In April 2009, Dr. Goodall and Phil Fontaine (former National Chief Assembly of First Nations) announced a partnership with the goal of introducing Roots & Shoots programs to Aboriginal communities across Canada.

With funding from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Roots & Shoots has now hired Megan Schellenberg, our Aboriginal Program Coordinator, to run a Roots & Shoots pilot project in a select group of Aboriginal communities across Canada. She will assess their needs and then support the development and implementation of hands-on service projects in their communities, which will be designed to benefit their people, animals and environment.

The main goals of the project are to establish the relevance of Roots & Shoots as a tool to empower Aboriginal youth to make change in their own communities, and to provide a vehicle for Aboriginal youth to become more connected to their land, communities and cultural identity.

Megan Schellenberg, a First Nations woman from the Nippising area, comes to us from a recent contract position at the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) in Ottawa, Ontario, where her responsibilities included youth engagement, research, and establishing strong relationships with many First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. Her experiences will be invaluable in carrying out the Roots & Shoots pilot project. These include, managing a national suicide prevention program for Aboriginal youth, representing First Nations youth on a national advisory committee on mental health, participating in sweat lodge ceremonies, and exploring the beliefs and values through the Odawa Friendship Centre and their community groups.

A huge thank you to our wonderful and dedicated volunteers! Daniela and Judith have been extraordinary assets in all things communication and design. They work hard to creatively design all our newsletters and ads, and to create our logos and branding. Hamsha, Maggie and Erica have been busy volunteering at the office since last year, working on an array of projects, including putting resources together for Planet Releaf. Thank you to all our volunteers! We couldn't do it without all your support and commitment!