Rekindled Spirits!
This project is an aim to strengthen the relationship between our elders and our youth. As part of our cultural beliefs, the elder's role is to mentor the young people in order to pass on teachings of tradtions, roles and responsibilities and cultural protocol as to how we have governed ourselves. The Heiltsuk Nation is situated on the Central Coast of British Columbia and is only accessible by plane or boat. In years past the Heiltsuk travelled to many locations within the traditional territory harvesting food based on the seasons of the year and which foods were in season. The purpose of this project is to organize a mentoring program that runs with the seasons of harvesting, for example, seaweed in the spring, salmon in the summer and so forth. Given the remoteness of our community we still very much live off the land and resources that surround us. Although we are remote, we are still challenged with the change in time,evolution of technology, social struggles that run deep due to many factors all contributing to the vast difference in how our youth live today versus how our elders lived when they were young. Against many odds, as a Nation, we have maintained a connection with one another that is inherent, something, permanent and inseparable as a people. By establishing this project in our community we can build on this connection and rekindle and to some extent even reclaim our traditional knowledge by passing on to our youth. Acheiving this would instill culture, learning, self esteem for both elders and youth and rekindle the spirits of our community! Much of our traditional language is rooted in the way of life we once lived, so in essence strengthening the connection between the elders and youth will assist in passing on knowledge that provides the youth a way of connecting history to today's way of life. Our culture also recognizes that all things are interconnected. By approaching this project with a traditional focus our youth can better relate to our future as a Nation by understanding where we came from.
About You
About You
First Name
Pamela
Last Name
Reid
Confirm a user name that will be displayed publicly to identify your entry
Heiltsuk Soul
About You, Your Group, or Your Organization
Name
Kaxla Child & Family Services Agency
Website
Country
Canada
Please confirm that this project could benefit First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples
Yes
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
Youtube URL
What categories best describe who your group or organization serves (check all that apply)
First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, Other.
What best describes your group or organization
Non-profit organization.
How long have you, your group, or your organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Innovation
Name Your Entry
Rekindled Spirits!
Tell us the story of your idea or project
This project is an aim to strengthen the relationship between our elders and our youth. As part of our cultural beliefs, the elder's role is to mentor the young people in order to pass on teachings of tradtions, roles and responsibilities and cultural protocol as to how we have governed ourselves. The Heiltsuk Nation is situated on the Central Coast of British Columbia and is only accessible by plane or boat. In years past the Heiltsuk travelled to many locations within the traditional territory harvesting food based on the seasons of the year and which foods were in season. The purpose of this project is to organize a mentoring program that runs with the seasons of harvesting, for example, seaweed in the spring, salmon in the summer and so forth. Given the remoteness of our community we still very much live off the land and resources that surround us. Although we are remote, we are still challenged with the change in time,evolution of technology, social struggles that run deep due to many factors all contributing to the vast difference in how our youth live today versus how our elders lived when they were young. Against many odds, as a Nation, we have maintained a connection with one another that is inherent, something, permanent and inseparable as a people. By establishing this project in our community we can build on this connection and rekindle and to some extent even reclaim our traditional knowledge by passing on to our youth. Acheiving this would instill culture, learning, self esteem for both elders and youth and rekindle the spirits of our community! Much of our traditional language is rooted in the way of life we once lived, so in essence strengthening the connection between the elders and youth will assist in passing on knowledge that provides the youth a way of connecting history to today's way of life. Our culture also recognizes that all things are interconnected. By approaching this project with a traditional focus our youth can better relate to our future as a Nation by understanding where we came from.
Define your idea / project in 1-2 short sentences
Rekindled Spirits is a mentoring program that roots itself in a way of life! Mentoring is a natural way of learning and sharing important values!
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Idea
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
Please tell us about the social impact of your idea or proect
Impacts from this project will stengthen exsisting bonds within the community, but also pass on imporant values and skill sets based on a way of life. Living in a remote community our way of life differs compared to city life. We still live off our land and natural resources and it is important that this way of life we mentored and carried forward to the future generations. As a Nation, we are blessed with a closeness, however like every society we have our challenges and this project will assist in reinforcing the connection as well as bring the community together to achieve this. This project can be shared and used with other First Nations, Meitis and Inuit peoples as a model for community wellness.
Your Future Goal(s): Tell us what you hope to achieve with your idea or project in the next year
The main goal is to attain funding to run a 12 month project based on the traditional food cycles
In 5 years, what will be different as a result of your idea/project?
In five years I invision those little ones who started out in the birth of this project growing into mentors themselves and assisting the elders mentor the newer generations as they are born! Just the thought of embracing and supporting a willing group of people to mentor and pass on valuable traditions and skill sets so that our way of life is preserved brings on deep emotion! In addtion, five year from now I invision a project outline that can be published and used by other First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples to guide them in developing thier own projects based on thier traditions and culture. There are many other First Nations funding sources that could support this project template with other resouces and fiances through various programs.
Sustainability
Tell us about the people/ partnerships that are already involved and why they are important to your idea or project.
The Heiltsuk Nation are a progressive Nation. We have evolved to the point in which we have separted our businesses from the political arena, as well as set up our own Economic Development Department, as well as a Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management department that supports natural resource management at the local level. Many partnerships within the community strive to take an integrated and holistic approach to addressing many different challenges faced as a community. A clear focus by the Nation is on continual capacity building and Nation building.
If there are other people/partners that you will reach out to tell us who they are and why they will be important to your idea or project.
One goal is to secure funds from Changemakers as well as collaborate with other local agencies to assist in the hosting of this project, so for example, approching the Elder's Advisory Group in designing the project outline based on seasonal food harvesting. Approach both the local fishermen and the local fisheries department in use of boats and trained boat personnel to take groups out fishing, seaweek picking, clam digging etc. Partner with the youth programs within the community to build a team of mentors to participate in the first year of the project (seucuring the support and secondment from their respective Program Directors and/or board of directors) Overall the idea would be to collaborate and attain funding from local agencies and enties for annual funding for the project.
Describe the kinds of support you receive (other than money) or will need to support your idea or project (e.g.: donated, space, equipment and volunteers)
With collaboration amoung local agencies, we have multiple buildings that we could host various types of gatherings, such as the local gym, school classrooms, multipurpose building, youth centre, common rooms, tribal council chambers and so on. As for equipment and certified personnel, we have a wealth of fishermen, skippers, boat owners, various programs such as local Fisheries program, department of fisheries and oceans, and a great source of volunteers. As a community we are farily resoucesful at pulling together resources to make things happen, the trick has been putting it on paper and secuing start up funds to get the project going. This project is one that would build great relations at many levels in the community.
Do you currently have funding for your idea or project?
No (skip next two questions)
 | 28 weeks agoPamela Reid updated this Competition Entry. |
| 28 weeks agoPamela Reid submitted this idea. |
