Year of Listening
Deep Listening
An invitation to slow down and reconnect ā with yourself, your loved ones, the land, and your culture.
Rooted in Indigenous values, this journey celebrates the wisdom of our ancestors and the transformative power of deep listening.
Why Deep Listening?
Deep listening is an act of stillness and presence. By listening deeplyāto ourselves, the land, and one anotherāwe honour the teachings of our ancestors and create space for healing, growth, and cultural revitalization.
How it Works
Each month features prompts and practices to help you:
- Pause and embrace stillness
- Deepen your connection to yourself, your community, and the land.
- Find wisdom in reflection and grow
Ways to Participate
Explore your reflections through journaling, art, storytelling, or meditation.
Connect with our monthly themes and activities in a way that feels meaningful to you.
Join our Facebook Group to share your journey and insights!
This journey is yours to shape. Whether you join every month or just a few times a year, let it guide you toward meaningful connection and reflection.
Share your Experience
If you are comfortable sharing some of your reflections or your experience participating in our Year of Listening journey, we invite you to continue the conversation over on our social media pages!
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January āØ Reflection & Intention
ā Reflection Prompt:
Start the new year with clarity and purpose! Letās honour the wisdom of 2024 while planting seeds of intention for 2025.
- ā¤ļø What intentions will guide you this year as you listen to yourself, the land, and your community?
- Choose one powerful intention for each month that uplifts and energizes you.
- This isnāt about rigid resolutionsāitās about cultivating practices that give you life, connection, and meaning.
āļø Reflection Questions:
- What wisdom from 2024 has shaped your understanding of yourself, your relationships, and your connection to the land? How can this guide your intentions for 2025?
- When you take a moment to truly listenāwhether to yourself, the natural world, or your communityāwhat do you hear calling for your attention or care this year?
- What role does your connection to your culture and ancestry play in shaping your intentions for 2025? How does this connection inspire and guide you?
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Pause & Feel
Close your eyes and connect with winterāfeel the wind on your skin, the vibrations beneath you, and the distant sounds around you. Let this moment of stillness ground you in the season.
Listen to Sounds of Winter
Click the link to hear a short audio clip and immerse yourself in the serene rhythms of winterālet the sounds transport you to the heart of the season.
Winter Solstice Poem
A heartfelt poem from a community member.
Letter to You
Write a letter to yourself, dated for this day in 2026. Reflect on what the past year has taught you and the intentions you hope to carry forward into 2025. Include words of encouragement, hope, and self-compassion. Seal the letter, place it somewhere safe to revisit next year and set a reminder for yourself (on your calendar) to return to it. By writing a letter to yourself, you are creating a personal tradition of reflection and growth.
Create
Create something inspired by your cultureāart, a craft, or a recipeāand reflect on its connection to your roots. Draw inspiration from winterās stillness and your cultural teachings. Paint a snowy scene, craft with winter-inspired colours, or prepare a traditional winter recipe to honour the season. Reflect on how your creation connects you to the lessons of resilience and renewal.
Gratitude Jar
Decorate a jar to use throughout the year. Begin by writing down things youāre grateful for from 2024 and intentions for the new year on slips of paper. Add to the jar regularly, creating a collection of positive reflections to revisit when you need inspiration.
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February š Gratitude for Connections
ā Reflection Prompt:
This month, we focus on Gratitude for the Land, Loved Ones, and Ancestorsāhonouring the important relationships that ground us.
- ā¤ļø Who or what are you grateful for today? How does gratitude deepen your connections?
- šæ Take time to reflect on a meaningful relationshipāwhether with the land, family, or community.
- š Share a story or practice of gratitude thatās close to your heart. Letās celebrate the connections that nourish us.
āļø Reflection Questions:
- What moments of connectionāwhether with loved ones, the land, or ancestorsāare you most grateful for lately? How have they shaped or strengthened you?
- When you take time to quietly observe the world around you, what do you notice about your relationship with the land and its rhythms? How does this observation inspire gratitude?
- What story or teaching shared by a loved one or Elder has stayed with you? How does it influence your understanding of gratitude and connection?
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Listen to Elderās Stories (9mins)
Elder Marjorie Muise, a Miākmaw Elder from Bay St. George, warmly reflects on her childhood winters surrounded by family and the traditions that sustained them. Her story weaves together memories of community, resilience, and the magic of the winter solsticeāfrom harvesting firewood by horse and sled, to the simple joys of storytelling, ice fishing, and the moonlit beauty of freshly fallen snow. As you listen, reflect on the wisdom passed down through generations and the enduring lessons of endurance, connection, and the quiet magic of winter. Let her words inspire your own reflections on how winter shapes your traditions and sense of self.
