Representative is elected by the CAPNYC according to its Terms of Reference. The National Youth Representative holds a voting position on the CAP Board of Directors, holds the CAP Youth Initiatives Portfolio and is bound by CAP Constitution and By-laws.

National Youth Council