Youth Engagement Team

Youth Engagement Program 

Our Wise Practice:

‘hwq'uwiil-tham'sh’ – ‘accompany me’
With our youth in the lead, we ‘walk with’ them to provide multiple programs open voluntarily to Cowichan youth across the Agency, community and to children and youth serviced by MCFD who have Cowichan Connections.

The program remains youth-led, with a core value of ‘bringing key teachings to connect us to our land, culture, and to inspire us through traditional arts.’

The YEP program houses the Lalum’utul Smun’eem CFS Canoe Family, a youth-led, youth focused canoe family that participates and trains for the annual Tribal Journeys. This program was germinated with a partnership with Coast Salish carver, Luke Marsten, who was commissioned to carve the YEP program’s traditional cedar canoe. This program, the Xew’s skweyul Program at Lalum’utul Smun’eem, was created to provide a cultural immersion for the Cowichan Youth and Children in care but has expanded beyond to include youth led participation.

Youth Engagement Manager* – responsible for the overall functioning of the team, reporting on activities, service delivery and statistical data, contributes to the education of community through community events, reports to the Executive Director and maintains the daily operations of the wellness services for the Agency 


Youth Advocate/Youth Perspectives Knowledge Keeper* - responsible for carrying the youth perspective, beliefs and values of peers, along with recognition of the teachings and influences of the ancestral knowledge of the Cowichan people to the forefront of all programming. As the Lead for the Cowichan Youth Advisory, the Youth Advocate is involved in all aspects of the work of the Team. 


Youth Engagement Worker – (13+) – This role is responsible for the front line work of the program and works 1-1 and in groups with the Cowichan Youth in our community. Program events and activities remain youth-led. Workers are also responsible for chaperone roles on Tribal Journeys, FCYIC events and all youth travel.


Youth Engagement Worker – (9-12) - This role is responsible for the front line work of the program and works 1-1 and in groups with the Cowichan Youth in our community. Program events and activities remain youth-led. Workers are also responsible for chaperone roles on Tribal Journeys, FCYIC events and all youth travel


CARP Coordinator* – This position is key to the management of the Community Achievement and Readiness Program and is responsible for program design, delivery and development. The CARP program provides traditionally rooted skill based learning on a continuum in the areas of traditional culinary practices, carving and Salish arts, land stewardship. This role is responsible for liaison with key partners, assessment and evaluation


Youth Program Worker* – This position is responsible for the program delivery of CARP 

*pending positions