Things you can do...
Explore some examples of eligible activities you can receive funding for through the Day Scholars Revitlization Society.
Indigenous Languages are Sacred.
It is recognized and accepted that the languages of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and the Shishalh, to name only two, have been rendered nearly extinct. It is time to reclaim those languages, and the languages of other affected nations. As well, where our people have managed to preserve their traditional language, as with the Eeyou Istchee People, it is recognized and accepted that they have the right to continue to grow and celebrate the use of their traditional language. In all cases, it is acknowledged that our languages are a cornerstone of our connection to each other and to the land. It is recognized and acknowledged that the traditional languages of Indigenous People are diverse. Languages and dialects vary from community to community. Keeping this in mind, the Board Directors of the Revitalization Society must permit each survivor or descendant to define for itself what constitutes an indigenous language within its own nation. It is acknowledged by the Revitalization Society that Language is one of the Core Values to be considered in the evaluation of requests for funding.
The Day Scholar Revitalization Society will fund language initiatives that meet at least one of the following criteria:
- To protect and revive Indigenous languages.
- To encourage our elders to pass on their languages to younger generations
- To strengthen the bonds between language and the land.
- To teach spoken and written Indigenous languages to speakers of all levels, with a goal of having fluent speakers of our traditional languages.
- To enhance the dignity, self-worth, and sense of belonging for Day Scholars through language
- To exchange Indigenous knowledge to future generations
- To attend language courses or immersion programs Elder, Training, and or Group mentorship related to language
- Attending workshops that focus on the connection between spoken words, or written words, unspoken Indigenous as it relates to land connection and the natural world.
Culture is how we express ourselves as nations.
It is recognized and acknowledged that each nation has its own culture, beliefs, traditions, worldviews and customs. Each nation has a unique experience as it relates to the land and with each other, but are all connected.
The Day Scholar Revitalization Society will fund culture initiatives that meet at least one of the following criteria:
- To preserve and strengthen knowledge of Indigenous cultures and traditions.
- To revive Indigenous traditional and cultural skills.
- To exchange Indigenous knowledge to future generations
- To promote cultural practices in the context of land-based learning
- To observe public installations of Indigenous art, history and archeology
- To attend academic programs in cultural studies
- To enhance the dignity, self-worth, and sense of belonging for Day Scholars through culture.
- Elder, Training, and or Group mentorship related to culture and cultural practice
Healing & Wellness Activities:
We are all related to, and respect, everything in life. It is recognized and acknowledged that Wellness starts with everyone taking responsibility for their individual emotional, physical, spiritual and mental health and wellness. From there, the circles ripple outward to include our families, communities, nations, and the land. Wellness is upheld by the principles of healthy relationships, wisdom, respect, and responsibility. It is recognized and acknowledged by the Board Directors of the Revitalization Society that the journey to healing and wellness of one person may be completely different to another person’s journey. Differences exist from one individual to the next. The Board Directors will approach each Day Scholar Survivor and/or Descendant with sensitivity and willingness to learn. For example, the Shíshálh nation is based on a matriarchal system and a healthy life over generations.
The Day Scholar Revitalization Society will fund wellness initiatives that meet at least one of the following criteria:
- To enable empowerment, and or create strong and healthy families in our communities
- To promote physical well-being
- To protect and revive the use of traditional foods
- To raise future generations in a positive and healthy environment
- Counselling services for traditional and effective parenting
- Wellness counselling
- To promote spirituality
- To promote mental, and emotional health
- Attendance at healing circles, or other traditional Wellness programs.
- To develop or promote holistic, traditional modes of wellness
- To promote knowledge exchange in the contexts of wellness and the land
- To promote and exercise traditional values
- To attend formal wellness courses to train to become a traditional healer
- Elder, Training, and or Group mentorship related to traditional wellness teachings
- Education and Training Initiatives.
Education, Heritage & Commemoration Activities:
Heritage consists of the traditions and way of life passed down through generations.
Heritage is closely connected to, but distinct, from culture. Heritage is about maintaining a connection to the past, through the present and into the future. It is about stewardship and the maintenance of traditions, practices, and to lands and waters. It is recognized and acknowledged that each Day Scholar Survivor and/or Descendant has their own unique heritage.
Education
The Day Scholars Revitalization Society will fund education and training initiatives that meet at least one of the following criteria:
- To receive teachings from an Elder or Knowledge Keeper for any purpose related to revitalization, including knowledge exchange activities related to land-based and land-use indicatives
- To obtain a tutor
- To attend community college or university
- To attend a community-led training and education initiative
Heritage
Day Scholars Revitalization Society will fund heritage initiatives that meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Preserving and strengthening Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing, seeing, being and doing
- To promote knowledge exchange about Indigenous heritage.
- To preserve knowledge of Indigenous cultures.
- To foster connection to and the protection of lands and waters
- To sustain our resources in our lands.
- To Foster multiculturalism between Indigenous Nations
Commemoration
Commemoration is a meaningful way to acknowledge and honor the past, drawing attention to legacies that continue to hold significance today. Through commemoration, we ensure that important lessons are not forgotten. It fosters an awareness that can contribute to the healing and revitalization of communities. This practice strengthens Indigenous values, promotes understanding, and helps build a better future.
For Indigenous Peoples, commemoration is important in preserving cultural heritage and honouring our ancestors' resilience. By celebrating Indigenous traditions, histories, and contributions, these acts of remembrance affirm Indigenous identity, strengthen Indigenous values, and promote a deeper understanding of the rich and diverse cultures that continue to thrive today. When we commemorate Survivors, Descendants, and communities, we create space to honor their lives and experiences, ensuring that their stories are remembered and respected. This recognition can provide comfort, nurture healing, and foster resiliency.
The Day Scholars Revitalization Society will fund an individual’s commemoration initiative that meets at least one of the following criteria:
- To conduct or participate in ceremonies that honour or celebrate Survivors and Descendants
- To host or attend events or gatherings that honour and commemorate Survivors or
- Descendants.
- To purchase or design a headstone for a Survivor
- To undertake activities created for a public installation of the following:
- Murals
- Story Telling
- Published Writings
- Monuments
- Statues
- Museum Exhibit
Start Your Funding Application
Explore our list of eligible schools to discover whether you, or a loved one, might be eligible for funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Society.