Story Journaling
After listening to a loved one or an Elderās story, write down the parts that resonated with you the most. Reflect on why these moments stood out and what lessons they hold for you.
I can smell the snow
Elder Marjorie Muise, a Miākmaw Elder from Bay St. George, invites you to immerse yourself in the imagery and emotions of her poem, āI Can Smell the Snowā. Through her words, she captures the essence of the winter solsticeāits shorter days, longer nights, and the renewal found in the seasonās first snowfall. Her poem reflects on traditions passed down through generations, the warmth of connection, and the quiet magic of renewal under a blanket of snow. As you listen, let her poetic voice inspire you to reflect on the stories, memories, and feelings the winter season evokes in your own life.
Silent Observation
Choose a window to look out of or a calm space to sit. Observe whatās happening around you without speaking or reactingājust quietly notice the world. Reflect on what you noticed in the stillness that you might usually overlook.
Silence
A poem by one of our community members. This poem invites you to explore the transformative power of stillness and silence. Through vivid imagery, it reframes quiet moments as spaces for creation, healing, and resilience. As you read, reflect on how pauses in your own lifeāthose spaces between words, actions, and seasonsāoffer opportunities for renewal and strength. Let this poem guide you in finding intention and courage in moments of stillness.
Connection Offering
Make or gather something meaningfulāa handmade craft, a bundle of cedar or sage, or a baked treatāand offer it to someone who has impacted your life. Reflect on the act of giving as a way to honour and strengthen your connection.
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March šŖ Resilience & Strength
ā Reflection Prompt:
March is all about celebrating the incredible resilience within you and the land. Like natureās ability to thrive through storms, our inner strength carries us through lifeās challenges.
- ā¤ļø What is a moment of resilience you have experienced, and how did it shape you?
- šæ Embrace acts of resilience by reconnecting with cultural teachings, finding strength in nature, or reflecting on moments that have defined your growth. Together, we honour the resilience that helps us thrive.
āļø Reflection Questions:
- What challenges have you faced that revealed your inner strength? How did these moments shape your perspective on resilience and personal growth?
- How do the cycles of natureālike the changing seasons or the growth of a plantāreflect your own lifeās transitions? What lessons of resilience can you draw from these parallels?
- What qualities, values, or strengths do you contribute to your community? How can these gifts inspire or support others during times of challenge?
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Visualization
Sit quietly and visualize a cycle that resonates with you, such as the moon phases, a plantās growth, or the flow of seasons. Imagine yourself moving through each phase. How do you feel in each stage? What thoughts come to your mind? Reflect on how this cycle parallels transitions in your life.
Gathering your Gifts
Collect items that symbolize the unique qualities, values, or strengths you bring to your community. These could be tangible objects like a small stone, a meaningful photo, or something you create, or symbolic representations like a drawing or a word written on paper. Reflect on how each item represents the ways you contribute to othersāthrough kindness, creativity, or wisdom. Keep this collection as a reminder of your role in building and supporting community, even from afar.
Skill Building
Choose one skill or hobby that you believe could benefit your community in the futureālike cooking, storytelling, sewing, or even learning a traditional craft. Spend time today practicing or exploring this skill. Reflect on how building your abilities now can become a gift you share with others later.
Stretching (15mins)
Take a few moments to reconnect with your body through gentle movements that promote grounding and relaxation. These stretches are perfect for easing tension, improving circulation, and finding a sense of calm, whether youāre at home, at work, or anywhere in between. Let this practice remind you of the importance of pausing, breathing, and caring for your physical well-being.
Light a Candle
Welcome the spring equinox by lighting a candle as a symbol of balance and renewal, honouring the equal hours of light and darkness that mark this turning point. Take a moment to reflect on the growth you see in the natural worldābuds on trees, longer days, and the return of warmthāand consider the growth you wish to nurture within yourself. Offer gratitude for the opportunities this season brings, whether through quiet reflection, a prayer, or a small offering to the land, and set intentions for the new beginnings and possibilities ahead.
Natureās Resilience
Take a walk or sit in a place where you can observe natureās strengthātrees standing tall in the wind, plants growing through cracks in the earth, or animals adapting to the season. Reflect on how nature mirrors your own resilience.
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April š± Awakening & Growth
ā Reflection Prompt:
With springās arrival, we celebrate Growth and Changeāin the land and within ourselves.
- ā¤ļø What new growth is emerging in your life, and how can you nurture it?
- šæ Try something new this month! Whether itās reconnecting with a cultural tradition, learning a word in your language, or exploring a new creative outlet, let this season of growth inspire you.
