HeartWood Centre for Community Youth Development
Po Box 8672 B3K 5M4 Halifax, NS, Canada

This fall, a group of youth gathered in the Town of Bridgewater to uncover stories of self and community. They worked alongside a facilitation team of Brian Braganza, Kayla Bernard (of Heart: Mental Wellness Art Programming for Youth), and Tara Reynolds to practice discussion, art, mindfulness, personal reflection, and service. They connected to each other and to their communities. In recent days, inspired by the "HeART-in-a-Box" initiative, they created wellness boxes to support mental wellness for seniors during periods of isolation this winter. We're grateful for everyone's unique contributions to this project and thankful for the support provided by the Lunenburg District Office and the Department of Community Services.

If you were worried that you'd missed our AGM last month, no need to worry, we had to delay it to January 20th at 7pm. So, if you're interested in joining us, you can email [email protected].

Did you know that you can donate directly to youth-led projects on the HeartWood Shared Platform? This #GivingTuesday, make a donation to Heart: Mental Wellness Art Programming for Youth by visiting www.heartwood.ns.ca/donate and selecting "HeART" from the list.

We are hosting our Annual General Meeting on December 8, 2020. Please RSVP to [email protected] if you'd like to join us!

UpLift Nova Scotia is hiring a Provincial Youth Engagement Coordinator! This job posting really recognizes the value of understanding youth engagement and offers a salary range ($64,000 $68,000 per year) that matches the value. We love to see that! We also really like seeing the approach to "educational requirements" in this job posting: ... "There is no minimum education requirement as learning can be done through academics such as self-study, high school, university, college, professional, or certificate programs and/or through learning experiences such as learning with the land, elders, community members, and/or family members." We're excited about this opportunity because whoever ends up in this role is going to work with folks across the province to develop a strategy to engage youth in decision-making processes that make schools places that promote overall health and wellness. https://dal.peopleadmin.ca/postings/4609

An opportunity to lead Child and Family Services in Nova Scotia for applicants that identify as Indigenous, African Nova Scotian or Other Racially Visible groups, or persons with a Disability.

Today, in Nova Scotia, it is Treaty Day and the beginning of Mi'kmaq History Month. The Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq teaches us that "the 1752 Treaty showed the Crown’s intentions to make peace, provide trading posts, and protect the land and way of life for the Mi’kmaw people." Furthermore, "the Treaty also designated October 1st as the date on which the Mi’kmaw people would receive gifts from the Crown to renew their friendship and submissions." This day is 1 of 365 and... this month is 1 of 12 that we celebrate and honour Mi'kmaq history and present day strength. It is also a day to stand in solidarity with Mi'kmaw people who are asserting their inherent and treaty rights. We believe that each Mi’kmaw life is important and that Mi’kmaw people have the right to safety, dignity, and pride in Mi’kma’ki and Nova Scotia. Please join us today and share a statement that shows all of us across unceded Mi’kma’ki and Nova Scotia your support for Mi’kmaq sovereignty and Mi’kmaq rights in this region. We are all Treaty People.

We believe that our communities are at their best when young people are making meaningful contributions and have the freedom and dignity to live their authentic truths. We believe that supporting inherent Mi’kmaq harvesting rights, as outlined in The Peace and Friendship Treaties and in the Marshall Decision, is critical to ensuring the Mi’kmaw youth are able to make meaningful contributions to their communities [1]. We believe that protecting harvesting rights is essential t...o building healthy respectful communities; it is about more than protecting the act of gathering food, it is about investing in a critical method of sharing knowledge about land, culture, governance, and language [2]. We believe that Indigenous nations are sovereign, holding inherent rights to lands, governance, and natural resources that pre-date European colonization, and that Canada must govern itself without imposing its will on Mi’kmaw nations [3]. We believe that each Mi’kmaw life is important and that Mi’kmaw people have the right to safety, dignity, and pride in Mi’kma’ki and Nova Scotia. We invite other organizations, Executive Directors, Board Chairs, CEOs, business owners, and titled leaders to share a statement on or before October 1st, Treaty Day, that shows all of us across unceded Mi’kma’ki and Nova Scotia your support for Mi’kmaq sovereignty and Mi’kmaq rights in this region. We are all Treaty People. [see link for citations and further resources]