THUNDER BAY – First celebrated by Tikinagan Child and Family Services in 2009, Honouring our Children Day celebrates children in Tikinagan Child and Family Services’ care and acknowledge the strength, bravery and resilience shown by these children and youth in the face of difficult times.
Honouring Our Children Day celebrates the accomplishments of our children and youth, intentionally timed right around the end of the school year to acknowledge their hard work and efforts through the year. It is a time to remind our children that they are special, supported and cared for by their community. This day is an opportunity for our communities to come together to show our children that they are part of their circle of care.
Honouring Our Children Day is also a celebration of our philosophy of care – Mamow Obiki-Ahwahsoowin, which means “everyone working together to raise our children.”
Our communities come together to celebrate and show our children they work together to raise and support them.
We are also taking this opportunity to launch our YouthKnow Team, a newly created youth advisory team. This team will be formed with youths from our 30 First Nations and will support Tikinagan by providing input about youth culture, social media, living in their communities, and even about Tikinagan.
We want to engage, empower, and equip our First Nation youth by hearing their ideas, utilizing their skills, and challenging them as leaders.
Each of our 30 First Nations will celebrate in different ways including cook outs and community wide celebrations.
Tikinagan Child and Family Services will be holding two art contests open to youth from our 30 First Nations.
• Super Youth where we ask children and youth to draw themselves as a superhero.
• HOC Logo Design where we ask our children and youth to design our Honouring Our Children Day logo.
More information can be found at Tikinagan.org/HOCDAY.
On June 24, we hope that you take the time to let the children in your life know how important they are to you and to their community.
