Jan. 4 is National Ribbon Skirt Day. A day that provides an opportunity for everyone to learn more about and celebrate Indigenous cultures, traditions, histories, and contributions to Canada.
National Ribbon Skirt Day Act
Today is National Ribbon Skirt Day! Here’s how it came to be (From CBC Kids)
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Canadian Michelle Chubb, the Indigenous Baddie on TikTok is an activist and influencer using her following to educate people about Indigenous life and issues by sharing her cultural traditions and injustices Indigenous people face.
Read MoreLearn about hereditary, traditional leadership from Tom Happynook of Huu-ay-ut First Nation. He also speaks to how traditional governance in his community is more democratic than the Canadian election process.
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Watch The Sacred Sundance: The Transfer of a Ceremony on the National Film Board website. The 2008 feature-length documentary chronicles the Sundance ceremony brought to Eastern Canada from the Blackfoot Confederacy in Alberta. This event marks a transmission of culture and a link to the warrior traditions of the past.
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Learn about the honoured ceremony, the Sundance. APTN National News was invited to the Sprucewoods Sundance ceremony in western Manitoba, guided by Sprucewoods Sundance Chief David Blacksmith.
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As part of your reconciliation journey, learn the proper protocols and attend a cultural event in your community that is open to the public. Powwows are often open to the public and are a beautiful and moving ceremony.
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As part of your reconciliation journey, learn the proper protocols and attend a ceremony in your community that is open to the public.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be to an Indigenous Advocate? Watch this video from the Aboriginal Community Advocacy program shows the questions people are asking and the steps people are taking to be Indigenous advocates.
Read MoreUnderstand the difference between appropriation and appreciation of Indigenous Culture. Simon Fraser University created a guidebook that unpacks these important questions about cultural appropriation.
Read MoreIn this TEDx Talk, Reconciliation is about Relationships, Dr. Stryker Calvez a Métis/Michif researcher and educator, introduces people to the understanding that building relationships with Indigenous Peoples is easy. He says the goal of reconciliation isn’t to know everything about Indigenous people, but rather about learning how to be in relationship with them.
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According to Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. the quality of your relationship with an Indigenous community will be measured by the effort invested and the integrity of your team. They offer 7 Tips on Building Relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
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Relationship building with Indigenous peoples, communities, and/or organizations is an important step in reconciliation. Building trust is where it all begins. Read Building Trust Before Truth: How Non-Indigenous Canadians Become Allies.
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Learn about Idle No More and answer their Call to all people to join in a peaceful revolution to honour Indigenous sovereignty and to protect the land, water, and sky.
Read MoreWhat Does “Two-Spirit” Mean? In this video Geo Neptune explores the history of the term “Two-Spirit” and who it pertains to. Does it mean two genders? Can anyone use it to describe themselves?
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Learn about The History of Two-Spirit Folks in an article shared by The Indigenous Foundation about the term Two-Spirit, where the term originated and the power it carries.
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Learn about, and support the work of, The Indigenous Leadership Initiative, and organization dedicated to strengthening Indigenous Nationhood and Indigenous leadership on the land.
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Throughout all Indigenous beliefs, women of any background are considered sacred. Indigenous Women is a video that breaks down the 5 important roles of Indigenous women that make them so important
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What is it like to provide trans care on an Indigenous reserve that serves 2,400 people in central Alberta? For this Two-Spirit Cree doctor, it’s more than his job. Dr. Makokis created a unique approach to transgender care, combining Indigenous and Western teachings.
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In the aftermath of residential schools, healthy elders are essential to the identity of Indigenous people. Doreen Spence is an internationally respected Cree elder speaks to their importance imparting wisdom and helping younger people understand their history and struggles.
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Read an Indigenous Elder Definition, a Question and Answer with information on what makes an Elder and protocol for Elders in Indigenous communities.
Read MoreLearn about Indigenous leadership as well as titles and honorifics in Indigenous communities, including Elders, Traditional teachers, Knowledge Keepers and more, in this reference by Ontario’s Centennial College
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This article shares 8 Two-Spirit Artists, Activists, and Healers Showing the World Queerness is Indigenous. If you are looking to learn more about Land Back, water protectors, and the fight for Native sovereignty? These creators can show you the way.
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Learn about Indigenous Sovereignty in Canada in an article shared by The Indigenous Foundation. Indigenous Sovereignty arises from Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, belonging to each Indigenous nation, tribe, and community.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States shares the Six Guiding Principles To A Trauma-Informed Approach.
