The Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) has announced the 2025 finalists, which include 18 Northern teams whose ideas and community-driven solutions span food sovereignty, cultural revitalization, language preservation, youth empowerment, and climate leadership.
Together, they are eligible for approximately $3.7 million in prize funding — an investment that is designed to drive real change and inspire further contributions from community and institutional partners.
CKLB is profiling the NWT finalists, with today featuring Cheko – Youth Empowerment Project.
Yellowknife’s now former mayor and current MP-elect Rebecca Alty nominated Cheko.
It’s a community-led initiative designed specifically for the in Yellowknife designed to equip Indigenous youth with essential business, employability, and life skills through land-based learning, mentorship, and industry connections.
Carol Lavers, the initiative’s team leader, currently co-founder and executive director of Aspire Training Academy, has partnered with Home Base YK and Tree of Peace Friendship Centre to develop Cheko’s programming.
She has also sought out programming support from Elders and an Indigenous counsellor. She emphasized the need for programs such as Cheko due to the lack of opportunities in Northern communities.
If Cheko wins the prize, which could be up to $500,000, funding will cover instructors, materials, and guest speakers for two years, with future continuity dependent on additional funding sources.
“Up here in the North, there’s a lot of potential, but I feel like there aren’t enough programs,” said Lavers, who is originally from India. “So, there’s a school system, and we’ve got a vast majority who drop out at some point, and they’re sort of lost in the system.
“There’s nobody following up with young adults and giving them the opportunities.”
Lavers said a traditional school may not be everyone’s preference for learning, but the youth do need programs that will help them further education, employment or apprenticeship opportunities.
“One of the things that we want to do with Cheko is we want to bring in different businesses and talk about their organization,” she said.
“So just like informing the youth (about) the kinds of jobs that are out there, the kinds of businesses that are out there.”
Former NWT cabinet minister and Hay River MLA Wally Schumann is chair of the AIP’s Board of Trustees.
“This year saw a record number of nominations, including remarkable submissions from young people,” stated Schumann in a release.
“The creativity and drive behind these projects are truly exciting. Being named a finalist is a tremendous achievement. On behalf of the entire AIP community, congratulations to them all.”
Finalists will be celebrated – and winners announced – at the 13th Annual Arctic Inspiration Prize Award Ceremony on May 13, in Ottawa, in partnership with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
