Earlier this month, youth of Walpole Island were part of an online meeting with Michelle Dwyer, Executive Assistant to MPP Steve Pinsonneault, and Sharvari Katekar, an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) volunteer, to speak to the impact that a $160,000 Youth Opportunities Fund grant has had since receiving it in 2022.
The Bkejwanong Eco-Keepers (BEK) has been focused on delivering an innovative program that’s helped young people between the ages of 15-25 remain connected to the land and rebuild community connections.
“I’m thrilled to support the Bkejwanong Eco-Keepers initiative,” said Steve Pinsonneault, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, in a media release.
“This $160,000 grant is a fantastic investment in our youth on Walpole Island First Nation,”” By bringing generations together and building stronger communities, this project is setting the stage for an amazing future for Bkejwanong.”
The two-year long grant was awarded to enable BEK to create safe spaces for young people to learn from older generations, providing new opportunities to build on skills and cultural learning.
Funds from the grant helped BEK and its organizational mentor, Carolinian Canada, with costs involved with staffing and some administration, as well as helping with instructors’ fees and purchasing program supplies.
“Programs like the Bkejwanong Eco-Keepers are vital for nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards and reinforcing cultural ties,” said Sam Whiteye, Director of Indigenous Leadership at Carolinian Canada, in a media release.
“The expanded program now includes more leaders and has broadened its reach. We are grateful for the OTF support which has allowed us to pull together the necessary resources and knowledge keepers to make this program possible,” added Montana Riley, BEK Co-coordinator, in a media release.
The BEK program, which began in 2007 and was rebooted in 2019, incorporates Indigenous knowledge, which is crucial for re-establishing the community’s connection to their land and heritage.
The program now successfully engages youth in hands-on land-based learning experiences, crucial for both personal development and environmental stewardship.
Support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation has been instrumental in enhancing the BEK program by facilitating the integration of essential resources and knowledge keepers.
This support has not only enabled the program to grow but has also enriched the community’s ability to maintain and deepen its cultural and environmental connections
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships.
Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
Carolinian Canada is a network of leaders growing a green future with healthy landscapes in the spirit and practice of reconciliation.
Together, we save wildlife, water, and way of life for thriving, resilient communities.
Since 1984, CCC has been a leading ecoregional group in Canada, working to support the Carolinian Zone of southern Ontario, which is among North America’s most vibrant and fragile ecoregions. CCC is North America’s longest running ecoregional network, connecting First Nations, government, community, business, academia, social enterprise, and thousands of people who care about a healthy environment, with the mission to collaborate for healthy ecosystems in the spirit and practice of reconciliation.
Learn more at caroliniancanada.ca.
