Indigenous Cultural Understanding

ALIGN Association of Community Services is dedicated to upholding the principles of Truth and Reconciliation and are committed to supporting the well-being of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children, youth, families, and communities. 

ALIGN Association of Community Services is dedicated to upholding the principles of Truth and Reconciliation and are committed to supporting the well-being of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children, youth, families, and communities. 

We understand the importance of self-determination for Indigenous Peoples and recognize their unique knowledge, traditions, and ways of life. Therefore, we pledge to actively involve and incorporate traditional ways of knowing, being, and doing in our work. We believe that by embracing and respecting Indigenous perspectives, we can better serve the needs of Indigenous children and families

To address the systemic inequities experienced by Indigenous communities, we are committed to creating inclusive spaces for Indigenous staff, partners, and community members. Through this, we aim to amplify Indigenous voices and advocate for positive change from within our organization and beyond… READ FULL

A Digital Interactive Journey to increase cultural understanding within Alberta agencies so that all Indigenous children living in Alberta can live in dignity and respect, supported by people with a deeper understanding of Indigenous worldviews, history and current reality.

ALIGN is pleased to share a Journey to Indigenous Cultural Understanding in Alberta. This tool has been developed with consultation and guidance from elders, ALIGN members, youth, and members of the Indigenous Cultural Understanding Advisory group. We understand that this is a journey and this tool is intended to be a living document; changing, flowing, and moving over time. 

Available in both oral and written form, this learning has been purposely created to support agencies to walk together with First Nations and to create a principle based place for individuals to begin conversations that will become a foundation for moving forward in parallel. 

FEE FOR SERVICE GUIDED CONSULTATIONS
If your agency could benefit from a guided consultation, ALIGN offers a fee for service opportunity. Please contact rhondab@alignab.ca

The goal for the ALIGN Well-Being Initiative is to support child and family service agencies and organizations to assess well-being and the impact of their work with culturally diverse children, youth, and families. 

To do that, ALIGN, in collaboration with PolicyWise for Children & Families, developed a principle-based and culturally rooted Framework and a practice-oriented Toolkit that is reflective of diverse ways of being and knowing and grounded in Indigenous perspectives as parallel approaches to validating practice.

We designed the Toolkit so agencies can incorporate and adapt components at their own pace, as their capacity allows, and as they become relevant and helpful to their practice.

Following the introduction of The Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth and families (Bill C92), it is imperative that non-Indigenous agencies understand the importance of working alongside Indigenous communities to ensure the effective implementation of this transformative legislation.

The Act under Bill C92 represents a significant shift in child welfare, emphasizing the rights of Indigenous communities to self-determination and jurisdiction over child wellbeing services. As non-Indigenous agencies, our role is to support and collaborate with Indigenous communities, acknowledging their expertise and authority in child welfare matters.

Learn more and check out ALIGN’s Reconciliation Talks Blogs by Tanya Tourangeau (ALIGN’s Reconciliation Strategist Consultant) 

You don’t want to miss out on the fun! Children, youth and adults alike will enjoy flipping a card for each day of December leading up to the 25th and finding a wonderful cultural surprise behind each door. 

This free interactive online Indigenous Advent Calendar (updated annually) is designed to support cultural awareness including Christmas songs and stories in traditional languages, Christmas decorations made with Mother Earth’s supplies and more.

NO PEEKING AHEAD – SANTA KNOWS SO BE GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE!

CONNECTIONS is monthly newsletter designed to support Foster and Kinship Caregivers to ensure Indigenous, Metis & Inuit children in their care have access to cultural resources, activities and events that broaden their cultural awareness. 

Each edition includes various activities like animated video read alouds, coloring pages, recipes, games, puzzles, learning resources, story books and more to support cultural awareness for Indigenous, Metis and Inuit children, youth and their caregivers.

If you are a supervisor or service provider supporting kinship/foster/group care, don’t forget to remind the caregivers that CONNECTIONS is here to assist them in their efforts to ensure Indigenous, Metis & Inuit children and youth continue to learn more about Indigenous traditions and culture while in care

20 Great Ways to Honour & Celebrate National Indigenous History Month for children, youth and families.

Originally designed as a resource for foster and kinship caregivers to support their efforts in ensuring cultural awareness and connections for the children and youth in their care, these interactive, informative online flip cards are a fun and easy way to broaden cultural awareness for the whole family!

You can flip each card and discover a wonderful surprise! Explore the links to language learning, stories and so much more. We update the activities annually so each June there is something new along with all your favorites activities.

In recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st – ALIGN Association created these Indigenous online jigsaw puzzles to support foster/kinship caregivers of Indigenous children and youth with activities that further their awareness of culture and traditions. 

The best thing about jigsaw puzzles is that they require you to slow down and look at all the details as you piece the whole picture together. In a fast moving world filled with photos and graphics this is an opportunity for children, youth and adults to relax and appreciate the details of the traditional regalia, food, animals, teepees, totem poles and more!