Jason Johnson, an Indigenous entrepreneur from Tobique First Nations in rural New Brunswick, has a powerful story of resilience and purpose. Growing up on a reserve, he gained early exposure to the systemic barriers and challenges Indigenous communities face, historic abuses that continue to the present day. After leaving university at 20, he lived abroad for five years before returning to Canada to resume his studies. Originally, Jason was in the sciences. After a pivotal political science elective, when he realized how his professor lacked deep knowledge on Indigenous issues, Jason decided to shift his focus to political science. While volunteering with a charity during his studies, Jason witnessed the devastating impact of youth suicide in Indigenous communities. The experience propelled him to move beyond politics into the charity sector, determined to create programs that address the critical needs of Indigenous people.
Jason founded Right to Play, a charity aimed at improving quality of life for Indigenous communities by empowering youth through mental health support, academic support, and cultural revitalization. His programs include week-long summer camps held on university campuses and within communities, focusing on education, mental health, and professional development. A big goal of his is to bring fun and games to Indigenous communities. These initiatives aim to boost post-secondary graduation rates in Indigenous communities, with only about 22% of Indigenous youth that live on the reserve in Canada currently having a college/university education. He says, “The problem that my charity is trying to solve is to give indigenous people the same chance at life that non-indigenous people have. Unfortunately, due to historical and systemic barriers, Indigenous people represent the lowest statistic in quality of life in Canada, and I think it’s time for things to change.”
Starting the charity was a steep learning curve. Jason struggled to navigate the complexities of grant applications, legal requirements, and obtaining charity status. For over a year, he managed the process alone. Hiring a lawyer came with a steep price tag, but one that Jason eventually found worthwhile in order to obtain charity status. Now, with official charity status, Jason’s organization is eligible for grants, but the journey is far from over. Despite the hurdles, his determination to create meaningful change for Indigenous youth remains steadfast. He has successfully attained charity status, and plans to launch his services in 2025.
Jason joined the UTM incubator program in 2022, when he met Kayla Sousa, our Program Coordinator. He credits Kayla for helping him every step of the way. Kayla also introduced Jason to the experiential learning course IMI1002: Social Entrepreneurship, taught by ICUBE’s own Director, Ann Armstrong. Through this course, students had the opportunity to help Jason’s startup by creating a Strategic Plan Document, including a detailed roadmap, a fundraising strategy, and more.
Be on the lookout for more about how you can support Jason Johnson and Turtle Island Charity!
