© Canadian Roots 2009
Centre for Aboriginal Initiatives
University of Toronto
Borden Building North, 2nd floor
563 Spadina Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5S 19R

UPCOMING EXCHANGES

Spring/Summer 2012 Exchanges

Application Deadline May 24th , 2012

Land of the Midnight Sun - North West Territories: Yellowknife and surrounding area - PLACES REMAINING
June 15 - 25, 2012 Program Fee $1000.00
A team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth will come together to learn from local Elders and leaders and share teachings with community members and organizations. Led by Kiera Dawn Kolson and Ronan MacParland, the team will share lodgings at the healing retreat camp and engage with local youth and community members as everyone participates in learning sessions on history, language, art and cultural expressions, food and practical skills on the land.

Transitions to Success - Georgina Island Field School: Georgina Island First Nation, Ontario - PLACES REMAINING
July 5th – 20th, 2012 Program Fee $1200.00
This pilot program brings 12 Aboriginal Youth and 4 non-Aboriginal youth to Georgina Island First Nation for 2 week to focus on cultural education and transition training to bridge the difficult transition Aboriginal youth face between life on reserves and urban post-secondary environments. Led by Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, the trip will combine on-the-land teachings with training in the city of Toronto as well as sessions on pathways to success. The trip will culminate with the youth participating as volunteers at the Assembly of First Nations election in Toronto July 17-19th.

Contemporary Mi’kmaq Canada - Nova Scotia Exchange: Eskasoni, Nova Scotia - PLACES REMAINING
July 12 - 21, 2012 Program fee $700
Canadian Roots Nova Scotia will build on the strengths of our last trip, and will visit and learn about the Mi’kmaq community from Contemporary perspective. Led by Geordy Marshall, the trip will bring participants in contact with spiritual venues and will allow the communities of Eskasoni and Chapel Island to teach the participants about about colonial impact, and how the Mi’kmaq culture has adapted, and evolved into something way different. The trip will leave from Halifax.

CRE’s Moosonee - Moose Factory Field School: Moose Factory, Ontario (find out more) PLACES REMAINING
July 15 - August 5, 2012 Program Fee $1800.00
Led by Rebecca Beaulne-Stuebing and Karen Isaacs, this program is packed with three weeks of workshops and teachings by local Elders and educators; engagement with youth, local organizations and other community members, service learning projects and participation in community events. Through our holistic and community-based education model, our participants will have the opportunity to connect with incredible teachers and knowledge keepers. Participants will share and develop their own skills and knowledge in a meaningful process of exchange.

U of T Leadership Exchange: North Bay, Nipissing and Wahta, Ontario (find out more) PLACES REMAINING
August 18 - 25, 2012 Program fee $750
The Canadian Roots Exchange invites University of Toronto Leaders to a 7-day experiential learning exchange for 14 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth and adults who play roles of leadership. The collaboration to organize this initiative will bring students, staff and faculty from across disciplines at the University of Toronto, for a community based learning project with the goal of providing expertise to a group of people to better facilitate learning sessions for University of Toronto students, staff and faculty in the 2012-13 year.

Alberta: University of Calgary Indigenous Studies Field Course
August 18th-26th, 2012 Program Fee (TBA)
In partnership with the University of Calgary, CRE will be offering 25 students the experience of a lifetime! The exchange aims to explore the cultural heritage of the Blackfoot communities of Siksika, Pikani and Kiena. The group will be immersed in community activities and will take part in a variety of teaching lessons, workshops, and time on the land! Participants will meet community leaders, Elders, educators and like-minded youth in a variety of exciting contexts.

Silver Lake Pow Wow Canoe Trip: Silver Lake/Algonquin Park, Ontario - PLACES REMAINING
August 21 - 26, 2012 Program Fee $600
For the second year, Canadian Roots Exchange will be selecting a group of 10 diverse Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth (aged 18- 30) who will live, learn, canoe and share together throughout the 1-week program. This experience will bring the youth into contact with elders as they volunteer at the Silver Lake Pow Wow and will culminate with a canoe trip through Algonquin Park.

CRE’s British Columbia Exchange: Vancouver Island, BC - PLACES REMAINING
July 28 - August 5th, 2012 Program Fee $750
Canadian Roots is aiming to deliver a powerful experience to 14 youth this coming year on an educational trip on BC’s, Vancouver island! This program, provides an eight-day cultural exchange across Vancouver Island’s communities of Victoria, Heshquiat Harbour, Alert Bay and Quadra Island. Led by Alicia Big Canoe, it will be an opportunity for First Nations and non-First Nations youth to learn about the successes and challenges of aboriginal life in Canada, while engaging in a constructive dialogue with each other.

CREs North Shore Exchange: "We're all treaty people" - PLACES REMAINING
August 10-20th, 2012 Program Fee $750

This coming August a group of diverse indigenous and non indigenous youth will come together for 10 days to experience the beautiful North Shore region of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, and to share and learn from the different communities that call this territory home. This exchange will involve experiential, hands-on learning in areas such as geography, history, language, environment, food security, governance and law, art and cultural expressions and education. The program will emphasize personal growth, leadership development and cultural exchange through individual and group learning and reflection.

Tso’Tine North West Territories Exchange: Tso’Tine, NWT - PLACES REMAINING

August 14th-24th, 2012 Program Fee $1000.00

The team of indigenous and non indigenous youth will make a historic voyage; leaving from Yellowknife to the land of the Tso’Tine people, where they will spend 10 days learning from Elders, and spending time on the land. This is the first educational trip to be taking place in the traditional territory of the Tso’Tine and the opportunity and experience of a lifetime, as the group learns about the history, geography, language, governance and art of what is considered by the government to be a “lost tribe”.

Apply Now for the summer exchanges.

Want to know what our trips are like? Click here for more information about past exchanges.

Please note: Every region of Canada possesses a unique character. To foster lasting relationships and relevant experiences for our participants, we encourage you to travel on a trip that is close to the region where you live. While you can feel free to apply for any trip that is of interest to you, priority will be given to those who apply to a program taking place within their province/region of residence.