Row ON for life

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Indigenous Cultural Connection with Water

The sport of rowing is nothing without the water our boats row on. Rowers learn early on that there is great responsibility that comes with being on the water and hone a set of skills for how to navigate the elements and adjust their body to balance in the waves and currents.

A deeper appreciation, knowledge, and spiritual understanding of water is found in Indigenous cultures all over the world, especially those living close to bodies of water. Water is revered as having its own life force and spirit with the ability to ebb and flow at will. Water protection is sacred to Indigenous culture, as it is a life-giver and essential resource; simply, water is life.

Indigenous-led protection initiatives that address climate change, pollution reduction, and opportunities to reflect and collaborate on Canadian water preservation efforts can be found at the Indigenous Climate Hub.

Learn More by visiting their site: https://indigenousclimatehub.ca/

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Tomorrow, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters. Orange Shirt Day began in Williams Lake, British Columbia, in September 2013, to honour Residential School Survivors, their families, and those who never returned home. It serves as a reminder of the lasting impacts of the Residential School system.

The orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced. It reminds us that “Every Child Matters”!

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which called on the federal government, in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, to create a statutory holiday recognizing Survivors, their families, and communities, while ensuring the history and legacy of residential schools is publicly remembered. It became a federal statutory holiday in June 2021.

To learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters, or reconciliation more broadly, please review the links in our stories (please note that these are non-exhaustive).

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Best of luck to everyone on the water this weekend! #RowOn