HIP youth program brings students together to learn about reconciliation, sustainability

A youth program hosted by Honouring Indigenous Peoples (HIP) in Winnipeg recently brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous students from across Canada to learn about Indigenous culture, reconciliation, and environmental sustainability. 50 youth participated in the five-day program, which drew on traditional land-based knowledge and featured guest speakers at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Students spent time at Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness in Sagkeeng First Nation where they learned about traditional teachings. “A lot of people say the youth is the future,” said HIP Executive Director John Currie. “We actually say the youth are the now, and so it’s important that their voice is heard today so that we can build the future they want to live in.”