The Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring spoke to Ada Mawson, Knowledge Keeper and Tsawout Education Manager, about the connection between Child Honouring principles and Coast Salish teachings. This is part 1-3 of the conversation.
Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish people, specifically the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples. Salt Spring Island includes the territories of the Quw’utsun Tribes, Penelakut Tribe, Lyackson, Halalt, Tsawwassen, Tsawout, Tsartlip, Tseycum, Pauquachin, and Malahat First Nations. We also acknowledge that our work reaches across many other First Nation territories, Metis Homelands and Inuit Nunangat. We are committed to doing the personal and organizational work to address historic and ongoing injustices, and to prioritize mindful relationship-building, curiosity, and meaningful action.
Families Canada is the national association of family support centres. Our members are community-level organizations who provide hubs of free services, programs, and resources to primarily low-income and disadvantaged families in communities across Canada. Through our 500+ members, we impact the lives of approximately 500,000 families per year. For nearly 50 years, we have helped our members meet the evolving and complex needs of families
Cities across Canada are recognizing Child Honouring, the movement founded by Raffi Cavoukian that calls for children’s needs to be at the heart of decision-making.
Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria have proclaimed July 8 as Child Honouring Day, marking an important milestone for the movement and coinciding with Raffi’s birthday.
The recognition comes during a significant year for Child Honouring, as 2026 marks 50 years since Raffi released Singable Songs for the Very Young. It also comes as the Foundation continues its advocacy for stronger protections for children, including a minimum age for social media.
Right now, a child in Canada is being bullied online. Another is at risk of online sexual exploitation. Others are lying awake at 2am, scrolling through content designed by algorithms to keep them hooked.
It’s time for Canada to join countries like Norway, France, UK and Australia that are advancing or implementing age minimums and regulations.
Join the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring in calling on federal and provincial governments to protect our kids.
