The Rotary Club of Brampton was delighted to receive Laija Marae Sinclair on August 10th, 2026, who was one of our two Honouring Indigenous Peoples Youth to Youth Gathering participants. Laija shared how this opportunity changed her perspective and she learned about Indigenous practices, beliefs and traditions.
Laija stayed on Six Nations reserve and tried traditional Indigenous foods. She enjoyed the Indigenous ceremonies where she learned to value gratitude and community. She noticed the deep respect given to Elders by the Indigenous community. She learned from Indigenous Elders who shared their knowledge and led ceremonies. She learned about Orange Shirt Day and the personal story of Phyllis Webstad which had an impact on her. Phyllis's story and her visit to a former residential school helped her understand the trauma of residential schools where children were separated from their families and abused.
Laija spoke about the ways her Y2Y participation helped her grow, be more confident and open-minded to new experiences. She had the opportunity to be featured on the news and speak about the impact this had on her.
Laija felt that a memorable part of the Gathering was being able to meet new people, making new friends, building connections and learning from people with different life experiences. These friendships and connections made her Y2Y experience even more meaningful. Overall, she gained a deeper understanding of Indigenous history, culture, and resilience.
Cheque Presentation
We also made a cheque presentation to Akshita Gupta, Founder of Young Legals, a youth-led nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to legal education for high school students underrepresented communities. We sponsored her attendance and representation of Canada through Grants and Awards Committee for the "Future Business Leaders of America" conference held in the US.