A Message from the National Turtle Lodge Elders’ and Knowledge Keepers’ Council A CALL FOR A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER Sunday, June 6, 2021 10 AM PST - 11 AM MST - 11 AM CST (Regina) - 12 PM CDT

A Message from the National Turtle Lodge Elders’ and Knowledge Keepers’ Council A CALL FOR A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER Sunday, June 6, 2021 10 AM PST - 11 AM MST - 11 AM CST (Regina) - 12 PM CDT (Winnipeg) – 1 PM EDT - 2 PM ADT - 2:30 PM NDT Elder Dr. David Courchene, Jr. (Anishinaabe Nation) Grandmother Jane Meader (Mi’kmaw Nation) Hereditary Chief Stephen Augustine (Mi’kmaw Nation) Elder Ed Sackaney (Cree Nation) Elder Harry Bone, LL.D., C.M. (Anishinaabe Nation) Elder Allan White (Anishinaabe Nation) Elder Gerald Courchene (Anishinaabe Nation) Grandmother Florence Paynter (Anishinaabe Nation) Grandmother Katherine Whitecloud (Dakota Nation) Grandmother Mary Maytwayashing (Anishinaabe Nation) Knowledge Keeper Robert Maytwayashing (Anishinaabe Nation) Elder A.J. Felix (Cree Nation) Grandmother Patricia Felix (Cree Nation) Elder Morris Little Wolf (Piikani Nation) Grandmother Betty Ann Little Wolf (Piikani Nation) Chief Darrell Bob (St’at’imc Nation) Elder Dr. Barney Williams (Tia-o-qui-aht Nation) Knowledge Keeper Stephen Kakfwi (Dene Nation) Knowledge Keeper Antaurko (Inka Nation) The National Turtle Lodge Council of Elders and Knowledge Keepers recently came together virtually, from across the Nations, in light of the tragic news coming out of British Columbia. We are calling for a National Day of Prayer this Sunday, June 6, to offer a collective prayer, and intentions, in the unique spiritual traditions that exist across the country, on behalf of the 215 Children found at the site of a residential school in Kamloops, BC, for all Children who have been hurt, the Survivors, their Families and Communities who continue to live with the impacts of the residential school system today. This effort is in response to many calls from the People, who have been turning to the Knowledge Keepers from across the country for direction and spiritual guidance, in light of the recent news. Speaking in unity as one voice, the Knowledge Keepers will be offering leadership by lifting the Sacred Pipes collectively, lighting the Sacred Fires, and praying together in one spirit, in our Original Languages that are used to make a connection to the Creator. Following in the footsteps of our ancestors, our actions always begin with the power of the Pipe. We will receive further instructions on how we can move forward in the spirit of unity, as we begin in this way. The Elders and Knowledge Keepers wish to acknowledge the little Children, who through the recent discovery of their graves, have opened a doorway for healing for all Peoples in this country – for all the Residential School Survivors, their Families and Communities, as well as for the Canadian and larger world community, through the uncovering of the dark truth that took place in recent years. It is their hope and prayer that this will allow for greater healing and a New Relationship to be formed, based on love and kindness. The Elders have emphasized that it is our Ancestral way of life, our Ceremonies, our Pipes, Drums and Rattles, our Sacred Lodges and the comfort offered by Mother Earth herself, that hold the key to healing and moving forward. These Children would have been our future leaders, our Knowledge Keepers, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, our teachers. To honour these children, we need to focus on our Children today who have been left behind, many of whom are lost and need to come home. We need to bring them back to our ceremonies and our way of life, to provide opportunities and support so they can find their identity and become the future leaders in our homeland. Anishinaabe Elder Allan White from Naotkamegwanning (Whitefish Bay) First Nation has called for a Special National Gathering of Elders and Knowledge Keepers at the Turtle Lodge in July, to hold a special ceremony to honour the children and to seek further spiritual guidance and direction to help guide us in moving forward as a country. The Elders and Knowledge Keepers work in the spirit of establishing a New Relationship, by creating a peaceful, non-confrontational non-political environment and approach, focusing on taking a moral and spiritual approach, based on the spirit of love, kindness, and unity. Further details about this ceremonial gathering will be shared once the Elders receive the guidance and direction to hold this gathering. Until the time comes when we can meet in our Sacred Lodges again, we ask that you join us this Sunday, June 6, as we lift our Pipes, light our Sacred Fires, sing our traditional Songs, smudge, offer our Sacred Tobacco, and offer prayers in our own traditions in a collective way. In the spirit of love, healing, truth and a New Way forward.

