Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM)

Indigenous peoples of Canada experience a disability rate significantly higher than that of the general population. Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM) brings awareness of these barriers and the issues that Indigenous peoples living with disabilities and their families face every day. More importantly though, despite these barriers, IDAM celebrates the achievements of Indigenous peoples living with disabilities and recognizes the significant and valuable contributions they make to our communities socially, economically, and culturally every day.

Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM) was created by BCANDS in 2015, and 2024 is it’s 10th anniversary! Since then, IDAM has now annually declared and recognized by the Provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, the Assembly of First Nations, BC First Nations Summit, Métis Nation of BC, Council of Yukon First Nations, the Town of Inuvik, and hundreds of other organizations and communities across Canada. IDAM is the only Indigenous disability-specific awareness initiative of its kind in the world. In 2017 the United Nations International Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recommended to Canada to officially declare November as IDAM annually.

Officially proclaim IDAM

By working together in compassion and respect, we can work towards a Canada that is inclusive, equitable, and accessible for everyone. Show your, your organization’s, or your community’s support by recognizing and proclaiming IDAM annually!

Join countless supporters across Canada by filling out your own proclamation statement (click on the link below- edit as you need), send back to us at bcands@bcands.bc.ca, and share widely!

 

2024-IDAM-Proclamation

During the 10th anniversary of Indigenous Disability Awareness Month, please consider joining us in Victoria as a delegate or Vendor at our 2024 National Indigenous Disability and Wellness Gathering! Registration details, including registration fees and Gathering Agenda, can be found by clicking the link below!

IDC/BCANDS 2024 Indigenous Disability and Wellness Gathering 

 

Click to Download our 2024 IDAM Poster

 

 

IDAM on Social Media

Follow along with https://twitter.com/BCANDS1 for current updates throughout November