Have a Heart Day is a child and youth-led reconciliation event that brings together caring Canadians to help ensure First Nations children have the opportunity to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are. No matter where you live, you can still celebrate Have a Heart Day in your own way.
Take a look through the list below for ideas on how you can honour this day with your classes, families, or communities:
- Host your own Have a Heart Day event in your school or community! Choose a day leading up to Valentine’s Day that makes sense for your class or community. Gather in your library, gymnasium, or community centre and show your commitment to love and fairness for First Nations kids by singing songs, reading poems, and writing to elected officials. Download and edit the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society’s Have A Heart Day poster to use for your event.
- Send a Valentine’s Day card or letter supporting Have a Heart Day to the Prime Minister and your Member of Parliament. You can come up with your own card or letter, or use the letter and colouring pages from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.
- Get creative by completing our Snow Bears Activity or making some Have a Heart Day cookies with your class or family. Find the Snow Bears Learning Activity and Spirit Bear’s Recipe Cards in the resources below.
- Spread the word and post photos of your Have a Heart Day letter, cookies, snow bear, activity, or however you choose to celebrate on social media! Use the hashtag #HaveAHeartDay and/or #JourneeAyezUnCoeur. Follow @CaringSociety and @SpiritBear on Twitter and @SpiritBearAndFriends on Instagram and tag them in your festivities for a chance to be featured!
- Teachers, bring reconciliation into your classroom. Do the Project of Heart. For other great ideas, visit the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society’s website for Spirit Bear’s free resources, and don’t forget that you can take pawsitive action with Spirit Bear throughout the year!
- Listen or read Senator Kim Pate’s 2020 Have a Heart Day statement, in which she commends the children and emphasizes the importance of their cause.
Through activities like Have a Heart Day, we are creating a movement where the landscape of Canada is only one of honour and possibility for First Nations children.
