Spirit | Be a ConnectR

Learn About Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Current Events, Health & Wellness, Read, Spirit

Learn about the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women by visiting this website that is specific to the process of the inquiry. Or dive into this important new title addressing issues around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: Keetsahnak: Our Murdered and Missing Indigenous Sisters reveals “the tension between personal, political, and public action. . .as the contributors look at the roots of violence and how it diminishes life for all. Together, they create a model for anti-violence work from an Indigenous perspective.”

Connect Youth to Reconciliation Work

Head, Heart, Spirit, Youth Perspective

Indigenous Youth Voices is a project that seeks to gather input from Inuit, Métis and First Nations youth across Canada on how best to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 66 to deliver programs that can empower and support Indigenous Youth. Read this CBC article about the project!

Listen to Indigenous Youth

Head, Heart, Listen, Spirit, Youth Perspective

CBC’s The Current covers a public forum held to discuss the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and how the traumas of Indigenous youth are connected to the violence against Indigenous women.

Get Inspired by Youth Reconciliation Projects

Head, Heart, Spirit, Youth Perspective

4 Seasons of Reconciliation

4 Seasons of Reconciliation is a multi-media teaching unit that promotes a renewed relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canadians, through transformative learning. Learn about youth from across Canada who have created various projects that seek out solutions for Reconciliation. Get inspired to pursue your own projects.

Read Youth Visions for Reconciliation

Head, Heart, Kids/Family, Spirit, Youth Perspective

Office of The Treaty Commissioner Website

In March 2017, the Office of the Treaty Commissioner invited 45 youth between the ages of 18 and 30 years to gather and imagine their lives 40 years in the future—in a time when Reconciliation has been successful. Read about their vision for Reconciliation.

Support Amensty International Campaigns for Reconciliation

Around the World, Head, Heart, Spirit, Youth Perspective

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, impoverishment, food insecurity, unsafe drinking water and inadequate housing are merely few examples of the many epidemics happening to the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Learn from and become part of Amnesty International’s work for Indigenous rights.

Join a Youth Reconciliation Project

Head, Heart, Kids/Family, Spirit, Youth Perspective

Learn about a project by Canadian Roots Exchange. The Youth Reconciliation Initiative (YRI) invites Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to train, envision and build nation-wide reconciliation. From Coast to Coast, these youth raise awareness, connect Canadian citizens and build conciliation across Canada.

Learn About Indigenous Medicines

Body, Health & Wellness, Heart, Spirit, This Land

Alive Online

The online magazine alive offers an article on “Aboriginal Medicine: Four Canadian plants with the power to heal” by Cara McKenna.

Learn Indigenous Teachings About Plants

Body, Food, Head, Health & Wellness, Heart, Participate, Spirit, This Land

This CBC News article includes a short video and looks at a program at Wanuskewin Heritage Park —a walking tour of medicinal plants used by Indigenous peoples. Or read Braiding Sweet: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. “As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers.” A delicious read.

Read One Thunderous Voice: A Youth E-Journalism Project

Art & Music, Current Events, Head, Heart, Kids/Family, Spirit, Youth Perspective

One Thunderous Voice is a project that brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to engage in e-journalism projects at community events focused on Truth and Reconciliation. Teachers and students from two schools have joined forces: the Constable Robin Cameron Education Complex at Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation, and Aden Bowman Collegiate Institute in Saskatoon, SK.

Follow These Indigenous Visual Artists

Art & Music, Head, Heart, Spirit

Allen Sapp was a Cree painter from Red Pheasant Cree Nation who resided in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. His art and his story have become well known throughout Canada.

Daphne Odjig was a Canadian First Nations artist of Odawa-Potawatomi-English heritage. Her painting is often characterized as Woodlands Style. She was the driving force behind the Professional Native Indian Artists Association, colloquially known as the Indian Group of Seven.

Alex Simeon Janvier is a pioneer of contemporary Canadian Aboriginal art in Canada and a member of the Indigenous Group of Seven. He was born in Cold Lake First Nation and is of Dene and Saultaux descent.

Jerry Whitehead is a Cree artist from Peter Chapman First Nation. Powwow and powwow dancers have remained an important theme and inspiration for his work.

Christi Belcourt is a Métis visual artist and author best known for her acrylic paintings which depict floral patterns inspired by Métis and First Nations historical beadwork art. Belcourt’s work often focuses on questions around identity, culture, place and divisions within communities.

Visit Indigenous Art Galleries

Art & Music, Body, Head, Heart, Spirit

Find art galleries in your community that showcase the work of Indigenous artists. Visual and performance artists that focus on Indigenous historical, traditional and contemporary art can inspire and educate. Here are some around Saskatchewan: Wanuskewin, First Nations University Art Gallery, Sâkêwêwak Artists’ Collective Regina

Or visit The Allen Sapp Gallery: The Gonor Collection virtually or in person in North Battleford!