āļø Reflection Questions:
- What areas of your life are experiencing growth or change this season? How can you support this growth while staying grounded in your values and connections?
- How does the land around you reflect the themes of awakening and growth? What lessons can you learn from observing the changes in nature this spring?
- What new opportunities for growth and connection have you discovered this spring? How can these moments bring you closer to your roots or community?
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Roots & Leaves
Participants will draw a tree to represent their life, labeling the roots with the people, traditions, and experiences that have shaped them, the trunk with their current strengths and challenges, and the leaves with their hopes and dreams for the future. They can add fruit to symbolize personal achievements or contributions theyāre proud of, creating a vibrant reflection of their growth journey.
Gathering at the Roots
The creatures of the forest expand their circle, welcoming new voices, but in doing so, drift away from the cedarās roots. When Hare and Fox urge them to reflect, they realize the importance of staying grounded in the connections that hold them together. By returning to the roots and weaving new paths, they restore their circle and strengthen the forest, balancing growth with deep connection.
Guided Meditation (3mins)
Short and quick 3-minute guided breathing meditation to help you recognize symptoms of anxiety and reset your mind.
Prepare your Space
Clean a space that is meaningful to you. Maybe itās a space where you do creative work, or a space where you feel safe and like to unwind. Bring in the positive energy by giving your favourite space some patience and care.
Spring (poem)
Read this springtime poem by Elder Marjorie Muise.
Read an Elderās Story
Read this springtime story by Elder Marjorie Muise.
Explore Signs of Growth
Take a walk outside and look for signs of springānew buds, flowing water, or returning birds. Reflect on how these changes mirror growth in your own life and inspire you to embrace new beginnings.
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May š¤š½ Connecting with Community
ā Reflection Prompt:
May is all about coming togetherāstrengthening the bonds that unite us with family, community, and culture.
- ā¤ļø How do you strengthen and support your community? What does community mean to you?
- šæ Join a community gathering, a program, or simply spend meaningful time with loved ones. Letās come together to celebrate the bonds that make us stronger.
āļø Reflection Questions:
- What does community mean to you, and how do the connections you share with family, culture, and the land shape your sense of belonging?
- Who in your community has had a significant impact on your life? How can you honour and strengthen that connection this month?
- What moments or experiences make you feel most connected to your community, and how can you create more of those opportunities?
Explore and Engage
Gratitude Mapping
Create a visual map of the connections youāre grateful for. Include the land, your ancestors, your loved ones, and any meaningful relationships. Add drawings, symbols or words that capture how each connection nourishes you.
Heartfelt Gratitude
Write a Letter to someone who has had a profound impact on your life, expressing your gratitude for the connection you share. Take time to reflect on the moments, lessons, or support this person has given you and how theyāve shaped your journey. Use your letter to celebrate the connection you share, whether itās a family member, mentor, friend, or Elder. Let your words express the depth of your gratitude and the meaningful ways this relationship has enriched your life.
Sharing Wisdom through Food
Prepare or share a meal that reflects a teaching or tradition. Honour your culture and roots by preparing a meal that carries a special meaning or story, drawing from teachings or traditions passed down through generations. Consider incorporating seasonal ingredients to connect with the land and the rhythms of nature. As you cook or share the meal, reflect on the values and memories tied to the food and the way it nourishes not just the body, but also the spirit and community.
Gather
Gather with community members or loved ones to share stories, experiences, or reflections. Use this time to strengthen bonds, learn from each other, and celebrate the power of coming together. Visit our Community Events Calendar to see what’s happening and how you can participate!
Contribution
Perform a small act of kindness that aligns with your strengths and doesnāt require in-person connection. This could be writing a supportive message to someone, donating to a cause you care about, or creating something to share later (like a piece of art or a thoughtful letter). Reflect on how these quiet contributions build community over time.
Shared Spaces
Give back to your community by cleaning a shared space, planting something in a community garden, or volunteering your time at an organization that takes care of the people that matter to you.
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June šŗ Cultural Revitalization
ā Reflection Prompt:
June is all about celebrating the heartbeat of our culturesāthe traditions, ceremonies, and languages that have shaped us for generations.
- ā¤ļø How do you honour your culture, and what traditions or practices do you want to revitalize?
- š Dedicate time to learning or practicing your language, create something rooted in tradition, or attend a cultural event.
āļø Reflection Questions:
- What traditions, languages, or cultural practices have shaped your identity? How can you nurture these elements to strengthen your connection to your heritage?
- What does cultural revitalization mean to you personally, and how can embracing your culture inspire and uplift your community?
- How can the values and teachings from your culture guide your choices and actions today? What steps can you take to ensure these values are carried forward for future generations?
