Commemorating National Indigenous History Month

Commemorating National Indigenous History Month

Commemorating National Indigenous History Month

Placing culture and tradition at the core of all health and community development practices provides a space of safety and belonging where individuals, families and communities find meaning.” — the Southwest Ontario Abouriginal Health Access Centre

June is National Indigenous History Month. During this month, take time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples across the country. We encourage you to educate yourself and reflect on the unique cultures, sacrifices and contributions of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and have compiled some resources that can act as a starting point. We have a responsibility to learn about and honour the history and contributions of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, not just this month but every month throughout the year.

Indigenous Careship

Think about a Careship as a scholarship or bursary but for a patient undergoing a health journey. Funds are provided directly to the patient and their family to help with expenses related to their care or that are burdened by the impact of their health journey. 

Grand River Hospital Foundation is proud to announce in collaboration with Grand River Hospital's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee our new Indigenous Careship.

 

Free Eduational and Learning Opportunities:

University of Alberta: Indigenous Canada Course

Indigenous Canada is 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. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores complex experiences Indigenous peoples face today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.

CCDI Webinar: Moving towards building a Reconciliation action plan: Indigenous inclusion with employers

On June 7, 2022, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion will sit down with Indigenous Works to discuss frameworks and strategies to build more inclusive workplaces for Indigenous Peoples.

McGill University: National Indigenous History Month Event Series

Free, online learning opportunities taking place from June 1 - June 30, 2022 through McGill's School of Continuing Studies. The series includes talks and presentations from Indigenous speakers, educators, scholars and professionals from across Canada.


Local Indigenous-focused Organizations:

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC)

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre’s Waterloo Wellingtion Clinic offers a new Indigenous-focused primary care clinic that is now open and accepting patients. Their Waterloo Wellington clinic, which is located in Cambridge near Cambridge Memorial Hospital, also offers mental health, women’s health and traditional healing services.

According to their website, “SOAHAC’s purpose is to improve access to, and the quality of, health services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in the spirit of partnership, mutual respect and sharing.…it provides innovative, Indigenous-informed health care through a combination of health and social services.”

The Healing of Seven Generations

The Healing of Seven Generations is an organization that assists First People’s residing in Waterloo Region and surrounding areas. Located in Kitchener, they offer a range of programs and community events that are open to all First Peoples (of all ages, genders, and cultural groups), including status and non-status First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals and families.

KW Urban Native Wigwam Project

The  KW Urban Native Wigwam Project is a non-profit organization that has served the First Nations, Metis and Inuit (status or non-status) population of the Waterloo Region since 1987. It provides safe, secure, and  affordable rent geared-to-income housing for Native people and their families that are in a low or moderate income situation.

White Owl Native Ancestry Association

White Owl is dedicated to innovative Indigenous Wholistic practice with a commitment to whole person development within the family and community. The goal for children and youth is to experience belonging and value through relationship-building that encourages self acceptance, self expression, and understanding - a sense of place and belonging.

Waterloo Region Community Legal Services: Ahwenehaode Indigenous Justice Program

Serving the Region of Waterloo, Guelph and Wellington County, and the City of Mississauga, the Ahwenehaode Indigenous Justice Program strives to improve access to justice for First Nation, Metis and Inuit people by collaborating with Indigenous social agencies and networks to build relationships and trust; provide culturally respectful and appropriate clinic law services and an accessible means of support, intervention and assistance; and foster and improve coordination and integration with other legal aid services and across all elements of the justice sector.