Organizers of an Indigenous-led youth gathering aimed at fostering belonging and preventing gang involvement say the overwhelming response from participants has reinforced the need for more culturally grounded mentorship opportunities for young people.
The inaugural A Village in Motion: Pathways to Belonging event, held June 6 in Winnipeg’s North End, brought together approximately 30 Indigenous and Black male youth aged 15 to 17 for a day of cultural teachings, mentorship, physical activity and self-development.
Co-lead organizer Kurius Lathlin said the event was intentionally structured around the Medicine Wheel, with programming designed to support participants’ physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.
“We intentionally looked after the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs of every young man who walked through the door,” Lathlin said.
One outcome stood out immediately to organizers.
“From the opening circle to the last group picture, every single young man stayed. Nobody left early,” Lathlin said. “They sat together and they shared, some of them for the first time in a long time.”
The event featured traditional teachings and prayer led by Elders, workshops on hygiene and self-care, discussions about healthy relationships and emotional regulation, basketball mentorship and free haircuts.
Lathlin said Elders played a particularly important role by delivering practical life lessons through a cultural lens.
“For many of these young men, having an Elder speak directly to them about taking care of themselves was a first,” he said.
A workshop called Reset & Reground, led by co-organizer Essence Wandering Spirit, focused on self-respect, ego and healthy relationships. Lathlin said participants engaged openly in discussions, something he described as uncommon among youth who do not feel safe or supported.
Physical activity was another key component. Youth participated in basketball drills alongside mentors from the WarChiefs All-Indigenous Basketball Team and a former member of the Winnipeg Sea Bears.
“Many of our mentors shared openly that basketball saved their lives,” Lathlin said. “That message landed.”
The event also included a barbershop-style mentorship space operated by community barbers Ameil and Abu, who provided free haircuts while engaging participants in conversation.
“Our barbers did more than cut hair,” Lathlin said. “They talked. They listened. They poured knowledge into every young man who sat in that chair.”
Participants left the gathering with new shoes, hygiene products and fresh haircuts, but organizers say the larger takeaway was a renewed sense of community and belonging.
The event was created by The Essence of Spirit and Roots & Rising Collective in response to concerns about youth isolation, exploitation, violence and disconnection from culture.
While organizers considered the day a success, Lathlin said it also highlighted ongoing gaps in youth support services.
“One day is not enough,” he said. “These young men need consistent, culturally safe spaces where trusted adults show up regularly, not just once.”
He said many participants spoke about the difficulty of finding accessible mentorship opportunities and culturally grounded programming.
In response, organizers are expanding the initiative into an ongoing series.
The next gathering, Reclaim Her Path, is planned for fall or winter 2026 and will focus on Indigenous women and girls. Organizers say the event will centre the leadership of Aunties and Elders while addressing pathways that can lead to exploitation and harm.Lathlin and Wandering Spirit said they hope the broader A Village in Motion series will continue building connections between youth, mentors and community leaders.
One early sign of success emerged shortly after the June event.
Lathlin said a participant named Tevyn, who hopes to become a social worker, has already signed on as a permanent volunteer with the initiative.
“That is what belonging does,” he said. “It turns participants into builders.”
