Miskanawah, meaning “many little paths” in Cree, is an Indigenous-led charitable organization grounded in cultural teachings and natural law. For more than 36 years, Miskanawah has supported children, youth, and families in the Calgary area through culturally based programs that strengthen circles of self, family, community, and culture. Their work is guided by siim ohksin, the Blackfoot natural law, and wahkotiwin, the Cree natural law of kinship and interconnectedness.
With support from the Future Generations Foundation, Miskanawah continues this vital work through askiy pimatsiwin: Earth Gives Life, a land-based healing program that reconnects Indigenous children, youth, and families to culture, ceremony, language, and the Land as a living source of knowledge. Askiy pimatsiwin is a place where Mother Earth is the teacher, where relationships are renewed, and where cultural identity can grow strong.
Throughout the year, the program hosts more than 80 sweat lodges, bi-monthly pipe ceremonies, seasonal medicine harvesting, fasting camps, and cultural activities such as drum making, hide scraping, teepee teachings, naming ceremonies, fire teachings, and traditional feasts. These gatherings offer families and youth meaningful opportunities for intergenerational learning, cultural connection, and healing from the impacts of residential schools and displacement.
Elders guide every aspect of the program. Their teachings affirm that language, stories, and ceremony come from the Land itself, and healing occurs when people can return to that relationship.
Askiy pimatsiwin is also a foundational learning space for staff and community partners, strengthening understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and creating an environment of belonging and cultural safety. From youth and family culture camps to the annual Truth and Reconciliation sacred fire, the site offers year round opportunities for ceremony, knowledge sharing, and spiritual renewal.
By investing in land-based learning and Indigenous led wellness, we are helping ensure that children, youth, and families can reconnect with identity, culture, and community, and cultivate a space where miyo-pimatisiwin – the good life thrives and the spirit of reconciliation lives on.
Awarded amount $175,000 (1 year contribution) Location: Calgary, AB
Photo Credit: Miskanawah Community Services Association
