February – Bear Moon (UFCW Indigenous Calendar)

Toronto – January 28, 2025 – February marks a time of reflection, renewal, and advocacy in the UFCW Canada Indigenous Calendar, which highlights significant dates meaningful to Indigenous communities across Canada. The calendar honours Indigenous ways of knowing, respecting natural cycles, cultural ceremonies, and spiritual practices that transcend the conventional Gregorian calendar. By collaborating with the UFCW Indigenous Committee, the calendar ensures that Indigenous voices, traditions, and perspectives are authentically represented.

In February, one of the key teachings is the Bear Moon, or Mkwa Giizis in Anishinaabe. The Bear Moon invites us into a period of introspection and vision quest, encouraging individuals to seek beyond the ordinary and connect with energies beyond the physical world. It is a time to reflect on personal journeys, ask for guidance, and communicate through spiritual channels.

Key Dates in February:

February 14: Have a Heart Day
Have a Heart Day is a child and youth-led reconciliation event that brings together caring Canadians to help ensure First Nations children have the opportunity to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are.

Learn more about and ways you can celebrate Have a Heart Day here.

February 17: Louis Riel Day
Louis Riel Day commemorates the legacy of Métis leader Louis Riel, who fought for the rights of his people and played a central role in the creation of Manitoba. Riel's leadership and resistance have become an enduring symbol of Métis resilience and the ongoing fight for Indigenous rights.

February 21: International Mother Language Day
On this day, we recognize the importance of preserving Indigenous languages, essential to cultural identity and heritage. International Mother Language Day celebrates linguistic diversity and emphasizes the need for the revitalization of Indigenous languages across the world.

The artwork for February was submitted by UFCW 1518 member Jaime Emerson, who shared the following powerful reflection on the creative process:

"This was a deeply meaningful family project for us. My three sons—Kalem (22), Keagan (14), and Kolton (13)—chose Louis Riel Day as our theme for the UFCW Canada Calendar. As a Métis family, we are actively learning about our ancestry, and we felt a strong connection to Riel's legacy. Together, we decided to recreate Louis Riel’s iconic Conventry sash, with his image shadowed in front of it, symbolizing his enduring presence. Each of us worked on a different square over the course of two weeks, pouring our energy into the project as a family. There’s so much more for us to discover, and my boys are eager to continue embracing and celebrating their heritage."

The 13 Grandmother Moon Teachings shared here are drawn from "Kinoomaadiewinan Anishinabek Bimaadinzinwin, Book Two" by Arlene Berry. It is important to note that many different teachings exist across the traditional territories of Turtle Island.

To explore more significant dates and teachings, download the Walking Together: 2025 UFCW Canada Indigenous Committee Calendar today.