Things That Are Happening

Thunder Bay Youth Engagement with Pathways to Education Canada and the Regional Multicultural Youth Centre

It is an exciting time in Thunder Bay, continuing our work with Pathways to Education Canada and their commitment to youth led community engagement.  Last fall a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth with the Regional Multicultural Youth Centre (RMYC) began meeting weekly to plan and organize Voices of Youth 2019: The Past, Present and Future.  Hosted at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, and bringing more than a hundred Indigenous students together over two days with representation from each high school along with local community organizations, this event gave great insight into what supports students were looking for in their educational journey.  Read a snapshot of the gathering and the young people’s calls to support them in their path towards high school graduation in Pathways to Education Canada Snapshot of Youth Led Engagement in Thunder Bay.

We are excited this summer to continue to support the partnership between RMYC and Pathways to Education Canada, who have generously provided support to employ six youth to lead a community mapping project.  The youth will be engaging with local organizations to determine what supports, programs and activities are available to students, in particular Indigenous students.  Click here if you are an organization in Thunder Bay and would like to participate, so you can fill out the survey and let Indigenous students know about the supports you offer.  You are also very welcome to invite the team to visit you for an in-person interview.  Contact Steven Pruchnicki from Three Things for more information at steven@3things.ca.

Nine Indigenous Young Elite Athletes Head to Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games

Mekite’tm 2019: I Am Proud, the latest innovate sport and culture project coming from the Office of the Assembly of First Nations Nova Scotia / Newfoundland Regional Chief and inspired by and in collaboration with Waneek Horn-Miller, the first Mohawk woman to compete in the Olympics, (she was the co-captain of Team Canada Water Polo team in Sydney), and a Gold Medal Winner in the 1999 Pan Am Games, our team today, July 23rd are leading another once in a lifetime experience for Indigenous youth.  With our experience traveling internationally with children and youth, Waneek's expertise in sport, Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild as our Elder for cultural support along with Dr. Marie Wilson as an ally and Grandmother, the rest of the support team includes a translator and  guide and a participatory action film crew - who together will work  with the powerful team of nine young people, all Indigenous elite athletes who will inspire and be inspired by witnessing the Lima Pan American Games 2019 and taking part in cultural activities, including a visit to Machu Picchu.  Follow along on our Facebook Page as we adventure to Peru and meet The Mekite'tm Delegation

Your Voice Matters

We only get stronger when we self-reflect and listen to those in our network: our clients, participants in Three Things designed projects and programs and the communities we support.   Please take less than 5 minutes and share your insight, experience and ideas - and help us grow to be a stronger network of leading consultants across Canada ensuring everyone knows #the3Things - you matter, you are important and you belong.  Click the image below to take part!

Some Things That Have Happened

Raised Voices: Carriers of Youth - A First Nations Youth Education Policy Gathering

We were honoured to work with the Assembly of First Nations as the designers and facilitators of Raised Voices: Carriers of Hope, that took place in Ottawa February 1^st – 4^th 2019.  Our team welcomed 36 First Nations youth, between the ages of 13 - 18 who over three days authored  Calls to Action on First Nations Education! Learn more about the project, meet the young Carriers of Hope and read their Calls to Action by clicking here!

Walking the Path of Peace Together

This year we are happy to announce our yearlong commitment to support Walking the Path of Peace Together; a partnership made up of members of our local Indigenous community here in Kingston, where Three Things is based and who many on our team are proud members of, along with Faith United Church and their congregation.  Using our resources, the best we way we can, this commitment of in-kind and monetary contributions will help further the relationship building taking place, planning and execution of how the two communities can share the role and responsibility to care for a piece of land that Faith United has long waited to determine its best use.  Coming as a result of their learning via the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, this became their plan: ensure there is space for reflection, sharing and healing, in partnership with the Indigenous community.  We were humbled to work for Faith United in early 2018, visiting and engaging with 100’s of Indigenous community members, resulting in this report, Walking the Path of Peace Together Final Report which is driving forward this important movement.  Read it today and follow along on the new Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Walking-the-Path-of-Peace-Together-2231188857147655/.  There are exciting things happening and in 2019 we are honoured to volunteer in this movement that is demonstrating reconciliation in action.

Mapping Out the Future For Youth In Renfrew County  

Rural youth voices matter and often, they do not feel heard in the important discussions taking place across Canada on youth issues, policy and voice. We have been thrilled to partner with our friends at the Students Commission of Canada and work with Renfrew County and District Health Unit and Renfrew County Youth Network throughout the year which resulted in the release of the 2018 Renfrew County Youth Needs Assessment Report. A youth strategy will help ensure that youth voice helps influence the supports, services and spaces for young people in Eastern Ontario.

Indigenous Awareness Community Talking Circles

As we wrap up a year of Community Talking Circles for the City of Kingston, a component of their Engage for Change project, we are launching these important Circles across Canada.  Learn more by clicking here.

Msit No'Kmaq: All My Relations

45 Indigenous young people representing 31 First Nations, 3 Inuit regions 7 urban centres sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, from Halifax, Nova Scotia to La Havre (France) in August 2017 as part of the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta, all while taking part in Msit No’Kmaq, a Sail Training and Youth Leadership Program. To learn more, click here.