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Seeds of the Future
Reflect on the legacy you are leaving for future generations by examining your impact on the planet. Identify one small, meaningful change you can make to reduce your environmental impact and set respectful examples for your community, such as conserving water, considering places where its practical for you to switch to sustainably packaged items, or ensuring you pick up a piece of litter in a shared space.
Values Vision
Imagine yourself in the future. What kind of person are you, and what matters most to you? Think about values like kindness, respect, or caring for the land. Write down or draw the values you want to live by. These will guide your choices and help you create the future you dream of.
Language
Challenge yourself to learn a new word or phrase in your language. Every word is a step toward connecting with your culture.
Support
Support local Indigenous businesses and creators by purchasing or even sharing their work. Celebrate the creativity and resilience of Indigenous entrepreneurs and artists by exploring their offeringsāwhether itās art, clothing, crafts, or traditional foods. Purchasing their work directly supports their efforts to sustain cultural traditions and share them with the wider community. If youāre unable to purchase, consider amplifying their voices by sharing their work with friends, family, or on social media to help spread awareness and appreciation for their contributions.
Contribution
Get together with community members, or work solo, to create something that reflects your cultural heritage. This could be beadwork, weaving, pottery, or any traditional craft. Let this activity be a celebration of creativity and culture, whether shared with others in a collaborative setting or enjoyed as a personal reflection. Use this time to explore the stories, values, or memories tied to these traditions and consider how they continue to shape your identity today.
Shine Bright
Wear jewelry or clothing that reflects your culture, or display cultural art in your home. Celebrate your heritage by incorporating meaningful cultural items into your daily life. Reflect on how these pieces tell a story and embody the beauty, resilience, and strength of your cultural identity.
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July š Reciprocity with the Land
ā Reflection Prompt:
July is a time to honour our deep relationship with the Earthāto recognize that just as the land sustains us, we must give back in return.
- ā¤ļø What can you give back to the land that sustains you?
- š Engage in acts of reciprocity by planting trees, cleaning up a natural area, or offering traditional gifts to the land as a sign of respect. Letās honour and nurture the earth that nurtures us.
āļø Reflection Questions:
- What does reciprocity with the land mean to you, and how can you honour the gifts the Earth provides in your daily life?
- How can you deepen your connection to the land by learning its stories or history? What can these stories teach you about your role in caring for it?
- What small yet meaningful actions can you take to protect and nurture the land and waterways around you? How do these actions reflect your gratitude and respect for the Earth?
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Story Stone
Find a stone or small natural object from the land you visit. Hold it in your hand and reflect on what stories it might carry from the past. Keep it as a reminder of the connection you felt with the land.
Land Offering
Leave a small offering, such as a pinch of tobacco, cedar, or another meaningful item, as a way of giving thanks to the land. Reflect on what you are grateful for and the stories the land holds.
Under the Night Sky
Spend an evening under the stars, reflecting on your place in the natural world and the vastness of the land. Consider how the land and sky are interconnected and how you are part of this greater system
Water’s Memory
Take a moment to honour water as a sacred source of life and a keeper of memory, carrying the stories of the land and its people through time. Reflect on the interconnectedness of water to your own life, culture, and community, and consider the ways it has sustained you and those who came before you. Think about how you can protect and preserve waterwaysāwhether by reducing waste, conserving water, or advocating for cleaner water sourcesāto ensure its vitality for future generations. As you reflect, recognize water not just as a resource, but as a living presence that remembers and connects us all.
When the Land Speaks
A poem by one of our community members. This poignant poem invites you to reflect on the feelings of being lost and the journey toward rediscovering yourself. Through vivid imagery and powerful questions, it explores themes of disconnection, intuition, and the guidance offered by the land and ancestral wisdom. As you read, consider the ways you find your own groundingāwhether through trusting your instincts, listening to natureās whispers, or reconnecting with your heritage. Let this poem serve as a reminder that even in moments of uncertainty, the land and the wisdom within you are there to guide you home.
Wetlands
In this reflection piece, Elder Marjorie Muise shares a personal and powerful connection to the wetlands of western Newfoundland. Weaving together cultural knowledge, lived experience, and ecological insight, she speaks to the gifts these landscapes offerāfood, healing, balance, and beauty. Through this reflection, Elder Muise calls on all of us to protect and honour these landsānot only for ourselves, but for future generations.
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August āļø Balance & Reflection
ā Reflection Prompt:
As summer gently fades, August invites us to pause and reflectāfinding balance in the transition between warmth and the cooler days ahead.
- ā¤ļø How do you maintain balance between work, family, culture, and self?
