Community of Big Hearts

Meet CanU alumn, Salena Starling. Salena Starling is the President and CEO of the Community of Big Hearts. As a community activist for Indigenous Youth, she is committed to promoting Truth and Reconciliation within the business community and beyond. Salena offers workshops on Indigenous history, unconscious biases, and the current situation of Indigenous peoples in Canada, sharing her lived experiences as a foster care survivor and third-generation child welfare survivor. She has recently did a TEDx talk and her work aims to raise awareness, advocate for foster care reform, and encourage meaningful action toward reconciliation. Join Salena and many more Winnipeg heroes at the Imagine Stories Gala: https://lnkd.in/gibWiY6T

If there’s one #TEDx talk you watch this year, make it Salena Starlings.

The 42nd Annual Federal-Provincial-Territorial Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women took place in Manitoba on Treaty 1 Territory. Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women have gathered for their 42nd annual meeting, continuing a tradition that began with their inaugural gathering in Ottawa in 1982. Ministers, community leaders, grass-roots organizations and young people from all across Canada came together to share critical perspectives and their own journeys. The reception prior to the event set the tone clear, it is critical to eliminate gender based violence in all its forms especially in light of truth and reconciliation. Feeling empowered and grateful to standing be beside strong women who have and continue to pave the way towards a better world - Salena Starling, Hon. Marci Ien, Reanna Merasty, Cheyenne Santana. More info: https://ow.ly/qAwW50SKzw0

Tree of Hope 🌱 This little oak with a medicine wheel around it, was the 3 year vision of Salena Starling and Divya Sharma. This little tree is called the Tree of Hope that acts as a symbol of hope, around which an Indigenous Ceremony will be carried out each year to honour the resilience of the constituents of the Fort Richmond area. https://lnkd.in/gf_YaeYE This project wouldn’t be possible without the Treaty 1 land that we learned and planted the tree on. Elder Allison who assisted us in the consultation process and knowledge keeper, Lisa who blessed the Tree of Hope and our ceremony. The Johnston Group Inc. who generously granted us with $10 000 to see our vision come to life. Evan from Kastes Custom Landscapes who helped us map this entire project out and shared his expertise. The staff and administrators at Fort Richmond Collegiate, Pembina Trails School Division and the City of Winnipeg of Winnipeg support all long this process wether logistical or morally. Thank you 🙏🏽 The Tree of Hope project has various elements, as it showcases true collaboration between the Indigenous culture, youth, the environment, education and embracing the new normal as we celebrate the hopeful and optimistic heroes in our community. This little tree significantly highlights the vibrancy of the Indigenous culture as it focuses on healing and uplifting the community all while educating youth about the Indigenous Tree ceremony. The Fort Richmond area is composed of diverse groups and the Tree of Hope will act as a landmark to connect and symbolize the strength of the community. Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Article the following precisely, which embodied in the Tree of Hope among several others: (Legacy, Education 10) Protecting Indigenous Language. (Education for reconciliation 64) Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices developed in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders. As we go on our journey of Truth and Reconciliation, we hope you take time to visit the Tree of Hope & reflect on your own journey.

With Indigenous History Month approaching, we're thrilled to offer a workshop on Truth and Reconciliation: Call to Action 92. Engaging your staff in learning about these crucial topics is essential. By participating, we actively contribute to creating a more inclusive environment while respecting Indigenous experiences. Let's work together towards reconciliation! Book a call to see if this would be a right fit for your company: https://lnkd.in/gvbcfufJ

Every year, Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people go missing and are murdered. According to our initiative, Safe Passage, which monitors cases of MMIWG2S+ across Canada, there are 1.4K reported cases, many of which remain unresolved. And there are likely many more that go unreported.⁣ ⁣ Yet the Canadian government has done little to resolve this crisis. Tomorrow is Red Dress Day, a day to honour MMIWG2S+. Together, let’s wear red to commemorate our stolen loved ones, and demand change.⁣ ⁣ #RedDressDay #MMIWG #MMIWG2S

Yesterday, Salena Starling and I had the opportunity to connect with the Minister of Women and Gender Eqaulity, Hon. Marci Ien and the Parliamentary Secretary Terry Duguid. We shared with them more about our social enterprise, Community of Big Hearts and our recent venture the Reconciliation Road Challenge. This was especially fitting as the Minister shared the action plan against gender based violence, which was signed on by the provincial governments from coast to coast and the federal government. This plan reinforced our aim towards rasing awareness on the foster care system and MMIWG2s+ national crisis. I encourage everyone to look at the WAGE website, whether that would be for resources, reports and statistics or opportunities including funding. https://lnkd.in/gRDJxEsX #gendereqaulity #mbpoli #womeninleadership

Introducing the Reconciliation Road Challenge, our latest project dedicated to guiding companies through their journey towards reconciliation. Schedule a consultation today to explore how we can support your path to reconciliation. https://lnkd.in/g7JRTm9D