Tonight I am sleeping in an Atco trailer in Janvier, a small community (pop. 600 people and 50 stray horses) in Northern Alberta. Today, Javier and I helped 20 First Nations youth start a business. They elected a President, chose 5 VP's and picked their service. Tomorrow we all hammer out a business plan. The how and why we are here is a story in itself.

A couple months back we were approached by a group through the Ministry of Education to help them with capacity building ideas for youth in Janvier. This community is also served by the Northlands School District… the same district that had its Board of Trustees released a few months back due to years of issues and challenges surrounding high teacher turnover low student grades. Of the 600 First Nation population, 50% are under the age 25 and most are unemployed and without a high school diploma. This region needs solutions… now. Over the past month or so we talked with the local people about we could do a quick smaller version of the Company Program to study and gauge how JA can help the youth in this community over the long term. If that proves successful, we, along with our board and some sponsors may be able to create some positive change that could duplicate in other First Nations communities across Alberta.

I have asked Javier to lead the project as no-one knows the Company Program like him. I also came to Janvier myself (along with Javier)… to meet the students, the community elders and program leaders… so I can help “be the change” on the ground… and see first-hand the opportunity we have. From June 2-4, we will be here to help the students in the “Change It Up” program get the Company Program up and running here. They will work at running the business all day 5 days a week for 4 weeks… then wrap it up. We will help them launch it in person, mentor them through technology (web etc) and then come back at end of June for the final few days. There is talk of a much larger project for the fall. But we have get through this next 4 weeks first.

Janvier is about an hour and half drive south of Ft. Mac. Access to the community is along highway 881 which was paved in about 5 years ago and runs right through the thick Northern Alberta forest. That paved road… stops right at the reservation boundary. It’s all dirt and mud from there. 600 people… a church… a school… and one small convenience store. There is an arena… and a number of community buildings. Stray dogs are everywhere. Stray horses… yes… stray horses are everywhere too. Other than that… there is nothing here. After school is out… there is no place to go… and nothing to do for young people.

I shouldn’t say there is nothing here.

We met two incredible program coordinators who are guiding the youth through the 15 month long “Change It Up Program. More about them tomorrow.

We also met 20 young people who want to change their lives. And so… their new business which was formed today: "The Dene Cinema", will host its first family movie night next week. Innovation and hope is alive and well here. More tomorrow…