In 1984, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations were thriving despite generations of colonial oppression. More than half the community spoke their traditional language fluently and cultural practices such as canoe carving remained an active artform.

It is no longer a debate that Indigenous Peoples and their cultures endured great harm under colonialist policies for centuries. Today, many remain disconnected from their language, culture, and identity because of the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma, residential schools, and the sixties scoop.

In Indigenous communities, the transfer of sacred knowledge from Elder to youth thrived in historic settings due to living together in close-knit Nations. The forced displacement and the migration of many Indigenous Peoples away from their traditional lands has made this transfer of knowledge increasingly difficult.

The Sun Dance is an ancient, sacred ceremony celebrated by First Nations Peoples living in the grasslands of Saskatchewan. It has been hosted for generations to honour the renewal of life, bountiful and lush seasons, community connections, and spiritual and physical well-being.

Since the 1960s, Niitsi'powahsin, the Blackfoot language, has been one of many Indigenous languages considered to be endangered. The number of fluent speakers has only continued to decline due to the lasting impacts of colonization, the residential school system, and other assimilationist policies.

The tiny voices of Indigenous children have echoed across the land for thousands of years. Yet, over the last few centuries they’ve grown quieter due to the intergenerational impacts of colonialism and systemic oppression.

In the community of Sipekne’katik, Nova Scotia, lies the Sainte-Anne Mission site. This site is a powerful symbol of the Mi’kmaq ancestral homeland and the enduring relationship between the Mi’kmaq people and the Roman Catholic faith.

Indigenous communities have always passed down ancient traditional practices from generation to generation. Sewing, beading, and the creation of cultural clothing and regalia is an art form that helps define Indigenous Nations and Treaty territories through unique weaving patterns, colour and shapes.

Métis identity is nuanced and can be difficult to understand in the complex space of Indigeneity. Impacted by colonization and the residential school system, critical cultural knowledge, traditional skills, and community connections have been lost across generations. Métis peoples are often left behind in the push to revitalize First Nation cultures.

The role of Indigenous women in Cree communities is sacred, honoured and vital to the harmony of a Nation. For generations, Indigenous women and girls lent their voices as Lady Back-Up Singers to share nêhiyawêwin (Cree language).