Who We Are
FOXY (Fostering Open eXpression among Youth) is a totally new way of talking with young women about sexual health, sexuality, and relationships. By putting the decision making back in their hands, no one is being told what to do, or what is right or wrong – everyone is being given the tools they need to make the best decisions for themselves.
FOXY uses traditional beading, theatre, digital storytelling, photography, and music to help teenage girls express their knowledge, opinions, and questions about health and love (and everything in between). With a strong focus on sexual health and empowered decision-making, girls across the North get to know themselves a little bit better and learn through the arts.
Since January 2012, FOXY has reached over 6490 youth in more than 35 NWT, Nunavut, and Yukon communities through over 416 workshops and 18 Peer Leader Retreats that have brought together over 450 Northern and Indigenous young Peer Leaders.
FOXY’s mission is to use the arts to enhance the education, health, and well-being of Northern and Indigenous youth. FOXY’s vision for the coming five years is to be the ‘go to’ organization for sexual health education for all youth of all genders, sexualities, and cultures in northern rural and remote communities, and for all northern education and health agencies, and highly respected for its wholistic approaches, evidence-based practices, and reciprocal and experiential ways of learning across the generations. FOXY intends to accomplish its’ vision through four goals:
1. Integrated, wholistic sexual and mental health programming.
2. Expanded and accessible programming inclusive of gender, sexuality, culture, and rural/remote location.
3. High quality, comprehensive research plan as evidence for programming, long-term/core funding, and organizational sustainability.
4. Rooted and functional organizational systems.
For more information, check out our Community Reach and the Frequently Asked Questions.
FOXY is a participatory action research project, which means youth are involved with all aspects of the project, from its development to its implementation and the evaluation. The research component of FOXY involves looking at the effectiveness of FOXY for empowering NWT youth and facilitating dialogue about sexual health issues in the North. Please contact the Executive Director, Candice Lys, for more information about the research component of FOXY, and check out our published research!Our Team
Dr. Candice Lys (SHE/HER), Executive Director
Candice Lys grew up in Fort Smith in a very large Métis family, and has lived all over the world, including a brief stint on a ship in the Pacific Ocean. Candice has a Masters degree in Health Promotion and holds a PhD in Public Health. She is an Ashoka Canada Fellow, a mom to Luca & Mira, dog mom to Maple, and an avid almost-gardener.
Amanda Kanbari (SHE/HER), Director of Programs
Amanda was born in British Columbia and moved to Yellowknife after completing a B.A. with Distinction in Criminal Justice. She is an advocate for self-propelled travel and prefers to get around by canoe or bicycle. Amanda once cycled the Pacific Coast from Vancouver, B.C. to Tijuana, Mexico! She has created several youth-focused programs that encourage young people to address inequality and to pursue healthy relationships with the land, with others, and with themselves.
Pyper Rehm (She/They), Program Facilitator
Pyper is a Métis person from Fort Smith, NT now living in Yellowknife, NT. She is currently a student at UBC Okanagan for their Bachelor of Arts degree. When Pyper isn’t working, she spends a lot of time with her family while making and eating amazing food. Pyper loves working for FOXY & SMASH because it helps people learn about their own bodies and how to know when their bodies are telling them what they need. Pyper loves when the participants reach out to say how meaningful their FOXY/SMASH experience was for them. Fun Fact: Pyper has been a FOXY school workshop participant, a FOXY Peer Leader Retreat Participant, and a PEER Facilitator before becoming a Program Facilitator!
Anna Ashoona-Seagrave (She/They), PEER Facilitator
Anna is a Kinngait Inuk who lives in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She is a student at École St Patrick’s High School. She has been working for FOXY since 2018 as a PEER Facilitator. In her spare time she like to study philosophy, the evolution of human experience, culture, and she likes to sew. She is trilingual and speaks English, French, and Inuktitut. As an Inuk who is adopted, they are in the process of reclaiming their identity. They believe FOXY is a great opportunity to see the North while gaining work experience. Anna enjoys working with youth and loves walking through this journey beside them.
Shayla Moore (SHE/HER), PEER FACILITATOR
Coming Soon!
LEX Banksland, PEER FACILITATOR
Katelynn Gaudet, PEER Facilitator
Katelynn Gaudet was born and raised in Deline, NWT, later moved with her family to Norman Wells and now goes to high school in Yellowknife. She loves being part of the amazing team that delivers FOXY retreats and workshops all over the North. Katelynn believes FOXY helps bring information and resources to teens who need it. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging with her friends and attempting to bead, but can also be found watching Netflix or on her phone.
Savannah Elias-Beaulieu, PEER Facilitator
Savannah Elias-Beaulieu is a proud Inuvialuit/Cree individual from Inuvik, NWT. She likes working with FOXY because it gives her an opportunity to meet girls like her all over the North and to travel to places she’s never been before. Savannah says being involved with FOXY has boosted her confidence and she is thankful to have a chance to work with such a great team! Savannah is a former pageant queen and enjoys hanging out with her friends, visiting with family and going out on the land whenever possible!
