On Nov. 24, The YMCA of Central East Ontario is hosting a Peace Medal Ceremony, celebrating a Nogojiwanong community member who has made significant contributions toward peace-building through grassroots efforts.
Mkwa Ghiizis (Crystal Hebert) will be honoured at the YMCA Balsillie Family Branch at noon. Mkwa is a 2-spirit water protector, artist and advocate living in the Nogojiwanong community since 2006.
They are the founder of Tweak Easy, a grassroots overdose prevention site. They organize advocacy rallies, vigils and marches, holding events that bring community members and organizations together in finding grassroots solutions to the opioid and homelessness crisis. They focus on low-barrier access to ceremony, medicines and support for those experiencing systemic failures, as well as those engaging in sex work or drug use from an Indigenous Harm Reduction approach.
From Nov. 12 to 19, the YMCA recognizes Peace Week. The YMCA of Central East Ontario, together with other YMCAs across Canada, are celebrating the presence of peace and reflecting on peace-building work that happens through the organization. During YMCA Peace Week they honour those at the forefront of these peace-building efforts.
The YMCA recognizes Mkwa’s work as a voice for those experiencing systemic failures within the community.
“The recipient of the YMCA Peace Medal demonstrates that peace has many dimensions. They show us the importance of building community, where people feel that they belong and are included. Most often their actions started small and grew into something bigger than themselves. That is the power of peace,” says David Allen, president and CEO of the YMCA of Central East Ontario.