This fall, the Moose Hide Campaign Youth Engagement Team gathered with students in Kingston for a fasting ceremony on the land. It was a morning of reflection, commitment, and connection.
The youth came together in a circle, committing to create safety and respect in their schools and communities. As the sun rose through the trees, they sat in stillness, listening to the land and to one another. Each young person fasted for the morning, including one student who had already begun their day at 4 a.m., working until 7 before getting ready for school and joining the ceremony.
We began the day with a smudge around the fire, and introductions. The youth all introduced themselves in their traditional language, it was incredibly powerful to witness. There were no speeches, no formal agenda, just the powerful medicine of intention. Together, they fasted to honour those affected by violence and to strengthen their own responsibility to stand up against it.
We broke fast with berries and water before enjoying a meal of traditional foods prepared by an Indigenous Caterer. The aroma of food arriving filled the air, drawing the circle back together for a meal rooted in gratitude and community. The breaking of the fast was a moment of celebration and of courage, compassion, and hope for the future.
These youth are walking the path of change. Each pin they wear is far more than a symbol. It’s a commitment to action, to kindness, and to carrying the medicine forward.
They remind us that the next generation is not waiting for change, they are it.
