Indigenous Youth Partner Impact: When Dance Opens the Door 

For 19 years, Outside Looking In (OLI) has operated on a straightforward premise: if you give young Indigenous people something they genuinely want to do, they will come to school to do it. 

The OLI Dance program is structured as a for-credit high school course, and to participate, students must maintain at least 80% school attendance. For many students in remote and northern communities, where geographic isolation and rising mental health concerns shape daily life, that requirement becomes a powerful motivator. Young people who may have struggled to stay engaged begin showing up – not just for dance, but for their broader education.  

Throughout the Peter Gilgan Foundation’s four-year partnership with OLI, we have seen first-hand what changes when young people are given a reason to show up. 

How the Work Comes to Life 

Each community works with a professional choreographer to develop a piece that reflects their own cultural identity, incorporating traditional elements into costume, movement, and imagery. The year culminates in Canada’s largest Indigenous live stage performance, the Annual Showcase, where dancers perform in front of audiences of several thousand in a prestigious downtown Toronto Theatre.  

In 2024/25, OLI introduced an important shift. Previously, only students who attended the annual camp and performed at the showcase earned their credit. Recognizing that barriers like travel anxiety, family circumstances, and community crises prevent some from participating, OLI created a pathway for youth to complete the program within their own communities. In other words, as the program better meets young people where they are at, more students succeed.  

Change Taking Shape 

The impact of this work is both measurable and visible. In the 2024–2025 program year: 

• 100 youth completed credits toward their high school diploma 
• 82% reported improved physical health, and 80% reported improved mental health 
• Community rehearsals ran at least twice weekly in 15 communities 
• 78% of participants reported stronger teamwork skills 

Youth leave the program with a stronger sense of identity, greater confidence, and a deeper belief in what they can achieve. 

From Participant to Leader 

One of the clearest signs of long-term impact is what happens after youth complete the program. OLI has created pathways for alumni to return as staff, choreographers, and program coordinators. In 2023/24, seven alumni were hired, with additional trainees joining through the camp and showcase cycle. 

At the 18th Annual Showcase, a group of dance program alumni designed and performed their own piece, leading choreography, music, and visual storytelling. They also took on leadership roles within community performances, guiding younger dancers. 

This is the cycle OLI is building: youth who gain confidence through participation return to lead and support others. 

Building Toward What Comes Next 

As demand grows, OLI is focused on scaling responsibly by expanding to more communities while strengthening alumni leadership and integrating mental health supports. 

More than 1,000 Indigenous youth have now performed through OLI. That accumulation of confidence, completed credits, and emerging leaders, is what sustains the work and extends its impact over time.