Together in Unity Circle: Impact in 2025

The Together in Unity Circle is responsible for assessing grant applications and choosing projects to fund through the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF).

The IRF supports initiatives that address the historical trauma, intergenerational impacts, and systemic injustices faced by Indigenous people. Regional IRF projects recommended for funding support at least one of the following four funding priorities:

1. Healing and reconciliation for communities and families
2. Culture and language revitalization
3. Education and community building
4. Dialogues for promoting Indigenous spirituality and culture

Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF)

In 2025, approximately $1 million was disbursed to five different projects in the Treaty 7 region. The donations for the IRF have been received from the parishioners of the Diocese of Calgary through the Together in Action Campaign. A total of $3 million is expected to be disbursed over three years.

Projects funded in 2025:
​

• Bridging Paths: Healing and Reconciliation with Indigenous Communities. 
  Miywasin Friendship Centre in Medicine Hat will offer language camps, workshops, healing circles, and seasonal sweatlodges where Indigenous families can connect with Elders and cultural teachings.
  
  
• Advancing Healing and Reconciliation in the Greater Calgary Region. 
  Calgary Aboriginal Friendship Centre delivers tools to hold facilitated dialogue with Indigenous and Non-Indigenous peoples to discuss historical traumas and impacts, and to provide context to these issues, to bridge divides, and to bring our communities together.
  
  
• Circle of Wisdom: Model of Caring Framework.
  Circle of Wisdom Elders Senior Society presents this project which starts with Elders and their traditional teachings and traditional ceremonies for our seniors network; encouraging us to acknowledge our resilience in “Keeping the Circle Strong.” We honour the past, present, and future of our communities to continue walking in the footsteps of our grandfathers and grandmothers.
  
  
• Celebrating and Sharing Indigenous Knowledge with Newcomers.
  This Indigenous Newcomer Education project aims to foster understanding and respect for Indigenous cultures among newcomers through a series of educational and cultural events, including Pow Wows, Blanket Exercise, Pipe Ceremonies, storytelling, and workshops.
  
  
• Coming Home
  This project from Brown Bear Woman Events is geared to heal and give elder and youth generations the opportunity to reconnect to Tsuut'ina language and culture. Through positive elder and youth interactions, games, storytelling, on-the-land learning, hands-on teepee raising, the history of artifacts, buffalo teachings, and other experiences, the project supports language and culture revitalization while restoring self-identity and belonging.

​For more information about the Together in Unity Circle and IRF funding opportunities, visit: catholicyyc.ca/IRFfunding