This program promotes cultural pride and creative expression for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants. The program aims to foster cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of Indigenous arts and culture through a variety of community events and educational activities such as cultural festivals featuring traditional music, dance, cultural ceremonies, and storytelling with art exhibitions and pop-up performances in schools and community centers. Film screenings and storytelling nights will share Indigenous histories and contemporary issues, encouraging audience engagement. To preserve cultural traditions, the program is to offer in person and online art education workshops about Indigenous crafts and arts led by Indigenous artists.
This program is designed to foster economic empowerment and career advancement for Indigenous participants by providing practical training and hands-on experience in business, trades, and digital literacy. Participants will gain essential skills that equip them to succeed in the workforce. Whether through business development training or learning a trade, the program emphasizes building pathways to economic independence. The program supports Indigenous entrepreneurs and workers by offering the knowledge and tools they need to create sustainable livelihoods, promote self-sufficiency, and contribute to their communities. Through this initiative, participants will have the opportunity to develop long-term skills that open doors to career advancement, fostering economic resilience within Indigenous communities.
This program emphasizes cultural connections, inter-generational knowledge-sharing, and holistic health practices to foster overall wellness and preserve Indigenous heritage through the enhancement of mental, physical, and social well-being of Indigenous seniors. The program’s activities include a wide range of offerings, including workshops with culturally relevant content, mental health workshops, and physical wellness activities such as low-impact fitness and nature walks. Seniors are provided with opportunities to participate in group social activities, lifelong learning programs, cultural ceremonies, and elder-led cultural storytelling. Through these leisure activities, they share traditions and wisdom with younger generations, while also addressing issues of isolation, loneliness, and mental health.
Pardon Me is a program (also called a record suspension) that allows people who were previously convicted of a criminal offence, but have completed their sentence and shown they are law-abiding citizens , to have their criminal record set aside. This means their record is kept separate from other active criminal records.
Pardon Me Documents Service is the first Indigenous-led Record Suspension service in Canada, created specifically to support Indigenous people and communities. The program was developed to address the unique barriers faced by Indigenous applicants in clearing their criminal records, ensuring accessibility, fairness, and culturally relevant support.
Pardons/record suspensions are issued by the federal government of Canada. Once granted, a search of the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) will not reveal that the individual had a criminal record or that they were issued a pardon/record suspension.
Unlike other services, Pardon Me takes on the full responsibility of the application process. Applicants do not need to directly interact with the RCMP, Courthouse, or the Parole Board unless a hearing is required. This approach significantly reduces stress, confusion, and delays often associated with navigating the justice system.
A key feature of the program is its community-based approach. Staff travel directly to First Nations communities to meet with applicants, providing face-to-face guidance and personalized service. This ensures inclusivity for individuals who may face geographic, financial, or systemic barriers to accessing these services.
The program also offers:
• Record Suspension Applications (Pardons)
• Fingerprinting Services
• Criminal Record Checks
• U.S. Travel Waivers
