Downie Wenjack New Year Review

Here is the first of several 2018 Year in Review pieces that I will do in January.  It is important to celebrate the new story that is being created in our midst.

Although the Downie Wenjack Fund is only a few years old, this Indigenous led organization of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people is making an impact.  Here is their summary for 2018:

But first, watch a 2 minute New Year's greeting from Mike Downie here.

Legacy Schools is a national initiative that was launched in September 2018.  The idea is to “engage young Canadians in acts of reconciliation through education and awareness of the history and impact of the Residential School System as well as current challenges facing Indigenous youth.” (DWF website) As you can see from the visual chart here, 322 schools registered,  840 Legacy toolkits were distributed in 6 provinces and territories, representing  1213 classrooms and 35,000 students.

Legacy Spaces is an opportunity for governments, corporations, organizatons and educational institutions to play a role in their communities towards reconciliation.  These are “designated spaces dedicated to providing accurate information regarding Indigenous history and our journey of reconciliation.  These spaces are meant to be safe and welcoming places where conversations about the past, present and future are facilitated and encouraged.”  There are now 21 active Legacy Spaces across Canada.

Gord Downie's legacy is alive and well and growing. This is an exciting new story that is happening all around us.

Photo: David Bastedo, Downie Wenjack website