As a lifelong dancer, Victoria Greenwood founded the Indigenous Dance Foundation (IDF) at just 12 years old after learning about the barriers Indigenous youth in remote Northern communities can face in accessing arts, sport, and recreational opportunities.
Through the Indigenous Dance Foundation, Victoria brings free dance programming to youth in fly-in communities across Nunavut. Over the past four summers, she and her team have delivered programs in Rankin Inlet, Sanikiluaq, and Pangnirtung, where participants receive more than 15 hours of dance instruction before coming together for a final showcase. Working closely with local communities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, government, and other partners, she has secured more than $12,000 in financial and in-kind support to make the programming possible.
Victoria’s commitment to reconciliation extends beyond dance. As a national speaker, she has reached more than 7,000 people through conferences, schools, and community organizations. She shares what she has learned through her experiences in Indigenous communities and conversations with Elders while encouraging Canadians to deepen their understanding of Truth and Reconciliation. She also founded and chairs the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Policy Advisory Circle, which brings together 30 Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth from across Canada to contribute their perspectives on issues affecting Indigenous peoples and communities.
Victoria also brings youth perspectives to national policy and advocacy as a Youth Advisor to organizations and leaders including the RCMP, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and Senator Marilou McPhedran, and as a UNICEF Youth Advocate. Her contributions have informed national initiatives related to children’s rights, while her research on girls’ access to STEM was presented at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Through dance, education, and advocacy, Victoria is helping advance Truth and Reconciliation by expanding opportunities for Indigenous youth and encouraging other young people to take meaningful action toward a more equitable future.