Building Bridges Through Play: Honoring Truth and Reconciliation with PepsiCo Canada's RISE group.
On September 29th, Right To Play Canada partnered with Pepsi Canada and their RISE employee resource group for a meaningful event recognizing National Truth and Reconciliation Day. RISE fosters meaningful connections between PepsiCo and Indigenous associates, business partners, and communities across Canada—making them the ideal partner for this initiative.
Learning from Indigenous Wisdom
Sawyer Stevenson, Right To Play's Program Manager for Indigenous Programs in the East, who is of Mohawk descent, led an enlightening session exploring “The Great Law of Peace” which is a set of cultural, spiritual and governmental principals. The hope was to unite and end conflict within the original five Haudenosaunee nations (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca.) Later, the Tuscarora joined as the sixth nation. The Great Law of Peace are principals that guide a way of life and preserve culture through its core values:
Peace (Skennen)
Finding balance emotionally, spiritually, physically, and mentally through connection with self, family, community, and the natural world
Strength (Kahsatstenhsera)
Drawing on internal and ancestral strength while thinking seven generations ahead
A Good Mind (Kanikonhriyo)
Developing wellbeing through healing work, cultural teachings, and interconnected relationships with land and Creation.
Meaningful Action, Measurable Impact
Following the presentation, Pepsi Canada employees assembled backpack kits for Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, a Right To Play partner delivering the PLAY program in the community. Each kit serves as a tangible expression of commitment to reconciliation.
The event also featured a culinary experience from Chef Shawn Adler (Aasmaabik), Executive Chef of The Flying Chestnut Kitchen, who shared Indigenous food traditions and sustainable land practices rooted in his Lac des Milles Lacs First Nation heritage.
A Partnership with Lasting Impact
Since 2018, The PepsiCo Canada Foundation has been a committed partner, contributing nearly $375,000 to support the PLAY program. In 2024, this support benefited over 186 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and youth, with renewed 2025 funding extending its impact to six communities in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
The program's impact is significant:
- 74% of participants now engage frequently in physical activities
- 96% of Community Mentors report improved capacity to deliver play-based programs
- 89% of children adopt positive coping skills when stressed
- 12,295 community members participated in intergenerational initiatives in 2024
Moving Forward Together
This event exemplifies how corporate partnerships can drive meaningful change when rooted in cultural respect and concrete action. Reconciliation requires more than awareness—it demands sustained commitment, authentic relationships, and tangible support for Indigenous communities.
Right To Play Canada is grateful to partners like Pepsi Canada and RISE who are helping us build a future where every Indigenous child can thrive through the power of play.
Miigwech. Marsee. Nakurmik.
Learn more about partnering with Right To Play: https://righttoplay.ca/en-ca/national-offices/national-office-canada/get-involved/corporate-partners/