June 8, 2026

In this co-authored Brief, Serena Mendizabal, Aubrey-Anne Laliberte-Pewapisconias, Bushra Asghar, Farron Rickerby-Nishi, and Doug Hamilton-Evans examine the federal government’s proposed Youth Climate Corps pilot and what it would take for the program to support Indigenous-led climate solutions. They argue that the Corps could create meaningful employment opportunities for Indigenous youth and strengthen community resilience – but, only if it is grounded in Indigenous sovereignty, governance, and knowledge systems, and designed to support existing Indigenous-led work rather than impose new solutions.