Indigenous Awareness

INDIGENOUS AWARENESS

Our Values

Our work on Indigenous Awareness is underpinned by two key documents:

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action published in 2015

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) that Canada signed on to in 2016

 

Our beginnings …

Back in 2011, the Rotary Club of Guelph was one of the first Rotary Clubs in Canada to have a Committee focusing on “Indigenous Affairs”. In 2015, after publication of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission's “94 Calls To Action”, we modified the Committee's name to “Indigenous Awareness”, and adopted this simple mandate that still holds true today.  (See this Committee's excellent history HERE, up until 2025.)

 

Our Mandate

  • LEARNING more about Canada's First Peoples, their history, culture and developments.
  • SHARING our own learning with others, to help Indigenous Awareness grow within our club and community.
  • SUPPORTING positive change within Indigenous communities, where possible, and when invited.
  • PROVIDING A SCHOLARSHIP to an Indigenous high school student for their demonstration of leadership qualities in the community and in the promotion of Indigenous culture. 

 

Focus Areas for our Club's Indigenous Awareness

  • Raising awareness and building community - by arranging film screenings, discussions, guest speakers, and breaking bread sessions.
  • Strengthening collaborations - with other Rotarians and with other organizations e.g.
    1. 7080 CIRCLE: District 7080's “Community Indigenous Resource Committee for Learning & Education”
    2. HIP … Honouring Indigenous Peoples (a Rotary-inspired charity)
    3. Fostering relationships with local Indigenous communities
    4. True North Aid
    5. Kairos Guelph
  • Deeper Learning for our own members - sharing opportunities to expand our own learning and understanding.
  • Projects - here is a snapshot of potential projects, as of September 2026:
    • Arrange speakers and activities for key events in Canada's Indigenous calendar:

      • September 30: The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day 

      • June 21: Canada's National Indigenous Peoples Day (celebrated on summer solstice)

      • Month of June: Canada's National Indigenous History Month