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This November we'd like to share some great online cultural awareness activities from ALIGN for Indigenous children and youth in care, with a SPOTLIGHT on ALIGN's 
2025 Indigenous Online Advent Calendar!

You don’t want to miss out! Starting on December 1, 2025 children, youth and adults alike will enjoy flipping a card for each day of December leading up to the 25th and finding a wonderful cultural surprise behind each door.

We know that children and families look forward each December to ALIGN’s Online Indigenous Advent Calendar, where every day brings a new surprise — from Christmas songs and stories to crafts, activities, and more!

Please share the link with your friends, neighbours, family, and children’s schools. It’s a wonderful home or classroom activity and a great way for all children to celebrate the season while learning more about Indigenous culture and traditions.

You can catch up if you miss a day - set yourself a reminder to make the Advent Calendar a part of your daily planning this December and get the whole family involved!

A great idea for those indoor days! One of the best things about jigsaw puzzles is that they encourage you to slow down and focus on the details as you piece the bigger picture together. In a fast-paced, image-filled world, these puzzles offer children, youth, and adults a chance to relax, unwind, and appreciate the beauty found in traditional regalia, food, animals, teepees, totem poles, and more.

These interactive online jigsaw puzzles are designed for all ages and skill levels — you can even adjust the number of pieces to make them as easy or as challenging as you’d like!

Brrrr — it’s getting cold out there! That usually means more indoor time for children and youth. ALIGN has put together a wonderful resource to help make that time both fun and educational — our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Games Directory available for download or view online.

This downloadable directory includes links to a wide variety of engaging, interactive online games and activities for all ages that share Indigenous traditions through play. If the kids prefer to play outdoors, there are all sorts of outdoor traditional games to play as well, and if you’re doing some holiday gift shopping, be sure to check out the great selection of Indigenous-themed board games featured as well!

The holiday season is often associated with warmth, love, and togetherness, but for foster children, it can also bring a sense of uncertainty, loneliness, and loss. Many children in foster care have experienced trauma, disrupted family ties, and instability in their lives. For these kids, the holidays can feel especially overwhelming as they navigate a world where traditions, family, and routines are unfamiliar.

Learn more ALIGN Blog: Caring for Foster Kids During the Holidays: Bringing Joy and Stability to Their Lives 

Pre-order Spirit Bear's Guide to Reconciliation 2026 Calendar!

Spirit Bear’s Guide to Reconciliation Calendar guides supporters through 12 months of fun and meaningful reconciliation activities in support of equity for First Nations children. Activities are free and can be done by people of any age - as individuals, families, schools, communities or in the workplace. The calendar is accompanied by a free activity book that supporters can fill out by following along Spirit Bear's adventures! Colour and decorate the pages, follow the instructions and don't forget to be creative! 

Indigenous Disability Awareness Month: November

IDAM raises awareness about and celebrates the significant social, economic and cultural contributions that Indigenous people experiencing disability bring to our communities. It’s also an opportunity to mobilize to address the complex, ongoing intersectional challenges Indigenous people face in their every day lives.

ALIGN's Alberta Disability Summit - Indigenous Cultural Understanding  November 27, 2025 Calgary

ALIGN'S Alberta

To honour Indigenous Disability Awareness Month in Canada, the inaugural Alberta Disability Summit will be held on November 27, 2025, at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, Tsuut’ina Nation (Calgary).This one-day gathering will bring together Indigenous leaders, families, persons with disabilities, governments, service providers, and community partners to advance disability inclusion and cultural understanding.

Youth with Disabilities Transition to Adulthood (16+)

Easter Seals Alberta offers Transition to Adulthood Workshops that are designed to help families and professionals gain a deeper understanding of the transition process. Available in a convenient digital format, these workshops cover essential topics such as:

• Guardianship & Trusteeship: Legal frameworks to protect your youth as they enter adulthood.
• PDD: Eligibility, application process, and support services available.
• AISH: How to apply for financial assistance and what to expect.

These workshops provide practical tools and insights, helping families feel prepared and confident during this transition.

Caregivers, external staff, and agency workers can now explore the latest pre-service and in-service training dates for November and December by visiting the AFKA and ALIGN websites. You’ll also find course descriptions for in-service training available too.

Walking Together In-Person Training Dec 1, 2025 Edmonton

Experience various Indigenous cultural practices and explore Indigenous worldviews, co-facilitated with an Elder or Indigenous Knowledge Keeper.
Register Here

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