Get to know the Indigenous-led initiatives making a major impact

Every June, Canada marks National Indigenous History Month: “a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis [peoples].” And while taking a look back is important, equally so is taking a look ahead… specifically, at the future being carved out by and for the next generations of our Indigenous family, friends, clients and neighbours from coast to coast.

Today, we’re spotlighting just a few of the Indigenous initiatives that Payworks has been proud to support over the past year, along with the great work their dedicated teams are doing to help our communities thrive.

Clan Mothers Healing Village

On the shores of Lake Winnipeg, Clan Mothers is in the midst of developing “a land-based village that provides culturally relevant solutions for women, girls, two-spirit and transgender persons in a community living environment, incorporating traditional Indigenous healing and spiritual mentorship, while encouraging individual growth through programming, training, and social enterprise.”

This concept emerged from over two decades spent offering Indigenous, land-based healing gatherings for women in rural Manitoba through the Grandmothers Turtle Lodge, which made it clear that living within a supportive community inspires hope and improves opportunities for healing and connection.

Clan Mothers Healing Village embraces a matrilineal approach that’s “focused on restoring Indigenous ways of being, and fostering healing, love, respect, and justice for persons who have experienced sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sex trafficking.”

Payworks is honoured to have committed to a $250,000 donation over five years (2022-2026), and to have been invited to a day of discussion and ceremony this past September at the Healing Village site.

“The program participants who were part of the build crew proudly toured us through the progress that’s been made thus far, highlighting their favourite parts of the construction, the challenges they faced, and some of the skills they acquired along the way,” said Payworks Manager of DEIB & Talent Acquisition Charli Champagne, who was in attendance. “Four of them also shared their stories – how they got involved in the project, and the impact it’s had on their lives – and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

To learn more or provide support, please visit: https://clanmothers.ca/.

Photo: Clan Mothers Healing Village will be located on the shores of Lake Winnipeg.

Indigenous Education Awards

Established in 2001, the Business Council of Manitoba’s Indigenous Education Awards “has provided over 3,000 awards totaling more than $8 million to Indigenous students in Manitoba.”

To qualify for these awards, applicants must be of Indigenous ancestry, as well as Canadian citizens and Manitoba permanent residents who are attending or plan to attend one of the province’s recognized post-secondary educational institutions in the upcoming year at a minimum 60% course load, and in need of financial assistance to achieve this goal.

Applications are screened and selected “based on the combined criteria of personal achievement, academic standing, financial need, community involvement, and market employment needs.” Winners are notified before the end of the summer, and honoured at the annual Indigenous Education Awards celebration.

This past November, Payworks was pleased to sponsor and attend the Indigenous Education Awards celebration and job fair; we’ve also committed to three years of education awards support at $25,000 per year (2024-2026).

To donate or apply, please visit: https://businesscouncil.mb.ca/indigenous-education-awards/.

aaniin

In 2024, entrepreneur Chelsea Pettit of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation was crowned the Season 2 winner of Bears’ Lair: APTN’s reality TV series showcasing Indigenous entrepreneurs who “pitch their plans to ‘the Bears’ – [a] panel of Indigenous business moguls – and Guest Judges to try and earn their share of $160,000 in available prize money.”

Chelsea’s winning idea was aaniin, which serves as a 100% Indigenous owned and operated retail hub for “over 20 Indigenous brands, creators, and artists creating thriving systems of reclaiming the Indigenous economy through the vehicle of fashion and commerce.” From cool accessories to colourful home goods to high-fashion apparel, there’s something for everyone at aaniin.

While you can (and should!) check out aaniin online, if you happened to be in Toronto during December, you may have also spotted their 6,550 sq. ft. holiday pop-up event at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, where they claimed the title of “Canada’s first Indigenous-owned department store concept.”

As proud sponsors of Bears’ Lair’s second season, Payworks was thrilled to also provide support for the aaniin pop-up. As Co-Founder Barb Gamey said, “Payworks applauds the powerful creativity, grit and determination shown by aaniin in reclaiming space for Indigenous-owned businesses. We’re honoured to support this initiative and Indigenous entrepreneurs from coast to coast.”

To learn more (or to do a little shopping!), please visit: https://www.aaniin.shop/.

Photo: aaniin’s holiday pop-up at CF Toronto Eaton Centre in December 2024.

Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth

 For over 20 years, Calgary’s Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) has “enriched the lives of all urban Indigenous youth by nurturing self-empowerment and fostering healthy collaboration and communication to ensure healthy future generations.”

In practice, this looks like an incredible breadth of programming, from intergenerational knowledge sharing, after-school inclusion programming, and Indigenous youth financial empowerment initiatives to art and technology exploration, community ambassadorship, and leadership awards.

Payworks is pleased to have provided support to USAY and to have engaged them to bringing one of their many programs to our staff last June: the Della’s Story Online Escape Room, which “allows teams of people to uncover clues while discovering the story of a Sixties Scoop Survivor.” Participants shared that they found it both insightful and emotional – so much so that we added two additional sessions the following month based on high demand!

No matter how they’re doing it, USAY is making an undeniable impact: they’ve seen high school success and completion rates “significantly increase” among their participants, and 92% of Indigenous youth in USAY’s programs feel more connected to their culture.

To learn more or donate, please visit: https://usay.ca/

UNCEDED: Voices of the Land

This spring and summer, Alberta residents and visitors have the chance to experience UNCEDED: Voices of the Land – an audio-visual, multimedia installation featuring “18 indigenous architects from Turtle Island” that “speaks to and from landscapes of resilience – overcoming limitations and serving as a beacon of hope and pride.”

Guests can immerse themselves in work by Ray Gosselin, Harriet Burdett-Moulton, David Thomas, Eladia Smoke and many more celebrated architects from across North America as they move through the space, which includes a 3,000 sq. ft. interactive maze!

Payworks is honoured to serve as a sponsor of UNCEDED: Voices of the Land, which closes today in Edmonton and will reopen in Calgary in early July.

To learn more or plan your own visit, please visit: https://www.unceded.org/.

Photo: UNCEDED: Voices of the Land, courtesy of Stan Olthius via UNCEDED.

We thank each of these community leaders for their uniquely valuable contributions to supporting and celebrating Canada’s Indigenous peoples.