November Newsletter
" We will be known forever by the tracks we leave." — Dakota proverb
Around the District
November’s a busy month for the Canmore Club! – submitted by Donna Potter
The Canmore Rotary Foundation recently funded The HOWL Experience with $3,200.00 to support students from Mini Thni High School attending the upcoming HOWL Experience national High School Conference to be held at Camp Chief Hector Nov 6th to 9th. For more information about HOWL Experience, click here.
Elder and Knowledge Keeper Sharing Circle Series - Canmore Public Library, Monday, November 16th, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with Elder Tina Fox. For more information or to register, click here.
The Whyte Museum in Banff - Saturday, November 21st - Opening Exhibit "Sitting Wind" or Frank Kaquitts, born in Maskwacis (Hobema), later moved to Mini Thni ( Morley ). He attended Banff School of Fine Arts, supported by the Stoney Nation and Peter and Catherine Whyte. Learn more www.whyte.org/exhibitions.
The Rotary Club of Canmore - Guest Speaker - Elder Tina Fox - Wednesday, November 25th - Breakfast at 7:15am with meeting at 8:00am. We meet at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club.
Mini Christmas Market - December, Friday, 11th, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Mini Thni Gym.
Indigenous Market at the Nakoda Lakeside Lodge Conference Center - Saturday, December 12th and Sunday, December 13th.
If you have any questions, please contact Donna Potter at potted4@gmail.com.
How about visiting the newest club in Calgary – Mohkinstsis – submitted by Hannah Grewal
We have updated our website to reflect our meetings and updated structure: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/19913/page/meeting-info. We alternate meetings at the Legion branch #285, 9202 Horton Rd SW, Calgary, between an evening and a lunch session. Two-hour meetings; the first hour (voluntary) is "Elder Power Hour" for meeting Elders, socializing and eating food. The second hour is for club business. Here are the upcoming dates:
Nov 3rd: 5-7 pm,
Nov 20: 12-2 pm,
Dec 1: 5-7 pm,
Dec 18: 12-2 pm
Hope to see you there! If you have any questions, contact Hannah Grewal at hgrewal@rtci.ca.
The Indigenous Relations Committee at Stampede Park – submitted by Bryan Walton
The Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park (RCCSP) has an Indigenous Relations Committee (IRC) which is also connected to the District Indigenous Relations Committee (DIRC). The IRC is solidifying a work plan that will direct efforts and funding over the next few years, as we believe we are past the Truth phase and on to the Reconciliation phase. We are focused on the third element of the Four-Way Test – “Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships”
It’s likely that the IRC's efforts will be directed to youth activities, which is why RCCSP continues to support the Calgary Foundation SEEDS Connection camp at THE SITE and the HIP youth camps that move around the country. The IRC has also met at the offices of the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) and we may consider future support for their initiatives. Our Club is also exploring the potential for scholarships and mentoring where appropriate.
We are reaching out to other organizations promoting reconciliation to better understand efforts underway to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together. To that end, we attended the Werklund Centre Elder Circle Project on September 30, where we heard from elders who shared how their culture is rooted in song and dance. Earlier in the year, some of our members attended the Okotoks Pow Wow, where our District 5360 tipi was erected along with 18 others near the Viking Rental Centre in town. A handful of our YEX students slept overnight in the tipi – once a door was in place! The Pow Wow was spectacular.
Our Club continues to invite speakers from the Indigenous community and/or those with knowledge of issues and activities that would enlighten our club members. Destiny Whitney spoke to our Club about the positive financial impact that the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex at Tsuut’ina Nation has on our community. Several of our members also attended the Stampede Community Outreach efforts at Tsuut’ina Nation last June. In January, our Club looks forward to hearing from Thomas Isaac, a renowned lawyer who specializes in Aboriginal law and represents clients in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. He has agreed to sit with our IRC after his lunch presentation so we might learn from his insights on the best ways to interact with and support our indigenous friends as we walk the path together into the future.
Please email inquiries to Bryan Walton.
Application Deadline Extended for HIP Y2Y 2027 in Alberta – from Hermann Logsend
Honouring Indigenous Peoples (HIP) is inviting youth across Canada to apply for the National Youth-to-Youth Truth and Reconciliation Experience, taking place in Alberta in May 2027.
This week-long gathering brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth from across the country to explore the links between truth, reconciliation and the environment, using land-based activities as a bridge. Participants will take part in hands-on experiences, creative practice, ceremony, drumming and dancing, and will have plenty of opportunities to meet and learn from elders and other experts.
Our hope is to build self-confidence, leadership skills, enduring connections and an appreciation of diversity among everyone involved.
The experience is cost-free for selected participants, including travel, accommodation, meals and admission to facilities such as museums. Only 50 youth will be chosen. Participants will also complete pre-event online learning sessions to prepare.
Who can apply? Youth who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, aged 15 to 17 at the time of the event and enrolled in a Canadian secondary school.
The application deadline has been extended to October 30, 2026. Selected applicants will be interviewed and notified by November 27, 2026.
Know a young person who would thrive in this experience? Please share this opportunity with them, their family and their school. Get the Y2Y 2027 application form here.
Calendar of Events
- Nov. 5, 5:00 PM - Nov. 7, 11:00 PM – Indigenous Lens - Calgary Justice Film Festival at the Confluence. For more details on film screenings, click here.
- Nov.7, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Calgary International Inuit Day at the Alexandra Centre Society, 922 – 9 Ave. SE, Calgary. For more information or to register, click here.
- Nov. 7, 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – 30th Annual MRU Powwow at the Wyckham House Student Centre. For details, click here.
- Nov. 16, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Elder and Knowledge Keeper Sharing Circle Series - Canmore Public Library with Elder Tina Fox. For more information or to register, click here.
- Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Flames Indigenous Celebration Night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. To buy tickets, click here.
DIRC Social Media
This newsletter provides a snapshot of what is going on in the district. If you are interested in staying current on ongoing Indigenous Relations activities, please follow DIRC on one of our social media platforms. Please use one of the following QR Codes to connect with your preferred social media.
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The DIRC Website
DIRC has a website to share resources and examples of reconciliation work. Click here.
The DIRC Newsletter
This newsletter is published monthly by the District 5360 Indigenous Relations Committee. If you have any questions about the newsletter, or you have material you would like to submit, please email Brad Sewall.