The Northern Village of Beauval, led by a fully Indigenous leadership team, is dedicated to preserving its cultural heritage and promoting language revitalization through the Culture, Language and Sport Project. This initiative focuses on residential and intergenerational survivors, fostering community and a strong sense of identity among the village’s 685 residents, which include Métis and members of the Canoe Lake First Nation. The project prioritizes inclusivity, encouraging all community members, including Elders, to engage in cultural and language activities.

Through workshops and learning activities with traditional knowledge keepers, the project ensures the preservation of Indigenous languages and customs. Recognizing the lasting effects of residential schools, it aims to rebuild family connections and instill pride in cultural identity. Participants will engage in practices like hunting, fishing, cooking, and berry picking, fostering a deep connection to their heritage.

The FG Foundation has been instrumental in enabling the Culture, Language and Sport Project to thrive, ensuring the continued revitalization of the community’s cultural traditions for future generations.

The Eskasoni Band Council has launched the Language Reclamation and Revitalization Program to preserve and revitalize the Mi’kmaq language. This initiative makes the language more accessible to all community members and responds to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and its 94 Calls to Action.

A key part of the program involves translating the TRC and the 94 Calls to Action into Mi’kmaq and working with elders to capture the oral histories of residential school survivors in their first language. These stories are recorded through video and audio, preserving them for future generations.

Participants also receive mentorship in video editing, studio production, and media skills, gaining hands-on experience while helping safeguard cultural knowledge. An audio/video editor has enhanced the quality of these recordings for wider community sharing.

Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan, based in Mashteuiatsh, Québec, is leading the Boussole des compétences program, which supports First Nations youth aged 18-30 in re-engaging with education and employment. The program offers 294 hours of training over 12 weeks, focusing on essential skills like communication, problem-solving, and cultural identity.

In partnership with Collège d’Alma, the program incorporates Innu culture and history, helping youth connect with their heritage and learn about the impact of residential schools. This approach builds confidence and prepares participants for the workforce.

The program has successfully supported two cohorts, with plans to serve more youth in the future. With the support of the FG Foundation, Boussole des compétences helps youth return to school, gain job skills, and strengthen their cultural identity.

Nestled in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, the Kenhté:ke Seed Sanctuary and Learning Centre (KSSLC) is a living legacy where seed relatives are honoured and Indigenous youth reconnect with ancestral knowledge. Operated by Ratinenhayénthos in partnership with SeedChange and other local groups, KSSLC preserves Haudenosaunee planting traditions and ensures healthy seeds for future generations.

With FG Foundation funding, KSSLC has expanded its reach through hands-on workshops and mentorship programs where youth, elders, and community members engage in seed keeping, food cultivation, and cultural practices. These programs foster learning, healing, and intergenerational knowledge sharing.

The FG Foundation’s support has been key to growing KSSLC’s educational programming, heritage seed distribution, and community initiatives, helping ensure Haudenosaunee knowledge and cultural resilience continue to thrive.

With the FG Foundation’s funding, Sucker Creek First Nation is revitalizing its cultural identity and addressing the lasting impacts of residential schools through its Reclaiming Our Identity initiative. This transformative project is fostering healing, language revitalization, and cultural reconnection for the Nation’s 2,941 members.

The program offers Cree language classes at various proficiency levels, land-based teachings on traditional practices such as harvesting and storytelling, and workshops for drum-making, rites of passage, and regalia-making. Elders play a central role in sharing knowledge and hosting healing ceremonies, including sweat lodges, night lodges, and pipe ceremonies.

Reclaiming Our Identity provides in-person and virtual programming, ensuring accessibility for on- and off-reserve members, including residential school survivors and intergenerationally impacted individuals. The initiative connects Sucker Creek’s youth to their heritage, fostering resilience through cultural practices and providing a safe space for healing and sobriety.

In the heart of the Ottawa-Gatineau urban Indigenous community, Aunties on the Road: Indigenous Full Spectrum Doula Collective is reclaiming traditional Auntie roles through doula care. Thanks to funding from the Future Generations Foundation, the Collective, which is a Grassroots Youth Led Organization supported by Minwaashin Lodge Women’s Support Center has expanded its ability to provide no-cost, full-spectrum doula services to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit families, across sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

The funding has allowed the Collective to increase hours for part-time doulas, thereby enhancing its capacity to offer more comprehensive and continuous care. With a trauma-informed approach rooted in Indigenous culture, the Collective helps community members navigate significant life transitions by offering culturally safe support throughout the full spectrum of reproductive experiences.

This initiative exemplifies the power of culturally responsive care in urban Indigenous communities, fostering healing and resilience through the traditional wisdom of the Aunties.

The Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association’s (ANFCA) visionary initiative, “Indigenous Youth Rise Up,” stands as a testament to the transformative power of collaboration and empowerment. ANFCA’s program embodies a commitment to fostering leadership and reconciliation among urban Indigenous youth across Alberta.

At the heart of “Indigenous Youth Rise Up” lies a profound recognition of Indigenous youth as the torchbearers of tomorrow, entrusted with the responsibility to shape the future in accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Guided by the wisdom of ANFCA Elders Wisdom Circle members, and survivors of residential schools, the program facilitates a dialogue of reconciliation and action, igniting a spark of change within the hearts and minds of Indigenous youth.

Through a series of immersive experiences, including in-person reconciliation discussions and virtual gatherings, ANFCA empowers youth to delve into the complexities of reconciliation, Indigenous governance, and civic engagement. Multigenerational learning opportunities with Elders and Knowledge Keepers enrich these discussions, infusing them with Indigenous wisdom and survivor perspectives, thus nurturing a deep understanding of TRC and UNDRIP principles.

“Indigenous Youth Rise Up” empowers its participants to reclaim their heritage and stride confidently toward a future imbued with hope and possibility. Through the steadfast support of the Future Generations Foundation, ANFCA’s program exemplifies a beacon of resilience, empowerment, and reconciliation for Indigenous communities across Alberta and beyond.

In the heart of Syilx territory, the Syilx Language House (SLH) is nurturing a resurgence of the Syilx language and culture through its Adult Fluency & Community Program. This innovative initiative, now in its third year of funding from the Future Generations Foundation, encompasses a range of activities aimed at fostering fluency, community engagement, and cultural preservation.

Building upon eight years of successful language fluency efforts, SLH staff are immersed in delivering sequenced language instruction to learners. Through intense study sessions, participants delve into the complexities of the Salish Curriculum, with a focus on achieving intermediate proficiency by June 2024. Despite past challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, SLH has adapted its approach, leveraging technology to expand its reach and recruit highly skilled students.

As a cornerstone of the program, SLH diligently collects and shares elder recordings, serving as a source of advanced literature for language and culture learners. These recordings are meticulously archived, transcribed, and freely shared online, contributing to the preservation of traditional knowledge and fostering a deeper understanding of Syilx heritage.

SLH extends its impact beyond the classroom through a variety of community programs catering to both children and adults. From daycare language games to evening classes for adults, SLH is dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible language education opportunities for all members of the community.

As SLH empowers learners to become ambassadors of the Syilx language and culture, it is sowing the seeds of a vibrant and resilient future for the Sylix people.

The Shäwthän Näzhì: Recovery Support Program, is a transformative journey of healing and recovery for Yukon First Nations individuals. The Shäwthän Näzhì program, supported by the Arctic Inspiration Prize Charitable Trust, the Future Generations Foundation, the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Yukon Government, True North Aid and YSPOR, is poised to address the urgent need for aftercare and recovery support among Yukon First Nation communities struggling with addiction.

This Recovery Support Program takes a holistic approach combining various healing modalities, including equine, animal, and art therapy, energy and body healing, trauma and attachment therapies, and First Nation ceremonies and wisdom. With a focus on Indigenous worldviews and methodologies, the program is grounded through a variety of land-based activities.

As Shäwthän Näzhì unfolds, it aims to empower Indigenous communities to run local programs, bridging the gap between addiction treatment and sustained recovery. With the support of the generous supporting funders, this program makes a profound and lasting impact, nurturing resilience and healing among Yukon First Nation’s citizens.

The Native Communications Society (NCS) is leading a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering Indigenous youth by preserving language and culture. Through the creation of the ‘Indigenous Language Digital Culture Tool,’ NCS perserves Indigenous heritage and has created a deeper understanding of ancestral language and culture among future generations in the North.

At its core, the project is focused on ensuring that Northern youth have access to timely, relevant, and engaging tools for learning their ancestral languages. With guidance from experts in the educational field, the program employs innovative strategies and digital platforms to offer authentic language learning experiences.

Beyond language acquisition, the project seeks to cultivate meaningful connections between youth and their elders. By encouraging exploration of heritage and folklore in a fun and secure environment, the project aims to deepen youths’ understanding of their ancestral language and culture while fostering stronger bonds with their elders.

This journey has already planted the seeds for a vibrant and resilient future for Indigenous youth in the Northwest Territories. With the generous support of the Future Generations Foundation, the ‘Indigenous Language Digital Culture Tool’ project is poised to leave a lasting impact, empowering youth to reclaim and celebrate their language and cultural heritage.