Indigenous People’s Month (also called Indigenous History Month) is drawing to a close, but there are many ways to stay engaged with community organizations around Waterloo. Commemorative months help highlight community strengths, resilience, and brilliance, alongside reparative lengths yet to go. If you’re looking to stay connected to local organizations whose work reverberates throughout Indigenous People’s Month and beyond, we’re featuring a few to keep you connected in Waterloo.

It’s important to note that this is an incomplete list, as services are continuously expanding. However, here are some local organizations to support throughout the year.

Anishnabeg Outreach has an ambitious vision, supported by a clear mandate that includes: providing healing and mental health supports for First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples, providing an hub for Indigenous services including employment services while establishing Indigenous partnerships, scholarships, and charity events, encouraging everyone to shop Indigenous.

For more information and to get involved with ongoing efforts, please visit: https://aocan.org/

The Healing of the Seven Generations focuses on healing the intergenerational effects of the Residential School system through traditional teachings and ceremony, prioritizing self-acceptance and access to services that stop cycles of abuse. The organization also focuses on employing respected Knowledge Keepers, Seers, and Medicine People to lead traditional healing activities and ceremony.

For more information about their services and healing offerings for Indigenous community, please visit: https://healingofthesevengenerations.ca/

The Grand River Métis Council is dedicated to preserving Métis ways of life, educating future generations, as well as empowering current generations through traditional teachings, elder instruction, and the preservation of Métis culture. The Council helps to maintain the Crown’s Duty to Consult Indigenous community where development on Treaty lands are concerned, in addition to the continuing of Métis ways of being, and knowing.

To learn more about the Council, and its activities, please visit: https://www.grandrivermetiscouncil.com/

o:se kenhionnhata:tie is a space for “TwoSpirit, Indigiqueer folx and queer/trans or LGBTQ+ settler accomplices” according to their website, providing much needed space for these equity seeking intersections. Beyond community space they create for gathering, they are petitioning the Region of Waterloo for the transformation of the former Grand River Transit Charles St. Terminal into an Indigenous community hub. They also offer workshops, interactive trips, and art projects intended to story Indigeneity in Kitchener and surrounding areas.

For a comprehensive review of their existing projects, advocacy, and how you can get involved please visit: https://www.landbackcamp.com/project

Indigenous People’s Month may only last for 30 days, but Indigenous futures on Turtle Island are the result of year-round engagement with Indigenous histories and Indigenous-led organizations in the present such as the ones featured here, who are part of the Region of Waterloo.

We are grateful to live, work, and play on the Indigenous lands of and surrounding the Grand River. –