- šæ Take time to reflect on your personal balance and practice self-care. Engage in mindfulness activities or cultural practices that help you find equilibrium. Letās cultivate harmony within ourselves as we navigate this seasonal change.
āļø Reflection Questions:
- Which areas of your lifeāwork, family, culture, or self-careāfeel most in balance, and which could use more attention? What small steps can you take to create greater harmony?
- How does the transition from summer to cooler days mirror transitions in your own life? What lessons can you learn from this seasonal shift?
- As the season shifts, what seasonal medicines or gifts from the land have you gathered, and what remains to be done before summer fades? How can this reflection guide your actions in these final weeks of warmth?
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Disconnect
Set aside a few minutes or hours for a digital disconnect. Turn off the screens, social media, and technology. Spend that time reflecting, practicing self-care, or engaging in a cultural activity that replenishes your energy.
Sound Cycles
Use your voice, an instrument, or even household objects to create a repeating rhythm or sound pattern that reflects a cycle youāre experiencing. Experiment with changes in speed, volume, or tone to mimic the ebb and flow of transitions in life.
Movement Exploration
Put on some music and allow your body to guide you through gentle, freeform movement. This could be stretching, swaying, or even a slow dance. Let go of structure and focus on how each part of your body feels as you move. This practice helps connect with your bodyās natural rhythms and needs.
Grounding
Engage in a physical practice like yoga, stretching, or walking barefoot on the land. Reflect on how connecting with your body helps you feel centered and in tune with your surroundings.
Seasonal Meal
Take this opportunity to connect with the land by incorporating fresh, locally harvested ingredients into your meal. Consider gathering seasonal gifts from nature, such as berries, herbs, or vegetables, as a way to honour the abundance of late summer. As you prepare and enjoy your meal, reflect on the effort and care the earth provides in sustaining you, and express gratitude for the nourishment it offers. Let this act of cooking and eating become a celebration of the landās generosity and your relationship with it.
Balance Wheel
Create a balance wheel that reflects the different areas in your life (such as work, family, culture, health, self-care) and reflect on which areas need more attention. Set small intentions to get closer to your equilibrium.
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September š¼ Honouring Elders & Knowledge Keepers
ā Reflection Prompt:
September is a month of profound respect and reflection as we honour the invaluable wisdom of our Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers.
- ā¤ļø What wisdom has been shared with you by Elders, and how will you carry it forward?
- šæ Take time to connect with an Elder or a knowledge keeper, whether through a phone call, a visit, or even a letter. Reflect on the lessons you’ve learned from them and think about how you can incorporate that wisdom into your life. Letās honour and amplify the voices of those who guide us.
āļø Reflection Questions:
- What is one piece of wisdom or teaching an Elder or Knowledge Keeper has shared with you? How has it influenced your choices or perspective?
- How can you honour the wisdom and experiences of Elders in your community? What actions can you take to ensure their voices are heard and valued?
- As you reflect on the legacy of residential school survivors and the importance of truth and healing, how can you contribute to carrying forward their stories and honouring their resilience?
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Pray
Dedicate time to pray for the Elders and Knowledge Keepers in your life. Offer a prayer of gratitude for their resilience, their commitment to preserving traditions, and the knowledge they continue to pass down through generations. Consider including a gesture of honour, such as lighting a candle, offering tobacco, or spending time outdoors in a space that connects you to their teachings, as a way to show your respect and appreciation for their invaluable role in your life and community
Participate
Participate in events to honour the legacy of residential school survivors. Engage in ceremonies or community gatherings that recognize the resilience and strength of survivors and their families. Take time to listen, learn, and reflect on their stories, and consider how you can contribute to ongoing healing and reconciliation efforts. These events are an opportunity to honour their experiences while fostering understanding and connection within your community.
Wear Orange
Wear your orange shirt with pride and engage in discussions about the importance of truth and healing. Let your orange shirt be a symbol of remembrance and solidarity with residential school survivors and their families. Use it as an opportunity to spark meaningful conversations about the ongoing journey of truth, reconciliation, and healing. By sharing and listening, you help to honour the stories of the past while building understanding and connection for the future.
Reflect
Reflect on the lessons youāve learned from Elders and express how their wisdom has shaped your path. Take time to consider the teachings and stories shared by Elders that have guided your decisions, values, or sense of identity. Think about how their wisdom has influenced the way you approach challenges, relationships, or your connection to the land and community. Let this reflection deepen your appreciation for their role in shaping your journey and inspire you to carry their teachings forward.
Legacy Box
Collect items that represent the teachings or memories of an Elderāletters, photos, or symbolic objects. Reflect on how this collection preserves their legacy for future generations.
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