To Teach Strong

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. 

Shxwhay Village in British Columbia is no stranger to these challenges. They have witnessed first-hand the struggles their children deal with day-to-day, all while coping with the systemic loss of culture and language. They’ve decided to focus on healing, health and cultural revitalization by introducing i’west e’yem or “to teach strong”.  This hands-on program will immerse youth in traditional learning environments by crafting canoe paddles, drums, rattles, and more. Elders and fluent language speakers will be the teachers, sharing language to inspire young Indigenous minds while their hands are busy at work. 

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing funding to empower cultural revitalization within the community. Funding will cover all associated costs, from the traditional materials to honorariums for Elders, mentors and Knowledge Keepers. Introducing engaging, traditional and hands-on learning opportunities for youth is an incredible way to instill pride in one’s culture while focusing energy on healthy outlets. 

The i’west e’yem project will prove incredibly beneficial to the children of Shxwhay Village by immersing them in traditional ways of life, inspiring laughter, educating and connecting them with their Elders. By instilling a sense of belonging deep in the roots of the next generation, Indigenous youth will reconnect and heal in a way that touches both the physical and mental spirit.

Archdiocese of Vancouver