Read MoreLearn about and use Indigenous protocol, ways of interacting that respects traditional ways of knowing and being.
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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada shared this video in 2010 of a sacred pipe ceremony with hundreds of Indigenous & non-Indigenous attendees.
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Watch Sweat Lodge Teachings with Education Day Manager, Wilfred Buck shared by Manito Ahbee Educational Program
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The Government of Alberta shares Walking Together: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum. Symbolism and Traditions Ceremonies looks at Indigenous practices to maintain harmony and balance between humankind and the rest of creation.
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In this CBC Unreserved article Chantal Fiola talks about her journey of spiritual exploration — from church services to Indigenous ceremonies.
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Learn about Indigenous ceremonies and socials, including Feats and Giveaways, Naming Ceremonies, Sweat Lodges, Moon Time, Potlatch Ceremonies, and more. The work recognizes that many of these practices were illegal under the Indian Act’s cultural ban in 1951.
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The world’s indigenous languages are under threat of disappearing, with one language dying every two weeks and many more at risk. To address the question on how to maintain indigenous languages, the UN organized an expert group meeting on indigenous languages in 2016. Hear from those protecting languages, preserving cultures.
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Qallunaat! Why White People Are Funny, is a documentary poking fun at the ways in which Inuit people have been treated as “exotic” documentary subjects by turning the lens onto the strange behaviours of Qallunaat (the Inuit word for white people).
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The practice of Inuit tattoos was banned by the Canadian government for a long time, this led to shaming but that is starting to change. An Inuk woman shares what the tradition means to her in this short video from CBC News.
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Elder in the Making is a documentary series featuring Cowboy Smithx (the “x” is silent), a Blackfoot searching for his identity, and Chris Hsuing, a first generation Chinese-Canadian filmmaker, on a trip across Treaty 7 territory to re-discover their shared heritage. In this episode Cowboy and Chris head out to the grassland prairies. They find an ancient land marked by thousands of years of history and a complex ecology of bison, grass, and other life.
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Watch this video as Knowledge Keeper Rocky Morin of Enoch Cree Nation shares the Seven Sacred Teachings, which he describes as the “guiding principles of how we should live our lives in a respectful and sacred manner to all living things.”
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Indigenous symbolism shows the diversity of Indigenous People. Learn about the symbols of the Métis including the flag, sash, jigging, and Michif language.
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The medicine wheel comes in many different forms, and their significance and use are culture-specific. However, along with shape, a fundamental similarity is the representation of the interaction of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Learn more in this video from Bob Joseph.
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This video featuring Keith Diakiw and Josh Morin is an introduction to Métis culture and history as represented by three major symbols: the sash, the Red River cart, and the Métis Nation flag.
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Learn about Indigenous Worldview. Every culture, background, and society is unique and different. They each have their own sets of beliefs, values, and perspectives on the world. This is worldview
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This resource by CBC Kids introduces the powwow, its history, who attends, the drums, dances and more.
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This CBC article by Catherine Hernandez and Waawaate Fobister share advice for non-Indigenous folks joining in pow wow celebrations
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Watch the screening of the Making of the Witness blanket and conversation with Carey, Marion & Ellen Newman in this online event hosted by UBC.
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A handbook was created for newcomers to Saskatchewan to support learning about Truth and Reconciliation by a partnership between Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement & Integration Agencies and the Aboriginal Friendship Centers of Saskatchewan.
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Learn traditional stories from Cree Language Educator, Simon Bird, and others through Indigenous Education: The National Centre for Collaboration. Start with the story of wesakekecāk and sihkos
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In the 2022 CBC Massey Lectures, Cree writer Tomson Highway explores language, creation, sex and gender, humour and death. Listen here
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Learn about the Reciprocity Project and watch films like Diiyeghan naii Taii Tr’eedaa (We Will Walk the Trail of our Ancestors)
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Learn about teepees (also tepee or tipi) in this interactive website (with videos, images, and text) from the Yorkton Tribal Council.
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The Toasted Sister Podcast is all about food. Host Andi Murphy says “after contact, Indigenous foodways and knowledge were devastated, nearly destroyed and replaced with foods that are far from the people.”
So, she went on a journey and talked with dozens of Indigenous People about food. She shares stories about what Indigenous cuisine is, where it comes from, where it is headed and how it is connecting people to communities and their traditions.
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Duncan McCue’s Decolonizing Journalism: A Guide to Reporting in Indigenous Communities is designed to teach teaches aspiring journalists how to build respectful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities when researching and sharing their stories.
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