News from Honouring Indigenous People

Here is the latest Honouring Indigenous People Rotary News and Events, projects, blogs, photos, films, and resources. There are many major initiatives and resources available to you and your Rotary club. Your Club can help.  Our District 7070 Action Committee's Areas of Focus Coordinator is Bill Empey from the Rotary Club of Toronto   If you have a good news story, or want to help starting a project, please contact Bill. Here are some news highlights .........

A letter from Bill Empey:

• the District Conferences,
• collaborating with the Harmony Movement, https://harmony.my.canva.site/mar-15
• Club support, and
• reviving the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and the distribution of books to indigenous children. https://imaginationlibrary.com/ca/

Click here to view the HIP website. For more news, check the Areas of Focus Action Committees Menu Bar in the District Newsletter under HIP.  This rapidly growing nation-wide movement, HIP,  is a partnership between Indigenous Peoples & Rotarians. The new website contains stories about supporters, just like you and your Club, who are making an impact across Canada by taking action to create lasting change! Here is a link to their latest Newsletters. 

News :

Here is the news from HIP (Honouring Indigenous People) for Rotary Clubs in District 7070.  As always, your support is appreciated.  HIP’s has an opportunity to deepen your Club’s connection to the indigenous community;

• Invite a local student, just returning from the National Y2Y program in British Columbia, to describe their experience at your Club meeting.

Misko Aki

Misko-Aki; Confluence of Cultures introduced a new and unique exhibition of Indigenous history and culture in Muskoka. Located at the Muskoka Steamship and Discovery Center in Gravenhurst, the exhibition opened in July, 2023.   Visitors experience the 10,000, year history of the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe, Metis and Haudenosaunee people as they take a virtual canoe trip through the culture, history and geography of the region. This unique project highlights the authentic and previously unrecorded history of these four cultures in a fascinating presentation. The confluence of these four cultures in Muskoka ties together indigenous history in many southern Ontario communities. 

We were delighted to learn that this work has been recognized nationally by the Canadian Museum Association with their Outstanding Achievement in the Exhibitions category award.  This honour highlights the beauty, authenticity and integrity of this wonderful exhibit.  R.I., seven local clubs and individual Rotarians have supported the exhibit.  

The National Youth to Youth Program

HIP (Honouring Indigenous People) has completed the second National Youth to Youth program.  Fifty indigenous and non-indigenous high school students, from all across Canada, have returned from a life- changing week in British Columbia. Over four wonderful days on the traditional lands of the Stó:lō First Nation, they learned local history, culture and lifestyles from prominent elders including Stephen Point, past Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and Tribal Chair of the Stó:lō Nation and Phyllis Webstad, creator of Orange Shirt day.  The final day was in the Squamish Cultural Center and Stawamas Chief Mountain near Whistler.

The participants describe their delight as they made new friends, learned first-hand the experience of the elders and enjoyed hands-on opportunities for weaving, dancing and drumming.  Returning, they feel a new sense of empowerment and talk about their roles as future leaders.  Listen to their excitement on this wonderful video; https://youtu.be/az5i0E-xtHM .

The Y2Y Program creates impacts that spread out from the youth as they bring home their messages about new friends, sharing, truth and reconciliation, stewardship of the environment, and the interrelated nature of our world.  

HIP’s attention focused on the National Y2Y program in 2025………..

In early May 2024, I reported the success of HIP’s (Honouring Indigenous Peoples) second National Youth to Youth program.  A highlight at the event was a presentation by Phyllis Webstad the creator of Orange Shirt day.  HIP was delighted to receive a strong endorsement by the Orange Shirt Society.   And we are delighted to announce that Phyllis joined us for the 2025 national program.  Students from District 7070  experienced a life-changing week in Nova Scotia. Over five wonderful days at Acadia University and on the traditional lands of the Annapolis First Nation, they learned local history, culture and lifestyles from prominent elders.They will make new friends, learned first-hand the experience of the elders and enjoyed hands-on opportunities for weaving, dancing and drumming.  Returning, they felt a new sense of empowerment and are talking about their roles as future leaders.  Listen to their excitement on last year's wonderful video;    https://youtu.be/az5i0E-xtHM .  The Y2Y Program creates impacts that spread from the youth to their community as they bring home messages about new friends, sharing, truth and reconciliation, stewardship of the environment, and the interrelated nature of our world.  

 HIP’s attention now focused on the National Y2Y program in 2025………..

Here are the key details;

• Applications were open September 16, and closed December 20. Application forms will be available on https://honouringindigenouspeoples.com/youth-to-youth/

• The program;

  • ran from April 27 to May 3, 2025 at Acadia University, Wolfville Nova Scotia, on the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq people.

  • was led by indigenous elders and knowledge keepers, including Phyliss Webstad, the creator of Orange Shirt Day and an inspiration at the 2024 Y2YN

  • was completely free covering all expenses, travel, accommodations and meals.

  • Had limited spots: 50 youth participants, 25 Indigenous and 25 non-Indigenous, aged between 15 and 17

  • Inclusive: Y2Y welcomed youth, in Grades 9 to 11, all genders and those with disabilities

What is your club doing to Honour Indigenous People?

Please email Julie Dunaiskis (julie@eccgroup.ca) with a brief summary so we can post on the HIP website and provide an update in upcoming newsletters. This will help other clubs and provide a sense of how we are involved. We do not know the precise number of clubs across Canada who are involved in educational and awareness activities, however, our guess is we are close to 175 and growing. Some clubs were involved well before HIP, many on their own and some because of our encouragement and leadership.

Regards,