TakingITGlobal

42 # R I S I N G Y O U T H C O M M U N I T Y I M P A C T V O L . 2 J ordan Pottle grew up knowing about and being proud of her Indigenous heritage as part of the Qalipu First Nation, but she knew that many of her peers did now. That's why she organized an Indigenous Culture Day at the Thomas Howe Demonstration Forest in her community of Gander, Newfoundland. "The sense of community and belonging that we created for so many people was something I am truly very proud of," Jordan shares. "We established a presence in our community. A presence that says, "we are Indigenous, and we are here." It was a jam-packed day that included a medicine walk, sacred fire, beadwork displays, women's drumming groups, kids crafts, and cultural foods including moose meat, lynx, and bannock. The event was such a huge success that the community immediately asked to organize another cultural day for the following season. For many in the community, it was their very first time getting to know Indigenous culture. "My daughters thoroughly enjoyed the time to play with other children their age who were also interested in Indigenous culture," reflected one attendee. "My youngest stood in a drumming circle for the first time with her new little friend she had met. As a mom, it was a beautiful moment to watch my daughter enjoy and participate in her culture. Being in the company of our family and friends and learning about culture made it a day my girls and I will cherish for a long time." ...We established a presence in our community. A presence that says, "we are Indigenous and we are here." Celebrating Indigenous Culture in Gander Jordan Pottle A special thank you to Kikmanaq Indigenous Cultural Revival Association for sharing the #RisingYouth grant opportunity with Jordan to make this project possible. Kikmanaq's social media page with more context about Jordan's project.

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