Ceremonial Roads to Reconciliation

This year’s pipe ceremony brought together a diverse group of people — Elders, youth, adults and stakeholders from various walks of life. Creating space for Indigenous peoples to practice ceremony, which was once prohibited, is an act of reconciliation. These ceremonies also provide non-Indigenous participants with opportunities to engage, learn and bridge gaps to create understanding. During the ceremony, Planet Youth leaders, and Youth Elders shared their experiences, struggles and triumphs over the past year with the assembled witnesses.

By integrating ceremonial practices into organizational frameworks, Planet Youth demonstrates the importance of reconciliation in action. Their commitment to honouring traditional systems, decolonizing spaces and paving the road for future generations of young professionals, advocates and community leaders is an important addition to this relationship. Reflecting on the positive impact of these ceremonies, it is evident that Planet Youth is committed to fostering reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities under the Indigenous Parallel, allowing the pipe to lead us all in a good way.

Planet Youth has hosted four ceremonies in the last two years, including two naming ceremonies, a tea ceremony and the annual pipe ceremony. Each ceremony is a step toward decolonizing spaces and rebuilding relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.