About Chimeda - guiding principles
Chimeda - Paddling together
Chimeda events have brought Anishinabeg people of Kitigan Zibi together with folks living in Wakefield and Chelsea and beyond to paddle the Gatineau River to Ottawa. The communities share the Gatineau watershed, a love for the traditions and culture of paddling, and a love and respect for nature. We want to get to know one another, and paddling the river is a great way to do it.
Vision
That Chimeda-style canoe trips take place on shared watersheds where settler and Indigenous communities can come together to share their love of paddling and get to know one another to develop lasting bonds and friendships.
Mission
Through Chimeda style canoe trips, real reconciliation can happen based on friendship, building trust, and respecting and loving the natural world.
Guiding principles
Fun and friendship
Ensure that the trip is doable by all participants, and that you have time for paddlers of different skill levels or strength.
Politician and business-free
Reconciliation and love of nature is political but we want to our trips free of politicians and organizations with differing agendas. For that reason, we do not accept donations from political parties or groups not directly related to the environment, youth support or paddling.
Inexpensive and safe
We raised money to pay for transportation, food, and to pay elders, and if required, guides and insurance.
Include cultural learning
Indigenous and settler communities have deep cultural ties to waterways and to paddling. There are people out there with knowledge to share - reach out to them.
Keep it balanced
Decision-making should be balanced between settlers and Indigenous community members, and decisions should be made by consensus. If possible, keep the number of participants from each community balanced as well.
Asking for help is a great way to bring people together.
Folks from Kitigan Zibi and Wakefield came together by both offering, and asking, for help. When you ask for help, you’re acknowledging what you don’t know and areas where you wish to improve.
Chimeda/We are paddling is organized by parents and youth in Kitigan Zibi, Wakefield, and Chelsea, QC. Currently, our group includes:
Celine Whiteduck, Scott Duncan, Patrick Henry, Jasmine Chatelain, Pam Martin, Samantha Warskett, Bastienne Duncan Chatelain, Emily Rose Michaud, Jan Cote, Keenon Diabo, Elena Martin Dale, Isaac Tenasco, and Keiran Warskett.
Chimeda events have brought Anishinabeg people of Kitigan Zibi together with folks living in Wakefield and Chelsea and beyond to paddle the Gatineau River to Ottawa. The communities share the Gatineau watershed, a love for the traditions and culture of paddling, and a love and respect for nature. We want to get to know one another, and paddling the river is a great way to do it.
Vision
That Chimeda-style canoe trips take place on shared watersheds where settler and Indigenous communities can come together to share their love of paddling and get to know one another to develop lasting bonds and friendships.
Mission
Through Chimeda style canoe trips, real reconciliation can happen based on friendship, building trust, and respecting and loving the natural world.
Guiding principles
Fun and friendship
Ensure that the trip is doable by all participants, and that you have time for paddlers of different skill levels or strength.
Politician and business-free
Reconciliation and love of nature is political but we want to our trips free of politicians and organizations with differing agendas. For that reason, we do not accept donations from political parties or groups not directly related to the environment, youth support or paddling.
Inexpensive and safe
We raised money to pay for transportation, food, and to pay elders, and if required, guides and insurance.
Include cultural learning
Indigenous and settler communities have deep cultural ties to waterways and to paddling. There are people out there with knowledge to share - reach out to them.
Keep it balanced
Decision-making should be balanced between settlers and Indigenous community members, and decisions should be made by consensus. If possible, keep the number of participants from each community balanced as well.
Asking for help is a great way to bring people together.
Folks from Kitigan Zibi and Wakefield came together by both offering, and asking, for help. When you ask for help, you’re acknowledging what you don’t know and areas where you wish to improve.
Chimeda/We are paddling is organized by parents and youth in Kitigan Zibi, Wakefield, and Chelsea, QC. Currently, our group includes:
Celine Whiteduck, Scott Duncan, Patrick Henry, Jasmine Chatelain, Pam Martin, Samantha Warskett, Bastienne Duncan Chatelain, Emily Rose Michaud, Jan Cote, Keenon Diabo, Elena Martin Dale, Isaac Tenasco, and Keiran Warskett.