Our Journey of Ancestral Teachings
Sponsor: Warriors Against Violence Society
Youth Representatives: Margaret and Sade
The Our Journey of Ancestral Teachings Project will offer cultural workshops by Elders to many youth from Vancouver. Selected youth will then travel by van across the provinces to accompany an elder to visit sites and participate in events and ultimately witness a Sundance Ceremony in Manitoba.
The 12-day round trip will include learning about themselves and other Aboriginal cultures by visiting historic sites of significant cultural value in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan. A slideshow documenting this journey will be presented to other youth in Vancouver.
Workshop topics will include:
- The Sundance Ceremony, and Wiping of Tears Ceremony;
- The Smudge Ceremony and the traditional way to pick sage;
- The Medicine Wheel and its importance to Aboriginal communities, including those on the prairies; and,
- Native Pictographs and Petroglyphs - symbolism and meaning.
Cultural Heritage Sites and Events:
- Wanuskewin Heritage Park, near Saskatoon, SK
Exploration of the medicine wheel and an archeological dig. - Writing on Stone Provincial Park, SouthEastern Alberta
Home to the largest concentration of Aboriginal pictographs in North America and has a significant cultural heritage value. - Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, SouthWestern Alberta
Interpretive Centre offering a rich exploration of plains cultures and their connection to the buffalo. - Kamloops Pow Wow, Kamloops, BC
One of the largest Pow Wows in North America. - Sage Gathering, Merritt, BC
Youth and elders sage gathering during sage picking season in a traditional manner, while respecting and not damaging the plants.
The goals of the Our Journey of Ancestral Teachings project are:
- To provide an opportunity for youth to expand their experiences and to learn cultural teachings while spending peaceful time in nature;
- To allow youth to get out of the city and away from their daily problems to offer a chance to gain a new perspective on themselves, their ancestry, their community and their futures;
- To provide youth and elders with a healing experience;
- To teach youth the history of different nations by visiting historical sites; and,
- To encourage youth to walk with pride, honour, equality, and respect for themselves and others.
The Warriors Against Violence Society has been chosen as a sponsor because it is an Aboriginal organization focused on violence prevention through the reclaiming of cultural teachings, traditions and values. They help youth will spiritual needs and help them form stronger, positive identities as Aboriginal youth. With so much racism in this society, Warriors addresses the connection between the loss of cultural pride, a negative self-image, anger, depression and violence through a mix of programming which includes cultural and spiritual teachings.
Contact Information
- Warriors Against Violence Society
- Youth Contact: Sade
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