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As we approach December and the holiday season, it's a great time to start planning how to incorporate some Indigenous traditions into your family celebrations this year.
This month we will be SPOTLIGHTING Christmas and some traditions of giving. There are many ways to broaden a child's exposure to their cultural heritage, including enjoying stories, songs and food or attending events together. Here are a few ways to support you and the kids in your care in your cultural awareness journey together during the upcoming month of festivities.
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PLEASE LET OTHERS KNOW THEY CAN SUBSCRIBE HERE | |
Traditionally Indigenous people didn’t celebrate Christmas, but they did gather for feasts, ceremonies, and celebrations like Winter Solstice over the winter months and continue to do so today. Giving gifts is an opportunity to share much-needed resources with others, a gift to the earth and creator, a way to express gratitude for the knowledge shared by elders and wisdom keepers, a celebration of family and friendship, a means to build partnerships and agreements and a way to strengthen connections and relationships with others. | |
No matter where or why a gift is shared, the gifting traditions are based in honor, respect & gratitude for both the giver and receiver alike. | |
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EXAMPLES OF TRADITIONAL GIFTS
Whale, Caribou, Salmon Meat
Hides and Furs
Stone Carvings
Tobacco
Medicines made from plants
Clothing made from furs and skins
Woven Baskets made from cedar or reeds
Feathers
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DID YOU NOTICE?
Traditional gifts come from what nature supplies.
Kids can learn to make some fun and easy Christmas ornaments and gifts made from natures supplies in the ALIGN Indigenous Advent Calendar!
DID YOU KNOW?
Gifts were not traditionally wrapped; they were simply given... Article - Inuit Gift Giving 101
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ALIGN'S INDIGENOUS
ONLINE ADVENT CALENDAR 2023!
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PLEASE LET TEACHERS, FRIENDS & FAMILY KNOW TOO!
If you were following us last year, you might remember the Indigenous Online Advent Calendar - it was a huge success, and we're bringing it back again this year with some old favs and a bunch of new surprises too!
Every day your family (or classroom) can open a door to something wonderful that imparts knowledge, traditions and or language, along with a whole lot of fun! What a great way to make some memories and help the kids in your care embrace the season of celebrations by including Indigenous Christmas stories, carols homemade ornaments with natures supplies and traditions of giving this holiday season! Great for everyone!
2023 EDITION IS AVAILABLE NOW
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Christmas is only a month away!
A great way to honor and acknowledge the children and youth in your care is to consider purchasing them a Christmas gift that celebrates their cultural identity
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Check out some of these great gift ideas for toddlers, kids and youth!
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FOSTER CARE & THE HOLIDAYS By Dr. John N. DeGarmo, Ed.D. Along with this, foster children also struggle with trying to remain loyal to their birth parents while enjoying the holiday season with their foster family. There are those moments when a child from foster care may feel guilty for experiencing joy and laughter with their foster family, they may feel that they are not only letting their birth mother or father down, they might even be betraying their birth parents and member of their biological family, causing even more grief, guilt, and anxiety within the child during this season of holiday joy. Indeed, this can be a very emotionally stressful time for all involved.
As one who has fostered many children, myself, during the holiday time, I have found that it is important to address these issues beforehand. Before Thanksgiving, before Christmas, before Hanukah; even before family members and friends come to visit, foster parents need to prepare their foster child ahead of time... READ FULL
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*Coming November 20* - Spirit Bear TV
Spirit Bear TV is a brand new channel where you can watch all of Spirit Bear's animated films and short videos for free anytime!
Stay tuned for more information.
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Pre-Order Spirit Bear's Guide to Reconciliation Calendar 2024
FREE Winter Storytime (Lacombe) Nov 23, 2023, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM MST Join the Lacombe Museum for the second Winter Storytime event! Grab a hot chocolate, maple taffy, and enjoy Indigenous culture displays.
FREE - BREAKING OUT OF THE BOX: Forging New Narratives for Flourishing Futures Nov 29, 2023, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM MST Calgary
Knowing Our Spirits Conference 2023 Edmonton November 22 – 24, 2023 Knowing Our Spirits Conference focus is on Truth Reconciliation and healing and how this affects First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Education, Culture, Elders, Youth, Community Wellness, Aboriginal Language, Alternative Medicine, Humor, Residential School Issues, and Healing. It will feature activities like Massage Therapy, Arts & Crafts booths, etc.
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SUBMISSIONS - If you have cultural events, programs, activities or resources that you'd like to share or if you'd like to suggest newsletter content ideas or things you'd like to see more of, please send an email to starrd@alignab.ca
Subject Line - CONNECTIONS SUBMISSION
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