Our Traditions, Our Future

In 2009, we began a 4-year project entitled Our Traditions Our Future (OTOF). OTOF was an Algonquin/Ojibwe education, hands on training and support project. The project aimed to increase Indigenous capacity to revitalize cultural practices, traditions, and teachings, and to create works of art. These cultural practices included regalia, drum-making, birch bark canoe building, and more. Along with the cultural trainers who taught Indigenous community members, Elders came to Plenty Canada to talk about the 7 sacred teachings, and to conduct ceremonies on a regular basis. OTOF helped approximately 500 families in Algonquin and Ojibwe communities reclaim or improve traditional skills, and access low-cost technology for traditional resource development.

Recent Reconciliation Initiatives

Plenty Canada continued the OTOF program through partnerships with conservation authorities, the Canadian Roots Algonquin Exchange Program, First Nations, local youth groups, and more. The need to expand our reconciliation element occurred with the release of the TRC Calls To Action in June of 2016. Recently, we partnered with the Lanark County Neighbours for Truth and Reconciliation by hosting a series of birch bark canoe building workshops. Through the pipe and big drum ceremonies, we facilitated a discussion about our shared understandings and vision for reconciliation. Storytelling and hands on cultural sharing has ignited an increase of public interest. Requests for our projects have accelerated within mainstream and Indigenous communities alike. Consequently, we have increased our focus on reconciliation discussion, while continuing to prioritize Indigenous capacity building.

Skinning and preparing the Spruce roots.

The smudge ceremony uses sacred medicines, most commonly sage and sweet grass, to burn and experience the smoke cleansing our beings and bring our hearts and minds together at gatherings.

Canadian Roots Algonquin Exchange Program

"Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE) is a community of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth committed to
building honest and equitable relationships." -CanadainRoots.ca

We also partner with the Canadian Roots organization, whom we facilitated a week long Algonquin Exchange Program with, in the summers of 2015 and 2016. The program fosters relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth from across Canada by facilitating a safe space for dialogue and strengthening relationships to Algonquin culture and land through experience. The objective of this program is to create solidarity among youth that will promote respect, understanding and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous young peoples. Our diverse set of participants, including urban to rural and cross-culturally, were immersed daily in cooperative and educational practices. This exchange involved leadership activities such as camping, canoeing, and engaging in dialogue and sharing circles for on-going truth and reconciliation initiatives. Plenty Canada also educated youth on wild rice, birch bark basket and dream catcher making, bridging Indigenous knowledge with science-based research, invasive species, forest stewardship and sustainability, and medicine identification walks. The event ended with attendance, camping, closing remarks, and ceremony at the Silver Lake Pow Wow.

These young leaders come together to learn more about breaking cultural boundaries, creating networks of solidarity, and cross-cultural sharing. Past participants account that they created lasting and meaningful relationships, had lots of fun with their group, and learned a lot from each other, in addition to the scheduled activities. Youth leave the exchange feeling empowered with tools and strategies for bridging cultural gaps in their own communities through the experiences and knowledge they have gained.

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