Artwork for this National Service Project was developed by Giselle Alfred, from the Namgis and Mamalilikulla First Nation, member of The National Youth Council, National Indigenous Advisory Circle, and third-year Ranger from Alert Bay BC, and supported by the design team at GGC.
National Service Project: ReconciliACTIONs
We’re wrapping up our last year of the 2021-2023 National Service Project: ReconciliACTIONs! Girl Guides of Canada has partnered with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF), to inspire girls to start or continue their journey of truth and reconciliation. Together with their peers and our dedicated volunteers, girls can make an impact for a better world both during and after the National Service Project (NSP).
This NSP has helped us deliver on our commitments to provide programming on residential schools and to partner with Indigenous-led organizations. DWF has offered its expertise in the form of its Legacy School Kits. These toolkits have materials to help girls of all ages explore the impact of residential schools on Indigenous people.
Guiders who sign up for the NSP will receive the DWF toolkit, which contains the following materials:
- A Legacy Schools ReconciliACTION Guide
- A Secret Path graphic novel and album download
- All kits come with this complimentary book, and it is a recommended resource for older girls. It is not suitable for Sparks and Embers. Check out the NSP instant meeting for Sparks and Embers for appropriate activities.
- A calendar of interesting events
- A flag to use during your reconciliACTIONs
Registered Guiders will also have access to DWF’s online events, which provide you with the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about how to use the resources in the toolkit.
If you haven’t registered for the NSP yet, you can sign up on Member Zone. Please keep in mind that the DWF toolkits are meant to be used in a large group setting. Even if you have a large unit, you need only one kit. If you have any questions about your unit size and the number of kits you need, you can email us at nsp@girlguides.ca.
All Guiders who sign up for the NSP and receive the initial DWF toolkit will receive a booster kit the next year to help them continue their journey of truth and reconciliation. The 2023 booster will include Buffy Sainte Marie’s book Still This Love Goes On with beautiful illustrations by Julie Flett. This book is a love letter to Indigenous communities everywhere and is appropriate for all ages. Still This Love Goes On is inspired by one of Buffy’s famous songs. Sheet music is included so that readers can play along.
- Please be aware that the kits are sent directly from DWF. It may take several weeks for the kits to arrive, so we ask you to be patient. You can email us at nsp@girlguides.ca with any questions.
- Check out this updated FAQ document for answers to some questions from the Guiding community
If you’ve already ordered a kit, and are either expecting a booster kit or awaiting your initial kit but need to change your address or contact info, you can do so using DWF’s Address change Form.
If you’re waiting for your kit to arrive, or if you’re looking for ways to further your education, you can do the following:
- Check out DWF’S online resources
- Read the Legacy Schools ReconciliACTION Guide. This guidebook has information about Residential Schools (page 19), reconciliACTIONs from around the country (page 16), and reconciliACTION ideas that you can share with your unit (page 27).
- Read some books by Indigenous authors. Check out the booklists for all ages from DWF.
- Check out the activity guides and resources on topics such as art, science, the Indian Act, cultural appropriation, and Indigenous languages on the DWF website.
- Check out the NSP instant meeting and platform activities
- Await the arrival of your kit
- This NSP is in its final year, and the form for ordering kits will close on April 15. The DWF toolkits are your starting point. They have resources inside to get your brainstorming going.
- Once you receive your toolkit, read and engage with the materials at a pace that works for your unit. Then you and your unit can decide on the reconciliACTION you’d like to take. There will also be learning supports along the way, like this resource that allows you to map out Chanie’s journey and shows the geography of Chanie’s life.
- Keep in mind that it may take two to three weeks for your kit to arrive after you register. You can choose to use the supplies this year or save them for the next Guiding year.
Share your reconciliACTION
Girls and Guiders are encouraged to share their reconciliACTIONs to inspire others across the country. When sharing images of this year’s NSP, please use only Girl Guides of Canada social tags to protect the rights of girl members. GGC will then share the images with DWF with the participants’ approval. Submit your reconciliACTION to Girl Guides.
Thousands of units have already taken part in this NSP. See some of their reconciliACTION stories.
Artist Ambassador program
The Artist Ambassador program, operated through DWF, brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous musicians, artists, and knowledge keepers into schools to share their art, music, and stories through workshops and/or performances. The program engages students in learning and conversations about reconciliation to increase awareness of and education regarding the legacy and impact of residential schools. Through partnerships with Indigenous artists, the program introduces a variety of art forms to youth. This program will continue even when this NSP ends. Check out the DWF website for more information. 
GGC’s first Artist Ambassador program event will be virtual and will take place on November 5, 2022.
Commitment crests
The NSP: ReconciliACTIONs crest was based on the designs of the National Indigenous Advisory Circle (NIAC) and created in partnership with DWF. You can find the crest in The Girl Guide Store!
Previous National Service Projects:
2019 – 2020: A Better World, By Girls
For the 10th anniversary of the NSP, GGC focused on the vision: a better world, by girls. To celebrate this anniversary and GGC's new vision, girls across Canada rallied together to define what their better world looks like and then took actions to create it.
2016 – 2018: Action on Poverty
Inspired by the 1st Seymour Guides’ submission, the title “Action on Poverty” embodies the spirit of service by putting girls into action. Action on Poverty aims to reduce the harmful effects of poverty by building understanding, empathy, and compassion for those living in poverty while reducing its stigma through continuous learning and dialogue. This is done through a service-learning approach that combines a service project with instant meeting activities.
2015 – 2016: Words in Action
Words in Action focused on MDG 2 - Achieve Universal Primary Education through the theme of “Literacy”. The goal of the NSP was to increase girls’ interest in reading and writing, promote the importance of literacy, increase access to books and information for communities across Canada, and more. This was done through active games and service activities such as hosting a book drive in their community, hosting a book exchange during a unit meeting, and volunteering to read at a library.
2012 – 2014: Operation Earth Action
Operation Earth Action was based on the United Nation’s MDG #7 - ensuring environmental sustainability. It focused on performing service for the environment in fun and inspiring ways. Girls pledged or participated in activities that focused on at least two of the following areas:
Reduce use of plastic water bottles and/or shopping bags
Reduce the distance their food travels
Make homemade green products
Plant trees in a public space
Reduce energy consumption
Support and build animal habitats
Upcycle materials from trash to treasure
2011: EmPOWERing Girls
EmPOWERing Girls was based on the United Nations' MDG #3 - promoting gender equality and empowering women. It focused on learning about issues facing girls and women around the world. One component of the NSP was to have girl and adult members sign PLAN Canada’s petition asking the Canadian government, and the United Nations, to create an International Day of the Girl.
2010: Eradicating Poverty and Hunger
In its inaugural year, our NSP was based on the United Nation’s MDG #1 – eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. More than 16,000 members committed to over 68,000 acts to end hunger and poverty through various activities.