As we travel to Alberta tomorrow to celebrate National Aboriginal Day this weekend with members of Paul Band and other area First Nations, we are reminded about the privilege we have being able to be witness to the growing movement of connecting Indigenous children and youth with their traditional languages, ceremonies, activities and way of life.
I know from my lived experience as a First Nation man about the role that learning, connecting and putting into practice the traditional knowledge that has been so freely shared with me, has had on my life and my ability to walk the red road; the good road. Listening to Elders, taking part in Ceremony and humbly being a helper has helped me gain a greater understanding of the Ojibwe way of life.
This year we have traveled in our work and seen culture and teachings being shared with young people in urban centres such as Kamloops, Winnipeg and Toronto, in Ontario and British Columbia First Nations and within the north in the Territories with both First Nation and Inuit young people.
Building strong youth also means them having strong relationships both with Indigenous and non-Indigenous adults. At Three Things we often share the message of the importance of having youth connect and build healthy, positive and reciprocal relationships with adults – that these relationships, in addition to other supports can be the link for youth to make healthy transitions to adulthood. This often means exploring how reconciliation can occur between youth and adults, especially adults from systems that youth may not traditionally have strong relationships with.
Across Canada a growing movement is occurring that connects youth with one of these systems, policing. Bringing together officers from various forces, including First Nation policing and young people provides the opportunity for them to share an experience that opens new doors, leading to greater communication, trust and understanding between youth themselves and the young people and officers. This movement often involves traditional activities honouring water, recognizing it as the interconnection among all living beings, and in several Territories it is through a traditional paddle experience that connects youth and adults.
Here in Kingston the 3rd Annual Flotilla for Friendship took place a week ago with officers from OPP, RCMP, Gananoque, Brockville, Tyendinaga and Kingston Police services paddling with youth from Kingston and Tyendinaga, home of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte throughout Big Salmon Lake in Frontenac Park. With a feast following, this is a wonderful example of how youth and police can connect, share and experience together. A big shout out to the Police Services, officers, volunteers, coordinators and brave young people who demonstrated what reconciliation can look like, in action.
Earlier this year, in one community we met with community leaders and children of the Musqueam people, traditional hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking people who descended from the cultural group known as the Coast Salish. They moved throughout their traditional territory using the resources the land provided for fishing, hunting, trapping and gathering, to maintain their livelihood. Today, the Musqueam people still use these resources for economical and traditional purposes.
In this community there is a strong focus on keeping youth connected to these traditional ways. We know the importance of this both for the young people and the community as a whole. We recently heard from our friends in Musqueam and they are working hard to have a group of youth take part in this years Pulling Together Canoe Journey. The focus of the ten-day Journey is to improve relationships between First Nations communities and public service agencies. You can learn more about this event here.
This journey was very successful last year and natural next step was to build on the experience by developing a club that is focused on youth leadership development and cultural knowledge transfer. A small group of Musqueam community members have come together to volunteer their time to form the Musqueam Pulling Together Canoe Club.
They can use your support. The Musqueam youth requires assistance with the costs of registration, equipment, transportation to and from Vancouver Island, and food for the 10-day journey by canoe. From what we have seen, in Musqueam and across the Territories are these efforts – and the outcomes for the youth and the community, they are priceless. It’s why we support their effort and hope you will consider doing the same.
You can learn more and donate directly here. Your support today, means that for generations to come, this rich culture will continue on in a strong and vibrant way. Like we said…priceless.
We hope this Aboriginal Day Canadians continue to open their minds and learn about the traditional Territories near them, celebrate the history and culture of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people and encourage the government to honour the Treaties; those signed with the Crown and those in the recent past. It is by sharing, celebrating and honouring together that we will continue to thrive and live, interconnected as one.