At valiant heart nothing impossible!
To a valiant heart, nothing is impossible!
Ka katshitshishit auen apu tshekuannu nakaukut!
PUAMUN MESHKENU IN ACTION
Puamun Meshkenu (Innu for the “path of a thousand dreams”) is a non-profit organization started in 2016 by Dr. Stanley Vollant. Since its foundation, the organization works to inspire Indigenous Peoples and support them in developing to their full potential. Just like his ancestor Innu Meshkenu, Puamun Meshkenu initiates projects to have a lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of Indigenous youth and to create a structuring movement for all Indigenous communities in Quebec.
Our target audience
Puamun Meshkenu develops projects to inspire and support indigenous peoples to develop their full potential.
To achieve this, we are focusing on projects that can have a positive impact on Indigenous youth.
Puamun, n. i. : dream (pwamu:n)
Meshkenu, n. i. : road, path, way. See also meshkanau, meshkanu
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to inspire and support Indigenous Peoples to follow their own path of a thousand dreams (or “Puamun Meshkenu” in Innu) in a way that is mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally holistic.
We accompany Indigenous Peoples so that each individual may develop to their full potential and contribute to increase collective wellness with the support of his community. Our actions promote healthy lifestyles, encourage school perseverance and foster reconciliation.
OUR VISION
Our dream (“puamun” in Innu) is that Indigenous Peoples develop to their full potential and contribute to collective well-being.
Promoting holistic health, school perseverance and Indigenous identity, Puamun Meshkenu’s recognition and its humane and inclusive
approach lead to concrete actions that develop Indigenous people’s full potential. Its actions have an impact on collective wellness and increase recognition of Indigenous Peoples in society.
OUR VALUES
Tradition
This value means maintaining and preserving Indigenous cultural traditions, identities and customs. It also means sharing, passing down, valuing and educating with respect for all Indigenous cultures. This value also holds the capacity for resilience and the will to live a contemporary lifestyle with pride.
Well-being
This value means working to improve people’s well-being, in ways that are aligned with their needs and respect their experiences and differences. Wellness requires action in order to regain balance and is about responsibility. This value draws on the holistic principles of the Medicine Wheel.
Collaboration
This value means working to reach a common goal, for and by Indigenous Peoples. It also means valuing constructive partnerships with other Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples and organizations. Collaboration involves respect, honesty, transparency and a desire for reconciliation. It is illustrated by the strengths and skills, creativity and actions of Puamun Meshkenu’s team members.
Commitment
This value means carrying out our mission with enthusiasm, determination and conviction.This value underlies the organization’s vitality and dynamism in all its endeavours, as well as its sound, optimized and respectful management. This value generates abundance and the realization of dreams, and it also means taking our rightful place.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
We consider and respect all aspects of each person in every action and decision.
Regardless of their culture and history, people are respected in their entirety and as a whole. We are listening to the needs Indigenous youth express and developing our actions in consequence.
We take a holistic, humane and inclusive approach.
Our actions are designed and deployed according to the principles of the Medicine Wheel, in order to meet people in the four (4) spheres of their development: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual.
We take climate issues into consideration in our choices and activities as much and whenever possible.
We make environmentally friendly choices for our events and hold our meetings virtually as much as possible. We aim for zero GHG emissions for all our activities. We try to offset any GHG emissions we may incur, as resources are available.
We wish to develop our programming as much as possible across Canada with a 5-8 year perspective.
Over the long term, we aim to develop our activities and programming across Canada with a view to reaching all Indigenous young Peoples. We are evaluating all requests coming from the other provinces and answering them according to our action plan and resources.
Strategic plan 2020-2025
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
The Meshkenu Innu Walking Movement
Innu Meshkenu is a movement started by Dr. Stanley Vollant’s by 6,000-km walk from 2010 to 2017. Travelling the road of his ancestors, Dr. Vollant went to meet Indigenous people living in the communities across Quebec. He sought to convey his message of hope to young people and took the time to visit many schools along the way. The walking movement promotes healthy lifestyle habits and provides both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities with a universal experience that bridges cultures. A true inspiration for many, the walking movement has touched Indigenous people who have decided to join the great human project that is Innu Meshkenu. Carrying the message of school perseverance to the young people he met along the way, Dr. Vollant gathered their dreams with his walking stick and conveyed hope with the message “With a courageous heart, nothing is impossible.”