Pow Wows are Indigenous celebrations where families, friends and communities come together to enjoy traditional music, dances, regalia and food. They transcend generations, bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together to share in culture, celebrate ancestral traditions and provide hope for the future.
Reconciliation is a journey that requires Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to walk along a path together, working towards a future where Indigenous rights, traditions and cultures are equally valued, celebrated and respected. It requires non-Indigenous people to commit to being allies and educate themselves about the history of Canada, the systemic and unjust treatment Indigenous Peoples have been dealt at the hands of government institutions, and the oppression that continues today.
After centuries of systemic efforts to eliminate traditional practices and ways of life, Indigenous youth still face barriers to community connection, mentorship and opportunities. But each year, more organizations and programs appear across Canada to support young Indigenous Peoples in rebuilding their identity, stoking pride in their indigeneity, strengthening cultural ties and fostering resilience.
Important conversations around revitalizing Indigenous languages are taking place in English, exemplifying the problem at hand. As Elders and Knowledge Keepers grow older and the number of fluent Indigenous language speakers dwindles, it has become more critical to offer immersive and language-first approaches to save traditional dialects.
Indigenous women and girls are the most vulnerable population in Canada. Due to a systemic lack of support, combined with Intergenerational trauma, they are more likely to go missing, more likely to be targets of violent crime and more likely to be exploited. Many enter an ongoing cycle of poverty, struggle and abuse.
The earth beneath our feet has been travelled by our ancestors for countless generations. Seeds have been replanted, grass has withered and regrown, seasons have come and gone, and Indigenous Peoples have continued to protect, care and honour their sacred lands. As modernity and colonization have taken their toll on traditional territories, the Indigenous Peoples of Xa'xtsa First Nation in British Columbia are looking to reclaim their title of stewards of the land.
Stepping through the doors of university for the first time is a daunting experience. Trying to create community in a new environment, with new faces, while navigating post-secondary education is difficult for any young adult. Indigenous students, some of whom come from rural or remote communities, face additional challenges such as struggling to find fellow Indigenous peers, feeling misrepresented through coursework, being misunderstood in class and disconnection from their non-Indigenous classmates.
Many Indigenous youth have been in crisis for far too long, facing mental health challenges, instability at home and substance abuse, which has led to the heartbreaking loss of too many young lives. Indigenous communities have decided that enough is enough, deciding to not just survive, but thrive, reconnecting and healing in a way that touches both the heart and the spirit.
Nations across the world are dealing with an unprecedented mental health crisis and Canada is no exception. As we work to find solutions, marginalized communities are falling through the gaps. With systemic barriers in place to access even the most basic of resources, and a deep-rooted distrust of conventional services due to historic treatment, Indigenous Peoples are experiencing disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges.
Stereotypes will tell us that poverty is caused by factors within an individuals’ control, but the reality is much more complex. Indigenous Peoples are eight times more likely to experience homelessness due to a systemic cycle of oppression, racism and discrimination. Intergenerational trauma and the breakdown of traditional supports has led to loss of identity and spiritual displacement.
