b"HEALING INITIATIVESThe School of Indigenous Learning (SOIL) has four tipis, two Elders' cabins, an outdoor kitchen and two sweat lodges set on a portion of 245 acres of forest Eventually, says Pierre, the plan is to handcould begin to learn and master skills over off the school side to an executive of youtha longer period of time. In 2017, Belcourt leaders so that they can continue the workwas part of a group of people that included even after he is gone. Were proud to sayMary Wemigwans, Linda Toulouse, Quinn that our community has really built what weMeawasige, Taryn Bobiwash, Candace have here and were so thankful.Day Neveau, Isaac Murdoch and others who decided to put their efforts towards creating Nimkii Aazhibikong, a year-round LAND BACK Indigenous language and traditional arts Christi Belcourt is an artist from the Mtiscamp within the traditional territory of community of Lac Ste. Anne in Alberta, alsoSerpent River First Nation. known by its Cree name Manitou Sakahikan, or Spirit Lake. She is a part of the OnamanThe camp is committed to the revitalization collective along with Isaac Murdoch, andof the Anishinaabemowin language, arts the two have worked together to conductand sustainable living practices based on various community-based activities infoundational cultural knowledge. Were support of grassroots movements centredjust part of a larger movement thats around the environment and Indigenoushappening where Indigenous people are peoples priorities.really reclaiming our rightful birth rights to language and culture, explains Belcourt. It was after organizing several languageAnd part of that is connecting back to the and land-based workshops and eventsland and connecting with the spirituality of that it became obvious there was a need toour people.move from offering one-time workshops where participants would come for oneBelcourt knows that having access to landA participant at Nimkii Aazhibikong, a camp committed to language revitilization and event for language and land-based learning,is important for all Indigenous generationssustainable living practicesto something more consistent so peopleand especially the coming generations. Ontario Native Womens Association55"