The year is coming to a close, and for many of us 2022 has been a new chapter in a story of rebirth and transformation in times of uncertainty. As RAVEN heads into its 14th year, and we collectively move forward in our changed world — we know now more than ever that community care is what tends to the garden of change.
One major victory RAVEN is celebrating is the launch of a ten-module online course, Home on Native Land. This has been available for the month of December exclusively to our monthly donors, but will be launching nationally in January 2023! Three years in the making, Home on Native Land looks at Canadian law and the very outdated colonial law that is the foundation of Indigenous dispossession in Canada. Throughout the ten modules you’ll also learn about some of the Indigenous laws and legal systems that have governed this land and its peoples long before the Canadian Constitution. Become a monthly donor to access the course early (public launch in January 9, 2023) – and, get a Home on Native Land mug.
Gathering & Celebrating:
2022 marked the return of in-person gatherings for RAVEN. We are weaving together a new approach born out of the last few years that allows us to extend our reach and impact beyond just our immediate communities, by hosting hybrid live and online events. Thank-you to everyone who joined us this year in-person or online! Together we raised $22.5K across 23 successful events — with 1670 attendees joining us online from Winnipeg to Denendeh (NWT) to St. Anthony, Newfoundland.
Festival Afloat: 2022 Salish Sea Tour, was a resounding success! Aboard the Providence tall ship, we sailed to six communities, with local B.C. musicians and artists who helped us raise $50K!. Thanks to Scout Canning and Guayaki, our amazing sponsors, and all the performers, organizers and audiences who paddled along with us in support of Indigenous access to justice.
Bittersweet good-byes and new beginnings:
This year we bid tearful good-byes to two of RAVEN’s long-standing staffers: Ana Simeon and Laurie MacKenzie. While we were sad to see them go, they will always be a part of the RAVEN family and we wish Ana success as she pursues her law degree at UVic’s Joint Indigenous and Common Law program, and Laurie as she thrives in her role as a coach and mentor.
With the good-byes came a joyful welcome to RAVEN’s newest Fundraising Campaigns Director, Conrad Young. Conrad Young was born and raised in Maskwacis (Alberta) and is passionate about the legal theories of change that are encapsulated in his work RAVEN. Conrad frames his work with treaty & inherent rights as economic rights, delivering wealth for healthier communities. His Plains Cree traditional and mainstream teachings align with his natural talents and interests, which in turn allow him to help drive organizational evolution at his new-found home at RAVEN.
And of course, as we say goodbye to 2022, we want to extend a special thank you to all our supporters, organizers, partners, and donors — like you — who make this work possible. With your help, we raised over ONE MILLION DOLLARS for Indigenous Nations’ access to justice in 2022. We absolutely couldn’t do it without you, and while we sing your praises extra loudly at this time of year, we are grateful to you every single day.
With deep thanks and gratitude, from the RAVEN team.
