"When you are in doubt, be still, and wait; When doubt no longer exists for you then go forward with courage. So long as mists envelop you, be still; Be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists, as it surely will. Then act with courage." — Ponca Chief White Eagle
Around the District
Historic Milestone Marks the Chartering of the World’s First Indigenous Rotary Club – submitted by Maris Chisholm
CALGARY, Alta. A historic chapter in Rotary’s 120-year history was written on July 3 with the official chartering of the Mohkinstsis Urban Indigenous Rotary Club… the world’s first Indigenous Rotary club.
The celebration brought together Indigenous leaders, Elders, Rotarians, and community members from across Alberta to recognize a milestone that blends Rotary’s commitment to service with Indigenous leadership, cultural knowledge, and reconciliation.
Rotary International Director Marty Helman officially presented the club’s charter during the ceremony, marking the culmination of years of vision, collaboration, and perseverance. The event opened with ceremony led by Elder Casey Eagle Speaker and paid tribute to Elder Arthur Cunningham, whose long-standing commitment helped bring the dream of an Indigenous Rotary club to fruition. Guests were welcomed with traditional drumming and a special performance by Avery Stump, the 2025 Niitoyis Princess, whose heartfelt presentation brought the celebration to a memorable close.
The new club was established with support from several Calgary Rotary clubs and Rotary District 5360, demonstrating a shared commitment to strengthening relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities through service, leadership, and mutual respect. Supporters travelled from across Alberta to witness the historic occasion, reflecting the widespread enthusiasm for a Rotary club grounded in Indigenous perspectives and dedicated to building meaningful partnerships.
Rotary International is a global network of more than 1.2 million members committed to improving communities through volunteer service and humanitarian projects. The Mohkinstsis Urban Indigenous Rotary Club builds on that legacy while embracing Indigenous ways of knowing, relationship-building, and community leadership.
While the charter ceremony marked the official beginning of the club, members see it as the first step in a much larger journey… one that aims to foster understanding, inspire future generations of Indigenous leaders, and strengthen communities through collaboration. As organizers reflected following the ceremony, “This is only the beginning. Together, we’re building relationships that will serve generations.”
RCCN Speaker Event - Indigenous Participation in Major Projects, Access to Finance and the Alberta Experience
On Monday, September 21, 2026, the Rotary Club of Calgary North is hosting Lawrence L. Schembri to speak about Indigenous Participation in Major Projects, Access to Finance and the Alberta Experience. This will be a Zoom presentation, and everyone is invited to sign in. The meeting link will be open at 11:50 a.m. No need to pre-register.
Major natural resource, electricity and transportation projects are critical for the future prosperity of all Canadians, especially as we strive to increase business investment and diversify our international trade. Such projects often, if not always, take place on the traditional territories of Indigenous communities. Partnerships with Indigenous communities through shared equity ownership and fiscal jurisdiction generate mutually beneficial returns, information sharing and risk management. In addition, they help to ensure the environmental sustainability of these projects and to preserve the land for future generations. The lack of access to finance has been a major obstacle to Indigenous economic inclusion and development. Alberta’s experience offers useful lessons about overcoming this and other obstacles to achieving successful partnerships with Indigenous communities. Restoring Indigenous prosperity supports Indigenous self-determination and promotes economic reconciliation.
Lawrence Schembri is a senior fellow and Peter M. Brown Chair of Canadian Competitiveness at the Fraser Institute. He served as the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2013 until his retirement in 2022. While at the Bank, Lawrence was a founding member of the Central Bank Network for Indigenous Inclusion. At the Fraser Institute, Lawrence has completed studies on central bank policy, the Indigenous economy in Canada, and economic growth and living standards in Canada. He currently serves on the Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics. Content
RCC – Indigenous Activities around Canmore – Submitted by Donna Potter
Lisa Isley, Rotary Club of Canmore member, Indigenous Learning Committee member and Executive Director of the Canmore Museum, invites anyone interested to join her on Thursdays for the Elders Lunch in Mini Thni. Lisa is actively working with the Elders as part of her role with the Canmore Museum. Lisa can take one additional guest with her each week. Please email Lisa directly if you are interested.
Also at the Canmore Museum, visit the major special exhibition, Footsteps Through Time: Journeys of the Land, which explores 13,000 years of human movement through the Bow Valley.
Visit the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum located at 1 Birch Ave, Banff, open 11 am to 5 pm daily. Adults $14 and Seniors $12 to enjoy their Indigenous Exhibits and Gift Shop.
Listen Studios #209, 102 Boulder Cres, Canmore; Google for ongoing, upcoming workshops: Drum Making, Paint and Meditate, Eco Dying.
RCCN - Wood's Homes George Wood Learning Centre Revitalization Project – Submitted by Steve Fehr
The Rotary Club of Calgary North has undertaken the Wood's Homes George Wood Learning Centre Revitalization Project.
The George Wood Learning Centre is part of the Wood's Homes Bowness Campus, which provides treatment in a residential program for youth (age 11-17) who have the most severe and most complex mental health challenges. The clients at the Wood's Homes Bowness Campus come from many backgrounds and cultures. Unfortunately, however, 40-50% of the clients are Indigenous.
