For decades, Harry Snowboy has walked alongside Indigenous youth, offering counseling, support and cultural connection. He’s now partnered with our team to launch “Mi Yoi Moon," our first our first Elder-In-Residence program. Mii Yoi Moon, which in Cree means "to have peace within and peace throughout,” is helping us further integrate Indigenous knowledge into our programs and services for the young people we help at Covenant House.
Q: How long have you been sharing your knowledge in this context – helping others heal, learn, understand? When did that start for you?
A: Since my first waking moment, my life has been about the spirituality of our people. I remember being asked ‘What do you see in the future?’ And people would ask me about their dreams. My grandmother told me ‘This is our family; this is who we are.’ My great grandfather was a recognized medicine person, and he had instructed me that somebody in the family had to continue. As my grandmother put it ‘someone has to remember.’
Q: Could you tell us how you came to join us as part of this program?
A: I was approached by the team at Covenant House for support reaching out to Indigenous youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking. The ask was for me to provide healing, wellness, community building, consultation, staff training, and data services. When I met the staff, I toured the facility, when I saw the youth and what is offered here in terms of care and support, I knew I wanted to be part of it and use my relationships and connection with the Indigenous community in Toronto to help youth get the help they need.
Q: What does this partnership look like in practice?
A: We have cultural nights at Covenant House where we talk about identity and share customs. Educating staff has been very important so I meet with them regularly. I go down to meet with staff when they change shifts to connect with them and talk about what they’re seeing with youth.
Q: What’s been impactful to you so far about this work?
A: I’ve really enjoyed speaking with the staff who’ve visited the office while I’m here. Some start telling me they have an Indigenous background somewhere along the line and it’s a search for connection. The cultural nights have been great: we talk about our ceremonies, the path to self-identity, why the Earth is important to us, and why our nations and names are such a strong part of our identity too. Culture night is a chance to ask us questions and build engagement with youth.
Q: How does connection with identity ultimately help youth in their journeys forward?
A: I’ve been in this field for so long, the young people I’ve worked with when they were 10, 11 years old, they’re now in their 20s and I see the powerful impact connecting with culture has made on them. It gives them peace and confidence. For them, it’s knowing what’s behind you, knowing where you want to go. From there, there is incredible possibility.