One of the key components of Planet Youth Calgary is its Indigenous Parallel. Incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing throughout the development of Planet Youth ensures United Way of Calgary and Area (United Way) honours Indigenous ways while taking important steps towards reconciliation. Indigenous voices have been fundamental in building the Planet Youth Calgary initiative and we have engaged with Indigenous youth and Elders for their guidance and knowledge.
Part of this parallel approach is Planet Youth’s annual pipe ceremony. Every year, the ceremony is an opportunity to reflect, learn, listen and connect.
Cadena Brazeau is from Keeseekoowenin First Nation in Treaty Two Territory. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Treaty One Territory and currently resides in Calgary, Alberta, Treaty Seven Territory, where she is completing her undergraduate degree in Law and Society. Cadena serves as the President of the University of Calgary’s Indigenous Students’ Circle and is an active member of Miskanawah’s Diamond Willow Youth Lodge Youth Council.
The following is her experience and reflection on the ceremony.
Honouring Time Immemorial Practices
Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island host pipe ceremonies to embark on new journeys and seek blessings to guide individuals and communities. The pipe ceremony is deeply significant for inviting the Creator’s guidance to lead individuals and communities in a good way. Recognizing the traditional legal systems and governance embedded within many Indigenous traditions, pipe carriers honour their teachings by sharing their wisdom.
On October 31, 2024, Planet Youth Calgary hosted its second annual pipe ceremony at the Grey Eagle Event Centre on Tsuut’ina Nation, within Treaty Seven Territory.
The ceremony was led by pipe carrier and Elder Patrick Diagneault, accompanied by his partner Patricia Diagneault and other locally respected Elders, including Drs. Reg and Rose Crowshoe CM, Bruce and Deanna Starlight, Marina Crane and Paul Daniels. Elder Patrick also conducted last year’s inaugural pipe ceremony for United Way of Calgary and Area, marking a historic moment for the organization. These Elders led the group with wisdom and care, sharing their deep connection to the community along with their teachings and guidance for each attendee.
Joining the Elders in attendance were Youth Elders — Taylor Bottle, Tara Brass and Summer Wayner — a collective of young leaders dedicated to uplifting the Indigenous community though Planet Youth. These Youth Elders connect and mentor other young people within the city of Calgary at local schools. Honouring and uplifting other young Indigenous peoples, they embody the mission of Planet Youth’s Indigenous Parallel.
Photos of the 2024 Planet Youth Pipe Ceremony courtesy Vy Nguyen,
Communications Specialist, Trellis Society
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.
Importance of the Indigenous Parallel
The Indigenous Parallel is a collaboration between Miskanawah and United Way Planet Youth, designed to support young urban Indigenous peoples in Calgary. The Parallel focuses on mental health and wellness initiatives, reconnecting urban Indigenous individuals to community and resources, and amplifying the voices of Indigenous youth. Youth Elders visit schools and organizations across Calgary, serving as role models and advocating for their community. The Parallel also provides equitable resources and opportunities for Indigenous youth, ensuring that they have the support of a community along every step of their journeys.
Planet Youth Calgary is United Way’s most ambitious signature initiative-to-date. Planet Youth Calgary is the largest implementation in Canada and the largest urban implementation in North America. It is working to create stronger connections between young people and their families, caregivers, peers, schools and communities, policy makers and researchers. Planet Youth Calgary aims to improve the social environment for youth by creating opportunities for participation in activities and recreation that promote well-being, access to basic needs and safe spaces, and upstream preventative solutions to the challenges facing Calgary’s youth.
Learn more about Planet Youth Calgary.
To learn more about the Planet Youth Indigenous Parallel Youth Well-being Circles and how they empower Indigenous young people while building meaningful connections, tune in to Episode 9 of the Social Impact Lab’s Responsible Disruption podcast.
We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of the donors and corporations who stand united with us to pilot, launch, and scale this transformative initiative. Their contributions are instrumental in shaping a brighter future for Calgary’s youth and the generations to come. Our work in this space would not be possible without the dedication of these partners, whose commitment to our mission enables us to make a lasting difference in our community.
A special acknowledgment goes to our Founding Investors for their transformational, multi-year commitments. Their investments serve as the catalyst for change, driving the success of this initiative and ensuring a long-lasting, multigenerational impact on the future of our city.