Past President Cathy introduced this evening’s speaker.
Samantha Westlands is Anishinaabe and Métis, as well as Scottish, Irish and Welsh. She grew up in BC and was a participant in the first national HIP Y2Y program in Winnipeg Manitoba on treaty 1 territory where her Anishinaabe and Métis roots are. She came back the next year as a youth leader for the BC HIP, then as an adult helper for the Nova Scotia HIP and has now taken on a part time position with the program as a program and executive support assistant. Samantha is now a dean's list student at the University of Manitoba majoring in Indigenous studies which was a decision heavily influenced by her time at HIP. Samantha looks forward to attending the Y2Y event in Six Nations this March and the pilot of her first big project Walk With The Earth.
Samantha told us that HIP is a registered charitable organization. Its mission is to foster reconciliation among youth by bringing together 25 Indigenous youth and 25 non-Indigenous youth for a leadership camp. This helps them get to know and understand one another. For many of the Indigenous youth, this also represents their first travel opportunity. There were more than 300 applications this year. The program is fully funded. There will be fundraising walks held in each city that is hosting a camp: Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto.
HIP Y2Y partners with Phyllis Webstad, the founder of Orange Shirt Day. Niigan Sinclair will be a speaker at the Winnipeg walk.
Samantha shared that she is often asked why she would move to Winnipeg, when she was in Vancouver. Her answer is that her grandmother is from Manitoba, and was homesick for it her entire life. So Samantha wanted to check it out. She only planned to stay one year, but has now decided to stay at least long enough to complete her first degree. HIP Y2Y is life changing for youth. The cost is on average approximately $5,000 per participant.
The goals are:
- Strengthen relationships
- Raise awareness
- Raise funds (This is done through Canada Helps)
Here’s the link if you want to join the walk, or support a walker.
Walk With the Earth Canada
This year there will be a walk in Winnipeg, and it will be through the Assiniboine Forest. The Winnipeg Downtown club were the first sponsors, and when Samantha went to talk to them, they all said: Talk to Charleswood. The walk should be in the Assiniboine Forest.
The CMU has rented HIP Y2Y their parking lot and the walk will begin there. They are looking for corporate sponsorships to handle event costs.
The walk will be 5k, with a 2.5k accessibility option. There will be water and medical assistance on-site. And if sponsors are found, some snacks, tea and coffee.
The walk is open to anyone, or come out to volunteer or cheer them on.
Please let Cathy or Jack Wilson know if you are willing to volunteer, and we will pass on the information.
President David thanked Samantha.
