Honouring Indigenous Peoples Y2Y 2027 Program - Applications NOW OPEN
Posted by Bill Empey, Honouring Indigenous People, District Coordinator, Rotary District 7070
HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples) is a Rotary based organization that builds partnerships between Rotary Clubs across Canada and indigenous communities. Check us out at https://honouringindigenouspeoples.com/ . We are dedicated to the process of Truth and Reconciliation and understand that true success begins with youth. I am reaching out with an update on HIP and our National Youth 2 Youth program to be hosted by the Metis community in Alberta....
By helping us to introduce HIP and our program to school groups, parents, students, teachers and others to encourage applications.
Who is eligible?
Indigenous, self-identified Indigenous and Non-Indigenous youth (male, female, LGBTQ2S & disabled) enrolled in Grades 9 to 11. Applicants for the 2027 HIP Reconciliation experience must be between the ages of 15 and 17 as of March 1, 2027, meaning they are born on or between March 1, 2010, and March 1, 2012.
How much does it cost?
This event is free for those who are selected and includes travel to and from the event, accommodations, food and museum admission. Only 25 indigenous and 25 non-indigenous youth will be chosen from across Canada.
How do students apply?
Applications are reviewed by District 7070 Rotarians and the HIP National Y2Y Committee.
What can students expect?
An experience that includes travel across Canada, meeting 49 new friends, a life changing encounter bringing new perspectives and understanding. Here are the reflections of the 2025 Y2Y participants;
Five pre-event on line sessions that introduce the program, get participants to know each other, receive in-depth teachings about history and culture, learn advocacy and presentation skills.
The program will include elder teachings and in person time, storytelling, native crafts, language, indigenous decision making, sport and music.
The national HIP Y2Y program in 2026 was hosted by the Six Nations of the Grand River at Brantford, Ontario. Abby Lefler, a Toronto student, at Bishop Strachan School, participating in the 2026 Y2Y described how Y2Y "taught us about maturity as less talking and more listening, learning from discomfort and appreciating authenticity."
Oxib Imox Balam is a student at the Wandering Spirit School in Toronto. Balam is Maya K’iche’ and Maya Pipil from Guatemala and Colombia was born in Toronto, Canada and returned here in 2024. Balam describes how he "found a new vision of the land and history here in Canada, and it transformed how I see my role. One of the most impactful moments was when Phyllis Webstad shared her story. She spoke about growing up in a residential school and how her mother and grandmother carried that trauma. Hearing her made me realize how deeply these impacts run through generations".
I look forward to any questions and will send updates over the coming weeks.
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