Standing Bear has always been about more than delivering a program. It is about strengthening community leadership, uplifting Indigenous values, and creating space for youth to thrive through connection, culture, movement, and belonging.

From January to March 2026, ISWO ran the first-ever Standing Bear Facilitator Training Program, marking an exciting milestone for the Standing Bear curriculum and for Indigenous wellness programming across Ontario. This training was designed to grow facilitator confidence, expand the program’s reach, and build lasting capacity so more communities can lead Standing Bear programming locally.

Why a Facilitator Training Program, and Why Now?

As Standing Bear continues to grow, one goal has remained clear: we want to deliver more Standing Bear programs across the province without losing what makes the program meaningful and community-rooted.

This Facilitator Training Program was implemented to support individuals who are ready to bring Standing Bear programming into their own Nations and communities. It was built around a core belief: local facilitators know their communities best.

When facilitators lead in the places they live, work, and care for, the program becomes more responsive, more relevant, and more sustainable.

At the start of training, expectations were grounded in a shared vision:

• Reach more people with the Standing Bear curriculum across Ontario
• Build facilitator confidence so participants feel prepared to lead and support others
• Develop skills so facilitators are not only competent in delivering Standing Bear content, but also feel ready to bring forward their own initiatives at home
• Strengthen leadership through the five Standing Bear values, because these values are transferable well beyond any single program

This training was not about creating one-size-fits-all delivery, but about helping facilitators feel equipped to carry Standing Bear forward in ways that make sense for their unique communities.

A First for ISWO: Using The Learning Den

This training also marked another first: the first time ISWO used The Learning Den as part of a major Standing Bear milestone.

The Learning Den is an online platform giving facilitators and youth leaders a centralized place to access learning materials, resources, and tools. It complements the in-person experience while giving communities flexibility to deliver leadership development in ways that fit their unique context, acting as a resource hub for facilitators and a structured, engaging space for youth to learn and build leadership skills, no matter where they live.

The platform was built to carry forward the same spirit that makes Standing Bear so impactful. Youth aren't asked to fit into a leadership model that wasn't made for them. Instead, they're supported to grow into leadership while staying connected to who they are, building confidence, voice, and pride in their culture and community.

Distance is one of the biggest barriers to leadership programming. Northern Ontario communities often face limited resources, travel constraints, and fewer opportunities for province-wide training. The Learning Den was built with this reality in mind, making leadership development more accessible without the same travel or infrastructure demands. The goal: more youth, in more places, with more support to lead.

By integrating The Learning Den into this 12-week experience, ISWO strengthened the learning journey with ongoing development, shared resources, and consistent access to program tools, a powerful example of leadership development in action: youth growing as leaders and becoming facilitators who can create that same growth for others.

Outcomes: Confidence, Leadership, and Community-Driven Initiatives

One of the most meaningful outcomes of the Facilitator Training Program was seeing how participants brought their own experience, leadership, and goals into the learning space.

Facilitators entered the program with a wide range of backgrounds. Some were newer leaders, while others were already actively leading initiatives in their communities. Throughout the training, a shared theme emerged: this program strengthened confidence and helped facilitators recognize their own ability to lead.

Some participants were already building momentum in inspiring ways, including:

• Savannah Martin, who is working to bring a language nest to her own urban community
• Kyra Follis, who delivers nutrition talks with ISWO and continues to expand her knowledge and leadership in wellness education
• Ali Mackay, an involved athlete and emerging coach who planned a youth painting session in Toronto and is preparing to run a lacrosse camp
• Jacob Genereux, a community leader, hockey player, canoeist, and beekeeper, who is planning a sport, culture, and leadership retreat for young Indigenous men.

These examples reflect what this training was designed to support: facilitators who are confident and capable in Standing Bear delivery, and who also feel empowered to strengthen wellness through initiatives that respond to their communities’ needs.

What’s Next

The first-ever Standing Bear Facilitator Training Program was a powerful beginning. It showed what is possible when facilitators are supported not only to deliver content, but to grow as leaders rooted in their own communities and guided by shared values.

This training was created to build capacity across Ontario so Standing Bear can reach more youth, more families, and more communities, led by people who understand those communities from the inside out.

As we continue to expand Standing Bear programming, this cohort has helped lay the foundation for something lasting: a growing network of community leaders ready to bring Standing Bear values and programming forward across the province.