Building Resilient Communities for Well-being Across Generations
We do not inherit the earth from our parents we borrow it from our children[i]
The issue of intergenerational fairness has been coming to the fore in recent years, not only with respect to climate change, but a whole range of environmental, social, technological and economic conditions that will affect the wellbeing of future generations, both negatively and positively.
This has become an important focus for the United Nations, with the adoption in September 2024 of a Pact for the Future that includes a Declaration on Future Generations. The Declaration speaks to “the opportunity that present generations possess to leave a better future for generations to come and to fulfil our commitment to meet the demands of the present in a way that safeguards the needs and interests of future generations, while leaving no one behind”.
Such an approach embodies the Indigenous principle of ‘Seven Generations’[1], our obligation to be responsible ancestors and the principle of intergenerational justice. Wales has led the way, creating a Wellbeing of Future Generations Act in 2015 and appointing the Commissioner for Future Generations.
So what are the implications of this important focus for Canada, and for people and communities in Atlantic Canada, and specifically for the mental wellbeing of today’s infants, children and youth and generations yet to come?
The ASI 2025 Forum will explore the challenges and opportunities for creating healthy, sustainable, peaceful, and equitable communities, focusing on resilience and intergenerational equity. We will look at how communities—both physical and virtual[ii] – can support well-being and knowledge transfer across generations, promoting social connections, collaboration, and collective action to address global issues.
ASI 2025 Forum will build on the four priorities of the ASI Policy Brief[iii], i.e., mental health in all policies, intersectoral approaches, sustainable funding and investment in support of infant, child and youth mental health promotion to strengthen community resilience and societal well-being.
Join us as we explore these ideas, learn from existing work locally and elsewhere, and consider the implications for local and provincial action.
Vision for the Future:
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion[iv], Geneva Charter for Well-being[v] and the UN Pact for the Future[vi] emphasize the need for a global commitment to security, peace, sustainable development, social justice, equity, and climate action as prerequisites for health.
By bringing together diverse generations and perspectives, the ASI 2025 Forum will catalyze bold actions and policies that address the interconnected challenges of our time, creating resilient, equitable communities that foster well-being for all.
The title, “Building Resilient Communities for Well-being Across Generations,” highlights the Forum’s focus on fostering resilient, intergenerational communities while addressing the multiple challenges that threaten current and future well-being.
Key Themes:
- Intergenerational Equity: Ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy communities and planet and opportunities for health and prosperity
- Mental health in all policies: Investing resources upstream and supporting collaborative governance at all levels of society to promote the consideration of how all policies impact mental health.
- Community Well-being: Adopting a more meaningful and formal investment in communities in ways that respect their language and culture, and nurture the physical, mental, social, spiritual and environmental health of all members of society, now and in the future.
- Global and Local Challenges: Strengthening communities to address global and local challenges including ecological and climate change, economic inequities, rapid population change, and social instability.
- Inclusive, Empowering Solutions: Promoting meaningful participation and respectful communication across the generations and abilities/disabilities; as well as social justice, gender and racial equity, and youth empowerment to create a more just, peaceful and sustainable future for all.
- Indigenous knowledge[2]: Drawing on the wisdom of the , two-eyed seeing[vii], foundations of culture and tradition, and reverence for Mother Earth.
[1] The concept of seven generations is a guiding principle in many Indigenous cultures across North America. It is often expressed in the idea that decisions made today should consider their impact on the next seven generations. This reflects a deep sense of responsibility, sustainability, and interconnectedness with both ancestors and future descendants. The idea is sometimes called the Seven Generations principle, emphasizing a chain or continuum of generations, while in other contexts it’s referred to as thinking in terms of the Seventh Generation—that is, considering the impact of today’s decisions on the generation seven steps into the future.
The variation in phrasing often depends on context, regional usage, or even personal preference, and both are widely recognized in discussions of Indigenous philosophy and environmental stewardship. However, the principle consistently emphasizes long-term thinking, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. In practice it values continuity, respect for ancestors, and care for descendants. (Chat GBT 2025)
[2] Indigenous Knowledge is a systematic way of thinking applied to phenomena across biological, physical, cultural, and spiritual systems. It includes insights based on evidence acquired through direct and long-term experiences and extensive and multigenerational observations, lessons, and skills. It has developed over millennia and is still developing in a living process, including knowledge acquired today and in the future, and it is passed on from generation to generation (Inuit Circumpolar Council, 2013)
[i] Chief Seattle, a leader of the Native American Suquamish Tribe
[ii] Wang, W. (2020). Difference between the Real World and Virtual World. Proceedings, 47(35). doi:10.3390/proceedings2020047035
[iii] ASI Policy Brief (2022) Investing Upstream: Placing infant, child and youth mental health promotion at the forefront. https://asi-iea.ca/en/asi-policy-brief/
[iv] World Health Organization (1986). Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. https://www.who.int/publications
[v] World Health (2022). Geneva Charter for Well-being. https://www.who.int/publications
[vi] United Nations (2024) Pact for the Future, Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations. https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future/pact-for-the-future
[vii] Bartlett, Cheryl; Marshall, Murdena; Marshall, Albert (2012-11-01). “Two-Eyed Seeing and other lessons learned within a co-learning journey of bringing together indigenous and mainstream knowledges and ways of knowing”. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. 2 (4): 331–340.
ASI 2025 - Goal & Objectives
Goal: To explore issues of intergenerational equity and their implications for future generations and community well-being; and as per the ASI Policy Brief, the mental health of infants, children, and youth throughout Atlantic Canada and beyond.
Objectives:
To explore future trends and directions in environmental, social, economic and other conditions that will affect – positively or negatively – the wellbeing of people and communities in Atlantic Canada and beyond
To learn from the transformative intergenerational initiatives of communities in support of well-being, in particular the mental health of infants, children and youth.
To expand our understanding of Indigenous world views, in particular the seven generations principle
To develop knowledge and skills for inspiring collaborative leadership and governance across generations, sectors and communities including youth, civil society, public and private sectors in support of a mentally healthy society.
To explore the implications and potential benefits of adopting a Well Being of Future Generations Act in the Atlantic Provinces and Beyond.
To increase the adoption of the ASI policy brief “Upstream Investment: Placing infant, child, and youth mental health promotion at the forefront.”
To model a supportive and inclusive environment for learning and wellbeing – and have lots of fun together again!
Design Principles:
Youth Engagement: Youth will be engaged in providing input to the process of planning the ASI 2025 program and participating in the intergenerational event.
Universal Design for Learning: Whole society representation will be welcomed in the planning process and diverse audiences will participate in ASI 2025.
Engagement of community influencers: Those in a position to influence and implement action that supports mental health promotion for infants, children and youth at policy and community levels will mobilize at ASI 2025.
Equity: Subsidies will be offered to reduce barriers to participation.
Adult Education: Styles are interactive and engaging – everyone is a teacher and a learner.
Experiential Learning: Arts, culture, connectedness to community and nature will be incorporated.
Online Interaction: A robust online conference platform will simulate a face-to-face experience by encouraging networking, relationship building, knowledge sharing with translation support, and post conference connection.
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Who will attend?
Politicians, public servants, health practitioners, private sector, media, unions, academics, educators, social agencies, community organizations, Indigenous leaders, youth leaders and the general public… everyone interested in collaborating to improve mental health through upstream policy and programs!
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ASI 2025 Keynote Speaker Announcement
We are thrilled to announce ASI 2025’s Keynote Speaker:
Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.