The Centre was built in the 1960's and houses a school with four classrooms and an area where the clients can meet with clinical specialists. This project is focused on updating the George Wood Learning Centre to provide learning/treatment spaces that reflect worth, potential, safety, and hope. The budget for this project is $241,000. The Rotary Club of Calgary North has approved $138,000 in funding for the project over two years. The remaining $103,000 in funding will come from a combination of other Rotary Clubs, District Grants, and donations from individuals, businesses, and charitable foundations.
If you or your club have an interest in supporting youth mental health and Indigenous youth mental health through our George Wood Learning Centre Revitalization Project, please email Steve Fehr.
Around the Rotary World
Indigenous Content at the Taipei RI Conference - submitted by Keith Wellon
In June, I attended the Rotary International convention in Taiwan, including putting in time at the Friendship Center helping with the Rotary on Stamps booth. After our outstanding Indigenous booth at last year’s Calgary RI Convention, I was particularly curious as to what, if any, presence would be evident this year.
The Grand Opening of the Friendship Center was held the day before the main convention grand opening. I was impressed that all the “top brass” were there to do the opening - RI President Francesco Arezzo, the overall RI convention Chair, the local Host committee Chair and the RI Foundation Chair. But even more impressive was that it opened with a Taiwan Indigenous prayer and an Indigenous choir.
One of my pictures shows our very own Jennifer welcoming everyone into the Friendship Center! There were also two Taiwan Indigenous Booths which I visited to learn about their history and hardships. Unfortunately, very little Indigenous presence at the convention Grand Opening. Not even in the flag procession, which we did have in Calgary.
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Picture of Jennifer welcoming guests to House of Friendship | Keith and other booth volunteers | |
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Taiwanese Indigenous booth | Taiwanese Indigenous booth |
There are 16 distinct Indigenous groups with about 600,000 members in a country of 23,000,000. Their history in Taiwan goes back ten thousand years, and migration from Taiwan spread throughout the whole Pacific region. For example, the language of the New Zealand Māori is very similar.
Like Indigenous peoples around the world, for 400 years they were oppressed, pushed off their lands into the mountains and had language & culture banned. However, they and their culture were able to survive occupations by Spain, the Dutch and Japan, as well as Han Chinese oppression before and Mandarin Chinese after the 1949 revolution. I was surprised to learn that for almost 30 years after 1949 under Chiang Kai-Shek, there was martial law and all traditional Taiwanese and Indigenous languages and cultures were banned, in deference to Mandarin Chinese.
Activism in the late 20th and early 21st centuries led to constitutional amendments recognizing indigenous status, protecting native languages, and expanding official recognition of tribes to 16 distinct groups.
It is now fairly positive for the Indigenous, and like in Canada, they do not hold hate in their hearts. Their beliefs align, such as respect for Mother Earth, their elders and their ancestors. A highlight of my Taiwan trip was connecting with and getting some understanding of the Indigenous experience there.
Calendar of Events
- Aug. 1, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. - Jim Agecoutay Memorial Jam at 4609 Riverside Drive, Red Deer; sponsored by the Red Deer Native Friendship Society. For more information, click here.
- Aug. 1 & 2, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. - Dancing With The Dinosaurs Powwow at the Badlands Community Facility - 80 Veterans Way, Drumheller. For more details, click here.
- Aug. 3, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. - Historic Calgary Week Open House and Tour hosted by the McDougall Stoney Mission Society, just off Highway 1A between Cochrane & Canmore, Alberta. Bow Valley Trail, Bighorn No. 8, AB. For more information, click here.
- Aug. 4, 6:30 p.m. – Traditional Drumming Circle at the Wazin Ichinabi Ti House of Oneness Society, Unit 6, 521 – First St. West, Cochrane. For more info, click here.
- Aug. 8, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. - IPMG, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Calgary East, proudly presents Breaking Barriers—an evening dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction while raising funds for NAM Recovery's Healing Centre. Hosted in the Horizon Premier Room – Best Western Premier Hotel, 1316 33 Street NE, Calgary. For tickets or more info, click here.
- Aug. 14 – 16 - Piikani National Celebration & Powwow at the Crowlodge Park, Brocket, AB. For details, click here.
- Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. & Aug. 16 at 1:30 p.m. - Indian Relay Racing at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede. For tickets, click here.
- Aug. 25, 12:00 – 4:00 pm. – Mini Thni KAIROS Blanket Exercise presented by Miskanawah and Stoney Health Services at the Stoney Health Center, Room 170. Everyone welcome, but space is limited. Lunch served at 12:00. To register, email The Family Resource Centre. For more details, click here.
- Sep. 12 - Commemorative Gathering focused on building relationships between early settler descendants and the Îyârhe Stoney people. Presented by McDougall Stoney Mission Society. Details TBA.
- Sep. 30 - Every Child Matters /Truth and Reconciliation Day - Breakfast, Pipe Ceremony and Walk to Mînî Thnî, presented by McDougall Stoney Mission Society. Details TBA.
DIRC Social Media
This newsletter provides a snapshot of what is going on in the district. If you are interested in staying current with ongoing Indigenous Relations activities, please follow DIRC on one of our social media platforms. Please use one of the following QR Codes to connect with your preferred social media.
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The DIRC Newsletter
This newsletter is published monthly by the District 5360 Indigenous Relations Committee. If you have any questions about the newsletter or would like to submit material, please email Brad Sewall .