The One Drop Foundation is an international philanthropic organization created by the founder of Cirque du Soleil and Lune Rouge to create a vision of a better world where all have access to living conditions that allow empowerment and development. Its mission is to ensure sustainable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for communities facing extreme barriers through innovative partnerships, creativity, and the power of art.   

In the Fall of 2022, CIER and One Drop met in Montreal to conceptualize a youth program that uses art and the creative process to create an avenue for young Indigenous people to explore social art and the creative process that can transform how people view water. Our relationship with One Drop is borne from a similar commonality: Our love for the water and our love to make positive impacts within the Indigenous communities we work with. 

Today, despite living in one of the most water-rich countries on Earth, many Indigenous People in Canada continue to be disproportionately affected by water-related issues and numerous historic and ongoing inequities, such as recurring drinking water advisories, increased exposure to contaminants in water sources, resource extraction encroachment and so on.  

This participatory creative process is gained by collaborating with individuals, groups, and communities to bring about a positive environmental, economic, or social transformation. This month, in partnership, we launched the Indigenous Youth, Art and Water Initiative, and a jury is tasked with selecting up to 10 youth projects aimed to bring the topic of water is life through the lens of social art. 

The selected youth will participate in a year-long initiative working with key experts in environmental issues. They will receive leadership capacity development, including workshops on social art, storytelling, and hands-on experience with experts in videography. The opportunity to address water issues in Indigenous communities through the lens of a young Indigenous person will allow us to gain a distinct perspective on how to make transformational changes in our lives — for the love of water. 

If you are an Indigenous youth or organization and are interested in applying for this program, please visit: https://yourcier.org/indigenous-youth-water-art-initiative/