Trails In Tandem at the 2017 National Youth Reconciliation Conference

Winnipeg, Manitoba - March, 2017

In late March, Erinn and Nick attended the 5th Annual National Youth Reconciliation Conference directed by the Canadian Roots Exchange.

The 3-day youth lead conference housed over 200 Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians who lead workshops, speakers panels and community engagements in Winnipeg, Canada on Treaty 1 Territory, and the Homeland of the Métis.

A big focus of the conference was contextualizing the concepts of 'reconciliation' and 'decolonization' as well as techniques to catalyze change in your own communities. The power of community spaces, citizen dialogue and government accountability were common themes explored during the weekend.

Some of the Trails team's favourite workshops included: Dancing Towards Reconciliation, Non-Indigenous Role in Reconciliation, Kiviuq and the 5th Region and The Art of Listening.

Turtle spirit box design art by Joe Boulard from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights during a group tour on day 2.

Turtle spirit box design art by Joe Boulard from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights during a group tour on day 2.

The "Story Blanket" presented at Thunderbird House by the Youth Reconciliation Initiative. Every part of the blanket was completed by a different community, with each patch symbolizing different forms of reconciliation.

The "Story Blanket" presented at Thunderbird House by the Youth Reconciliation Initiative. Every part of the blanket was completed by a different community, with each patch symbolizing different forms of reconciliation.

Trails in Tandem attended the conference and presented their workshop entitled "Cross-cultural Connections in Nature", which focused on the importance of nature within the context of reconciliation. This unique workshop featured group discussions, breakout sessions and a free-writing period layered with a natural soundscape.

Topics discussed included nature in urban contexts, the philosophy of nature, and nature as a safe space. Our discussions echoed similar themes that we hope to explore in our documentary this summer.

To follow up with any of the concepts discussed from our workshop, give us a shout at team@trailsintandem.com.

Thank you to all conference participants who helped make the event so special. A fantastic learning opportunity for all involved. Meegwetch.

- Nick & Erinn

Nicholas Castel