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The boy is approached cautiously by a wolf, who explains to him the value of humility. Written by Anishinaabe Elder, Dr. David Courchene, directed by Indigenous filmmaker, Erica Daniels of Peguis

The boy is approached cautiously by a wolf, who explains to him the value of humility. Written by Anishinaabe Elder, Dr. David Courchene, directed by Indigenous filmmaker, Erica Daniels of Peguis First Nation, and created by Manitoba’s Peg City Pictures Inc., The Seven Sacred Laws is a colourful and imaginative animated web series that follows a young boy on a vision quest, where he learns valuable lessons from seven sacred animals. In partnership with The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness in Sagkeeng First Nation and IG Wealth Management, Manitoba 150 is honoured to present a series of short animated films on the Seven Sacred Laws. The Turtle Lodge Center of Excellence in Indigenous Education and Wellness is a place for reconnecting to the Earth & sharing Indigenous ancestral knowledge, founded on the 7 Sacred Laws. More information on the Turtle Lodge can be found at www.turtlelodge.org

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A beaver scurries up the boy to provide the law of wisdom. Written by Anishinaabe Elder, Dr. David Courchene, directed by Indigenous filmmaker, Erica Daniels of Peguis First Nation, and created by

A beaver scurries up the boy to provide the law of wisdom. Written by Anishinaabe Elder, Dr. David Courchene, directed by Indigenous filmmaker, Erica Daniels of Peguis First Nation, and created by Manitoba’s Peg City Pictures Inc., The Seven Sacred Laws is a colourful and imaginative animated web series that follows a young boy on a vision quest, where he learns valuable lessons from seven sacred animals. In partnership with The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness in Sagkeeng First Nation and IG Wealth Management, Manitoba 150 is honoured to present a series of short animated films on the Seven Sacred Laws. The Turtle Lodge Center of Excellence in Indigenous Education and Wellness is a place for reconnecting to the Earth & sharing Indigenous ancestral knowledge, founded on the 7 Sacred Laws. More information on the Turtle Lodge can be found at www.turtlelodge.org

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The Declaration of Interdependence: A Pledge to Planet Earth by David Suzuki and Tara Cullis

The "Declaration of Interdependence" was written in 1992 by David Suzuki and his wife, Tara Cullis, along with Raffi Cavoukian, Wade Davis, Guujaw and others.

As the David Suzuki Foundation's founding document, it expresses our values as an organization and provides a vision for the survival of the planet through a "new politics of hope" that promotes connection and interdependence.

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The webinar concluded with Anishinaabe Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Dr. Dave Courchene) sharing a dream he received about the importance of supporting young people, as they bring gifts of strength,

The webinar concluded with Anishinaabe Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Dr. Dave Courchene) sharing a dream he received about the importance of supporting young people, as they bring gifts of strength, courage, and pride in who they are, in spite of the challenges that they have. Setting the Foundation for Good Relations in Our Homeland was a webinar held on January 11th, 2021. A national group of nearly 500 health leaders from across Canada met virtually to hear the perspective of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, led by members of the National Turtle Lodge Council of Knowledge Keepers, on the issue of racism in health care. Click here to view a playlist with all recordings from the presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjiP3LIyQ9Y&list=PL_wQ7QfAR0HwGWo_pOuO7d45SVxsPnGpN Click here to view or download a transcript of the recording: http://www.turtlelodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Concluding-Remarks-Elder-Dr-Dave-Courchene-Setting-the-Foundation-for-Good-Relations-in-Our-Homeland.pdf The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness is a place for reconnecting to the Earth & sharing Indigenous ancestral knowledge, founded on the 7 Sacred Laws. Visit our website at www.turtlelodge.org to learn more. Follow us on social media: Facebook (@turtlelodge) Twitter (@turtlelodge) Instagram (@theturtlelodge)

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David Carter made his entire business carbon neutral in just 402 days. He explains why and how he did it, and how you can go carbon neutral too. Austral Fisheries has been carbon neutral since 2016

David Carter made his entire business carbon neutral in just 402 days. He explains why and how he did it, and how you can go carbon neutral too. Austral Fisheries has been carbon neutral since 2016 – where he once believed climate change was a taboo topic, he now knows it is all about risk and money – a language business understands perfectly. David has worked with the same fishing company for his whole career, starting as a graduate deckhand and working his way to CEO. David has made his commitment to sustainable fishing practice a hallmark of his career. In the Australian fishing industry he has transformed the tricky climate conversation into the main event. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Elder Morris Little Wolf shares about the importance of our children and young people passing Tobacco to Elders to help them learn about their culture and Sacred teachings of their ancestors. Elder

Elder Morris Little Wolf shares about the importance of our children and young people passing Tobacco to Elders to help them learn about their culture and Sacred teachings of their ancestors. Elder Little Wolf teaches that our Elders are the root of our healing and our young people need more opportunities to learn from the Elders to help them heal from addictions by finding their spiritual identity and gifts. The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness has partnered with the Sagkeeng Mino Pimatiziwin Family Treatment Centre to share teachings and provide guidance on how to heal from addictions. Join us over the next few weeks, as we share messages from members of the National Turtle Lodge Council of Elders and Knowledge Keepers that discuss the root causes of addictions and how we can heal to live a more balanced and healthy life. Click here to view a playlist for the series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_wQ7QfAR0Hy9-LZsoVhKxSgQiQdDPIxs The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness is a place for reconnecting to the Earth & sharing Indigenous ancestral knowledge, founded on the 7 Sacred Laws. Visit our website at www.turtlelodge.org to learn more. Follow us on social media: Facebook (@turtlelodge) Twitter (@turtlelodge) Instagram (@theturtlelodge)

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