© Small Economy Works
Social innovation
Inspiring entrepreneurial leadership in Arctic youth
When we think about innovation, we often think about how technology can help solve the complex challenges facing our world today. But social innovation also happens—and according to AJMAL SATAAR, it is just as important for the future of Arctic communities.
Sataar is CEO of Small Economy Works and founder of Inspire, an innovative entrepreneurial leadership programme designed by and for young people and educators in three northern Canadian territories: Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon. The 12-week programme enables young people, many of whom are Indigenous, to tap into their own interests as a way to set their career or business paths. Sataar spoke to The Circle about why he thinks harnessing the wisdom and knowledge of the past could be the innovation we need today.
How would you describe the Inspire programme?
It’s an experience that unlocks the potential of young people living in the North to become creators of change. We basically co-create with Indigenous educators and leaders in each Canadian territory to develop a programme that starts with exploration of self. When young people begin the programme, they think about their skills, their visions and their purpose in life using a holistic lens that considers place, culture and history. From there, we get into learning about community and how their community connects to other Arctic communities.
After doing that for the first six weeks, they enter the second half of the programme, which is when they actually create an enterprise. And that’s where the innovation comes in: they create projects around ideas they’re truly passionate about while having a positive impact on themselves and their community.
How is this programme different from other leadership programmes?
What makes our programme unique is that it’s really localized, not just geographically but contextually. For example, in a Nunavut-based Inuit community, participants learn about leadership and entrepreneurialism from an Inuit perspective. In Yukon, they learn about it from a Yukon First Nations perspective. We bring in Elders and local entrepreneurs to tell their stories, and the young people learn from them.
© Small Economy Works
What need is the Inspire programme meeting?
A lot of these young people are looking for opportunities to enact change, but haven’t had the best experiences in conventional education. So there continues to be a strong demand for localized programmes that allow young people to become leaders who can build the future of their communities. Rather than trying to solve problems for people, it’s about helping individuals build agency and acquire the knowledge, skills and tools they need to create the type of community and region they want to see.
There’s a lot going on in the Arctic when it comes to major social issues, like food insecurity, housing and the climate change crisis. The best people to help us meet some of these challenges are young people themselves, because they are the future. So our job is about sharing how they can do that and how they can start today—from launching a community project related to a local food bank to creating a technology camp for youth in their community.
What role have young people played in developing this programme?
It’s been a completely iterative co-creation approach. The programme is a living product, and it’s constantly changing because young people are deciding what works. They’re the ones bringing up the stories, perspectives and approaches that we use in the curriculum. A lot of our instructors are former participants as well. That’s been one of the most special parts—when a participant finishes the programme and starts leading the next cohort, bringing their own identity and perspective into it.
What are some examples of entrepreneurial projects that have come out of this programme?
In Fort Providence, Northwest Territories, two young women participants wanted to do something for older women in the community. So they created this really cool project where for 16 weeks, different art experts came in and taught the women art skills, and the women started creating professional products. They ended up building an arts collective, and they continue to create products. They’re also selling them now, which is bringing income into the community.
There’s also a young woman who created a tech camp for youth and started teaching kids STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills in her community, because that was something she could offer. And there are a lot of young people who create businesses related to cultural skills—such as parka-making or bead and jewellery design—or enterprises that share culture through tourism. It’s been really awesome to see.
Why do you think it’s important for Arctic communities to support young entrepreneurs in this way?
Because young people are the future. They’re the ones who will become the Elders in these communities, and they’re the stewards of these communities. Oftentimes, they’re not asked what they want. They feel disenfranchised and left out of the big decisions that are happening around them. But an entrepreneurial leadership programme lets them take the steering wheel and start to think about the grand challenges that exist in the Arctic and the opportunities they have to be part of the changes that are needed.
AJMAL SATAAR is CEO of Small Economy Works and founder of Inspire, an innovative entrepreneurial leadership programme designed by and for young people and educators in three northern Canadian territories: Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.
