Indigenous-Racialized youth find expression as scholars, leaders, changemakers
Ten years ago, The United Church of Canada committed to engaging with the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (from 2015 to 2024), a global call to action to address issues impacting people of African descent in the areas of recognition, justice, and development.
To demonstrate its commitment, The United Church of Canada in 2021 created the Young Black Scholars program, where six young people of African descent researched different aspects of the Black experience in both Canada and the United Church.
In 2025, the United Church formally adopted commitments for the UN’s Second Decade (held from 2025 to 2034), which recognizes that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.
Youth Scholars
In 2023, the program was extended to include Indigenous and Racialized young people as well, and its name changed to Indigenous-Racialized Young Scholars. Since then, 19 participants—nine Indigenous and 10 Racialized youth—have participated in the program. Meet the 2026 Indigenous and Racialized Young Scholars.
The Young Scholars program was held this year from May 10 to July 17, with three Indigenous and three Racialized youth participating. This autumn, the young scholars will present their research findings during online events to local communities of faith, allowing United Church communities to learn from and absorb these important perspectives together.
A Youth-Led Retreat
Those participating in the Young Scholars program are invited to the youth retreat held annually since 2022 at Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre in Beausejour, Manitoba. Held this year from August 10–14, 17 youths attended the retreat planned, organized, and led by the four-person Indigenous-Racialized Youth Leadership team, all of whom were previous Young Scholars program participants.
This November, that leadership team will select four new leaders from the participants of this year’s retreat to be invited for training next March. The incoming youth leaders then plan, organize, implement, and facilitate the next youth retreat in August 2027.
These programs foster a safe environment in which Indigenous and Racialized youth and young people can share wisdom, learn from each other, and listen and speak about their identities, cultures, and spirituality, all while decentering colonial narratives. They allow the youth to fully express themselves as scholars, leaders, and changemakers within The United Church of Canada and in their everyday lives.