Posted by Andre Morriseau Senior Manager, Awards and Communications Canadian Council For Aboriginal Business(CCAB)
HIP
 
The Rotary Club is a grass-roots organization consisting of business professionals and community leaders that volunteer time, talent & resources in order to remedy vital community needs.  With over 1.2 million members worldwide Rotary has been making history and bringing the world closer together for over 100 years. Since forming in 1905, they’ve taken on some of the world's toughest challenges and helped a wide range of international and service organizationsfrom the UN to Easter Sealsget started.
 
Rotarians in Southern Ontario once again has Rotary at the forefront of applying new ideas on the road to creative solutions through the newly created Honouring Indigenous People (HIP) website created after extensive consultation with a number of Indigenous peoples and organizations. 
 
“HIP is honouring Indigenous people by supporting their educational efforts and encouraging all Canadians to become aware of Indigenous issues, history and culture.  It is the hope of Rotarians, Rotary clubs and others that partnerships and collaborations will be established with Indigenous people in Canada focusing on creating mutual awareness and understanding.” Stated HIP Chair Chris Snyder.
 
The HIP board is made up of 50% Rotarians from 5 Rotary districts and 50% Indigenous and educational leaders.By going to www.rotaryhip.com people have access to a go-to information site.  Here one can find details about the organization, a blog with current news and events, reading suggestions, links, current Rotary projects and their HIP supported projects.  It is their hope to connect all 750 clubs across Canada and supportive individuals with the Indigenous community and vice versa.
 
Wilfrid Wilkinson past President of Rotary International has been a Rotarian for over 52 years.  In his travel with the Rotarians he has visited India 27 times working with villagers on numerous projects, making vital connections.
 
Wilkinson stated, “Here in Canada I found that Rotarians didn’t appear to have made the same connections with Canada’s Aboriginal peoples as I had witnessed first-hand in places like India.  It is for this very reason that I salute Rotarians in southern Ontario for taking on the great challenge of working to change this dynamic through initiatives such as the Helping Indigenous Peoples (HIP) website.”
 
The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) signed on early as a Charter Member and active member of The Rotary Club of Toronto Aboriginal Service Committee.  They were intrigued by the potential connection between Rotary’s business roots and the pursuit of Aboriginal business participation.
 
CCAB President and CEO JP Gladu who recently had the opportunity to deliver the keynote address at a Rotary Club of Toronto Luncheon stated, “The work that Rotarians arespearheading with HIP allows the ingenuity of business to support commitment to the spirit of mutual understanding.”