BearPaw Media and Education

On Monday, June 15th, BearPaw and the NCSA administrative team visited Tapwehtamowim Waskahikan (Supportive Housing) and the new Kisnimi Ti Transitional Housing Program for a tour. We were inspired by the dedication, positivity, and hard work of both teams and the impact they make every day.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and for the warm welcome into your spaces. We appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the important work you do to support our communities.

Two-Spirit (2S) is an Indigenous term that encompasses diverse gender identities, sexual orientations, and spiritual roles. It honours Indigenous cultures, traditions, and ways of being that have existed long before colonization. For many Two-Spirit people, this identity is associated with a unique perspective often described as a “double vision”, the ability to understand and navigate the world through both masculine and feminine lenses.

Names matter.

They carry our stories, teachings, families, and communities.

Whether you’re Indigenous or an ally, learning and using the right terms is an important step toward understanding and respect.

Download or order Indigenous Identity - Who We Are and Why It Matters for free: https://shop.bearpawlegalresources.ca/collections/indigenous-identity/products/aboriginal-identity-terms-and-definitions

Today, June 6, is Blue Jean Jacket Day, raising awareness for Missing, Murdered, and Exploited Indigenous Men and Boys (MMEIMB).

Wear a blue jean jacket to honour the fathers, brothers, sons, uncles, and grandfathers who are missing, have experienced violence, or whose lives have been lost. Together, we remember, honour, and stand in solidarity with their families and communities.

June is both National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month.

We must stand in solidarity with Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. This means speaking out against discrimination, challenging policies and systems that cause harm and erasure, and taking meaningful action every day to support and protect one another.

Community care is collective care.

This month, we recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples. It is a time to listen, learn, reflect, and honour the knowledge, resilience, and traditions that continue to shape communities today and for future generations.

This week is Indigenous Awareness Week (IAW), a time to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

IAW encourages learning, reflection, and conversations that support reconciliation and help foster respectful, inclusive spaces in our workplaces, schools, and communities.

Happy Indigenous Awareness Week!

- Most of Alberta is covered by Treaties 6, 7, and 8.
- Treaty 6 was signed in 1876 and covers much of central Alberta, including the Edmonton area.
- Treaty 7 was signed in 1877 and covers southern Alberta, including Calgary and Lethbridge.
- Treaty 8 was signed in 1899 and is one of the largest numbered treaties in Canada, covering northern Alberta and parts of B.C., Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories.
- Treaties are nation-to-nation agreements between First Nations and the Crown.
- Treaties continue to shape relationships, responsibilities, and rights in Canada today.

*curated from various sources.

Education is an important step toward reconciliation. By learning about treaties, the honour of the Crown, and Indigenous rights, we can build stronger relationships grounded in truth, accountability and respect.