Indigenous Allyship

An abundance mindset (you choose your own wage?!). Founded on a vision of sharing harmonious relationships with all Earth’s kin. Committed to decolonizing all levels of engagement and conducting business. Alberta-based, non-profit social enterprise, Newo.energy is all this and more.

Team installing solar panels on roof.

Indigenous Canada. Indigenous allyship.

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and the month of June is National Indigenous History Month. Faith & the Common Good is proud to celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We remain committed to Truth and Reconciliation and working alongside Indigenous communities to create positive change and stronger relationships.

Activities for National Indigenous Peoples Day are organized across Canada every year. For more information about the day’s activities, you can visit: National Indigenous Peoples Day - Canada.ca

During the rest of the month, we invite you to take time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Canada.

As part of this effort to uplift Indigenous-led innovators, we have spotlighted some resources that celebrate Indigenous communities. We encourage everyone to keep the learning and the conversations going all year long.

Learning Resources 

Below are just a few resources to explore:

• Indigenous Cinema from the National Film Board.
• Stories from the Land video series.
• Warrior Kids Podcast: A place for kids and adults to learn and celebrate everything Indigenous.
• New Fire (CBC Radio) by Lisa Charleyboy: Conversations with and about Indigenous youth, urban and on-reserve.
• Indigenous Canada at the University of Alberta: A 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada.

As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day and National Indigenous History Month, we will also uphold our commitment to Reconciliation, today, this month, and through the years to come. 

Fundraising. Great Canadian Giving Challenge. Indigenous Allyship.

#LiveLaudatoSi Canada Learning Webinar: Listening to Youth

“Intergenerational solidarity is not optional, but rather a basic question of justice, since the world we have received also belongs to those who will follow us.” Pope Francis, ¶ 159 Laudato Si’

Learn how Canadian Catholics can act in support and solidarity with Indigenous and Youth environmental leaders.

Time/Date: February 19, 3pm (Toronto Time)

Location: On-line webinar

Purpose: To introduce three dynamic young Canadian women who are defending land, water, culture and our future.    Hanna Edenshaw of the Haida Gwaii Nation, Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie an Anishinaabe Two-Spirit from Sagkeeng First Nation and Rebecca Rathbone will share their experiences, the projects they are currently working on and how we can support them. We will also be discussing the disproportionate impact that climate change and unsustainable resource extraction have on Indigenous Communities in Canada and elsewhere.

Register:  https://www.faithcommongood.org/listeningyouth

Contact: Agnes Richard · [email protected]

On June 24th, Divest Waterloo and Parkminster United Church partnered on Water and Spirit: Allyship in Action — a lunch and Indigenous Allyship gathering designed for people who are wondering about how to go beyond land acknowledgements, curious about terms, or wanting to discover positive best practices for working with Indigenous peoples. Melissa Ireland (pictured on the right above, bio below), Manager of Indigenous Student Services at Laurier University, facilitated this participatory gathering employing a circle approach to help participants self-discover where they sit in their Indigenous Allyship journey.

Following this, Mary Anne Caibaiosai (pictured on the left above, bio below) shared her stories and prayers for the water and plans for the All Nations Grand River Water Walk that will be held from September 15th through the 29th. The workshop and lunch were free, with donations to support the Water Walk gratefully accepted.

Mark your calendars to join us on March 7th, 2018 for The Chemical Valley Project, an innovative documentary-theatre performance telling story of a small Indigenous community smothered by Canada’s petrochemical industry in our own backyard.  It will spark conversations on Canadian environmental policy, treaty rights and Indigenous relations, as well as the current nature of Canadian identity and values.

Where: The Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick St, Kitchener
When: Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 7:30pm

Join Youth for Water and Green Communities Canada for a four-part webinar series! Learn how to strengthen collaborative initiatives and build positive alliances with Indigenous communities.

Dates: February 7, 2018 - March 21, 2018

Click the link for more information and to register: www.eventbrite.ca/webinar-series-trying-to-get-it-right-tickets-42245268736

“Salmon” by Don Skillen, Métis Artist 4. Change.

“Mitakuye Oyasin. All my relations.” Lakota Nation.

We need to return to the original relationships. That’s the repeated message heard at a recent Waterloo forum hosted by Faith & the Common Good, Divest Waterloo, the Green Awakening Network and a number of other groups concerning climate justice and what Indigenous allyship would mean.