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, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our District 7070 Action Committe's Areas of Focus Coordinator is John Currie from the Pickering Rotary Club. John is also the  Executive Director of H I P and can be reached at john.currie@pickeringrotary.ca .   If you have a good news story, please send it to us. Click here to get the latest newsletters, information and updates about HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples)! OR check the Action Committees Menu Bar in the District Newsletter under HIP.  This rapidly growing nation-wide movement, HIP,  is a partnership between Indigenous Peoples & Rotarians. Each newsletter also contains stories about supporters, just like you, who are making an impact across Canada by taking action to create lasting change! Here are some highlights .........

Dear Friends & Supporters,

These days virtually every newspaper article, TV show and radio program reminds us of the dangers associated with the current COVID-19 crisis if we do not follow the suggested health guidelines. The same media though is also highlighting opportunities (albeit sometimes it requires thinking) of the many acts and benefits of collaboration and reaching out to others brings.

As it relates to Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, the dangers this crisis brings includes further alienation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and accentuating and perpetuating the inequalities from the past.

Reaching out to each other, however, creates a wonderful opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to get to better know each other and expanding our relationship by working together against our common enemy, the COVID-19 virus.

Here are few ways you can do this:

1. Call or email an Indigenous person if non-Indigenous or vice versa. Find out about how they are doing or how they are feeling. Is there anything they or their community needs? Is there a way you/we can help? Show them you care. One of our board members called a chief a week and found out his community had a food delivery problem. The chief was isolated at home. In turn, the board member contacted our district HIP Coordinator who had further contact with the chief. She, in turn, contacted some other people who could possibly help. As it turned out, the chief solved his problem without our help but our effort I believe further developed our relationship.

2. If you do not know someone in the Indigenous community and would like to reach out or have your club involved, contact HIP (juliedunaiskis@hipally.com). We can assist.

3. A number of clubs already have ongoing contact with Indigenous Peoples and their communities. Call the club or your District Coordinator. See if there is a way you can participate. They may need volunteers or money or food or specific supplies such as masks, sanitizers or food. Make sure, though, they have a need before you jump in.

4. If you have some time on your hands, it could be an ideal time to find out more about Indigenous Peoples. There are plenty of books and videos mentioned on our website www.rotaryhip.com. Richard Wagamese is one great Indigenous writer of three excellent books Indian Horse, Ragged Company and Medicine, Walk. One person I know decided to take this time to find out more about treaties. There is a wealth of information about treaties online available at your fingertips. Also try YouTube. The video Dish with One Spoon is about the land issues at Caledonia. It is very revealing.

5. HIP is developing a fund to assist Indigenous communities with their needs. To make a tax-receiptable donation, you can click on the Donate Now button through CanadaHelps on our website www.rotaryhip.com and select HIP COVID-19 Fund.

There are other ways too to become involved. I hope you will take this opportunity and do something.

Chi Miigwetch / Thank you

Chris Snyder, Chair on behalf of the Board of Directors.

Let’s Stay In Touch!

https://www.facebook.com/HonouringIndigenousPeoples/

Be sure to read the HIP Circle Newsletters all of which appear on their website. Here is the link to the newsletters.

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,